225;) and his only defence is an absurd and palpable forgery, (Hist.

de l'Academie des Inscriptions, tom.xv.

p.
155--163,) a pretended letter from the prince of the assassins, the Sheich, or old man of the mountain, who justified Richard, by assuming to himself the guilt or merit of the murder.

* Note: Von Hammer (Geschichte der Assassinen, p.

202) sums up against Richard, Wilken (vol.iv.p.