Back in 1189 London, Richard and his men receive no welcome, only to find that Prince John has kidnapped their mother, Queen Eleanor, and is intent on installing himself as the new King.

Having returned to London to prepare for his coronation, Richard discovers that Prince John has fled the country with the Queen as hostage.

In defiance of Richard's orders, Baron Giles gives protection to fugitives from justice. To add insult to injury, he abducts the Lady Rosalie, recently betrothed to Sir Geoffrey.

Anxious to learn the plight of his subjects firsthand. Richard sallies forth in disguise – and soon finds himself arrested for not paying his taxes.

Having sent several of his friends in pursuit of three escaped prisoners, Richard is concerned when he hears that they have taken refuge in the castle of a knight who feeds his foes to his wild animals.

Believing himself to be Richard's equal, Forked Beard, a self-styled 'King', seeks a treaty between himself and the English king. Having rejected his proposal, Richard is taken prisoner.

Lady Rosalie's appeal to Richard to help her father, whom she believes she has fallen under the spell of Villanus, an alchemist, almost costs Richard his life.

Led by a bogus pretender to the English throne, a Black Knight issues a challenge that Richard, with too few knights at court, must accept – or forfeit his throne.

Richard leads his men to capture thieves who've stolen Excalibur from Arthur's tomb at Glastonbury Abbey, but danger dogs block his path.

Zara and her brother Umbaldo issue a challenge to Richard. He must choose a champion to defeat Umbaldo. Should Umbaldo win, Richard will pay service to Zara — should he be defeated, Zara will become Richard's bride.

Urged by his counsellors to take a bride, Richard sets out in disguise to visit the court of Prince Frederick, to take a cautious look at his daughter.

Queen Berengaria, honeymooning with her new husband, is unaware that someone is plotting treachery at Richard's court — returning home, she faces a charge of treason.

The "Little People" are taxpayers of outlying counties. They've been dunned for four large payments and are nearly bankrupt. Richard finds they have been tricked into paying by false documents backed by Prince John's soldiers.

Richard finds himself abducted by a knight with a grievance against the English Throne. Put on trial for treason, he is sentenced to be hanged.

After a desperate man steals Richard's horse, the squire of Fitzgeorge Castle takes him in. He can't see the man's son though they served gallantly in a crusade. The serving maid tells of a plot, where it was actually a serf that fought alongside the King, and the real scion of Fitzgeorge hid back in England.