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.

Unaware that King Tancred of Sicily and King Philip of France are plotting his death, Richard accepts their invitation to a banquet given in his honour.

Pursuing his plot to have Richard killed, King Philip joins forces with Prince John. Together, they challenge Richard to face Saladin, in a 'friendly' tournament.

Arnold, master of Kernak Castle, is a Crusader in name only. So when he hears that the King is travelling to query his absence from court, he plans to have Richard killed.

Fearing for her safety, Richard orders Queen Berengaria to return to England, so she takes her entourage yet tries to travel in disguise. She's captured not by Saladin or Muslim raiders, but by unscrupulous rival crusader Conrad of Montferrat.

Following his knight's vows, Richard helps a young woman in distress — and quickly finds himself a prisoner of the tyrannical Lord Rudolph.

With new friends Hugo and Marta, Richard stops at a market-town to purchase fresh mounts – and finds himself arrested as an enemy spy.

Within sight of escape from Austria, Marta collapses from fatigue. Though he risks capture, Richard refuses to continue until she has recovered.

Hearing that Leopold demands a price of 150,000 marks for Richard's release, Queen Berengaria commands Sir Gilbert and Sir Geoffrey to raise the money.

Told by a fortune-teller that Richard is dead, Prince John makes plans to proclaim himself King. He has reckoned without Robin Hood and his Merry Men – Richard's loyal subjects.

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.

Nicholas, a charlatan posing as a monk, goes from town to town selling indulgences, with forged documents of authority from Richard. His intention is to blackmail nobles who supported John's attempted coup. Richard seeks the phony friar, and pursues him to a country inn.

Arthur, the young prince of England, is to visit his uncle Richard from his home in Brittany. But the knight that's to escort him is waylaid and a kidnapper takes his place. In pursuit of the outlaws, Richard goes undercover as a sailor to find their hideout.

As Richard's coronation draws near, great importance is placed on the clothes to be worn to the ceremony. One such costume is smuggled out so that a lord, who will lose his status should Richard come to full power, can disguise himself and get close enough to kill him so the exiled John will be crowned.