Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brief History Of The Religious And Military Order Of The Knights Templars' Of St. John Of Jerusalem.
terrible havoc among their enemies ; but being unsupported "by the apostate count , the ] ' were soon overpowered by superior numbers , and the principal part of them were killed . Dread-ui , indeed , was the condition of the other part of the Christian army , who rcu .-iined in their camp , parching with thirst , in all the heat of July . Saladine ' s victory , thereforethough greatwas not lorious . The whole Christian
, , g army were either destroyed or taken prisoners . Among the latter ' were the king , the grand-master of the Templars , with several knights of the military orders . The Sultan was so irritated by the asto'in ' shing valour and uncommon exertions of these kni ghts , as to give ¦ orders that they should all either renounce their reli g ion or be put to death . In consequence of this bloody resolution , those brave
champions were basely butchered , except the grand master , who was reserved from prudential motives in hopes of having him heavily xansomed . The desperate situation . in which the affairs of the Christians in the holy land now stood , cannot be better depicted than in a letter -which was-drawn up by the chapter of the few remaining Templars at Jerusalem , and sent into different parts of Europe . .. " Brother Tbierri , grand preceptor , the convent , and the lemaii . s
" of the order at Jerusalem , to all the preceptors , and to ail o ' ur " brethren of the Temple , send greeting in his name and for his sake " to whom we address our prayers , and groans , and whom the sun " and the moon adore . " Dear Brethren , it is impossible for us by letters , or even by tears " of blood , to make you-sensible of the calamities which have recently " been poured out upon us .
" The Turcomans having covered the land , and laid siege to Ti" berias , we advanced to relieve it , which brought qn an . engage" ment . Our troops being hemmed in among rocks and mountains , " became an easy prey to the infidels ; thirty thousand men fell on " that fatal day . Our king is taken prisoner , and , -what is more af" fecting , the sacred wood of the true cross is fallen into fue enemy ' s
" hands . Saladine has beheaded two hundred and thirty of our " brethren whom he took prisoners . He is already in possession of " the principal towns of the kingdom . Jerusalem , Ascalon , Tyie , " and Barytus , only remain in our hands , and there are scarcely even " any garrisons in these since the fatal battle of Tiberias ; so that < ' we have nothing to depend upon , under heaven , but your as" sistance . "
No assistance , however , came , and Saladine pushed on his conquering arms till he seated himself in Jerusalem ; which capitulated , after a siege of fourteen days , October z , 118 7 . On entering the city Saladine caused the great church , which was built upon the ruins of Solomon ' s Temple , to be washed with rosewater by way of purification , and then converted it into a mosque . Of this great change , we have a curious picture in the following letter from Thierri , grand preceptor of the Templars , to the king at England ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brief History Of The Religious And Military Order Of The Knights Templars' Of St. John Of Jerusalem.
terrible havoc among their enemies ; but being unsupported "by the apostate count , the ] ' were soon overpowered by superior numbers , and the principal part of them were killed . Dread-ui , indeed , was the condition of the other part of the Christian army , who rcu .-iined in their camp , parching with thirst , in all the heat of July . Saladine ' s victory , thereforethough greatwas not lorious . The whole Christian
, , g army were either destroyed or taken prisoners . Among the latter ' were the king , the grand-master of the Templars , with several knights of the military orders . The Sultan was so irritated by the asto'in ' shing valour and uncommon exertions of these kni ghts , as to give ¦ orders that they should all either renounce their reli g ion or be put to death . In consequence of this bloody resolution , those brave
champions were basely butchered , except the grand master , who was reserved from prudential motives in hopes of having him heavily xansomed . The desperate situation . in which the affairs of the Christians in the holy land now stood , cannot be better depicted than in a letter -which was-drawn up by the chapter of the few remaining Templars at Jerusalem , and sent into different parts of Europe . .. " Brother Tbierri , grand preceptor , the convent , and the lemaii . s
" of the order at Jerusalem , to all the preceptors , and to ail o ' ur " brethren of the Temple , send greeting in his name and for his sake " to whom we address our prayers , and groans , and whom the sun " and the moon adore . " Dear Brethren , it is impossible for us by letters , or even by tears " of blood , to make you-sensible of the calamities which have recently " been poured out upon us .
" The Turcomans having covered the land , and laid siege to Ti" berias , we advanced to relieve it , which brought qn an . engage" ment . Our troops being hemmed in among rocks and mountains , " became an easy prey to the infidels ; thirty thousand men fell on " that fatal day . Our king is taken prisoner , and , -what is more af" fecting , the sacred wood of the true cross is fallen into fue enemy ' s
" hands . Saladine has beheaded two hundred and thirty of our " brethren whom he took prisoners . He is already in possession of " the principal towns of the kingdom . Jerusalem , Ascalon , Tyie , " and Barytus , only remain in our hands , and there are scarcely even " any garrisons in these since the fatal battle of Tiberias ; so that < ' we have nothing to depend upon , under heaven , but your as" sistance . "
No assistance , however , came , and Saladine pushed on his conquering arms till he seated himself in Jerusalem ; which capitulated , after a siege of fourteen days , October z , 118 7 . On entering the city Saladine caused the great church , which was built upon the ruins of Solomon ' s Temple , to be washed with rosewater by way of purification , and then converted it into a mosque . Of this great change , we have a curious picture in the following letter from Thierri , grand preceptor of the Templars , to the king at England ,