This joint New Zealand/England production attempted to capitalize on the same sword and sorcery market successfully mined by Xena: Warrior Princess.
[1] In the year of 1193, Richard the "Lionheart", King of England, led the third Great Crusade to reclaim the Holy Land from the Turks.
The head-guard understands what he means - "a ransom.” Tancred agrees to return to England, to collect the ransom, telling the guard that Richard's brother Prince John will pay dearly for the king's freedom.
Of course, the knight chained close to Tancred believes the part about Prince John paying for King Richard's ransom to be false.
As the guards release Tancred to return to England, looking the other way, Ivanhoe sees a sword close to him, kicks it into the air, and grabs it.