The Knights Templars.

and Ave humbly beg of you , by prayers and sincere devotion to implore mercy of the Most High on behalf of that land , in order that He who by His blood consecrated that land for the redemption of all men , may in His compassion look forth

on it , and stretch forth His hand to assist and protect it ; and do you also , most beloved fathers , give what advice and assistance you can in this matter , that you may thereby obtain for yourselves a reward in Heaven ; for you may rest assured that

unless assistance is given to the Holy Land in the next passage of March , by the hand of the Most High , and by reinforcements of Christian troops .

the destruction and ruin which now hang over it is inevitable . But as it would take us too longto explain our other necessities , and the state of the Holy Land in general , by letter , we send to you the venerable father , the Bishop of Beyrout ,

and Arnulph , of the religious Order of Preachers , who will relate to your community the whole truthfully and faithfully ; and we humbly beg of you all to listen to the aforesaid messengers , and to entertain them liberally , as they have , on

behalf of God ' s Church , exposed thamselves to great danger by making the voyage in Avinter . —Given at Acre , this 25 th day of November , in the year of our Lord 1244 . " *

The receipt of this letter cast a profound gloom over Europe , Avhich was still exulting over the capture of Jerusalem . Pope Innocent IV . held a council at Lyons , when the letter was read , and orders given for the preaching of a new crusade .

Enthusiasm was , however , dead , and the Emperor of Germany , Avho still bore the empty title of King o £ Jerusalem , made no effort to regain his crown . The military Orders still maintained a conflict with the enemy , but Ascalon at last Avas

stormed , and the garrison of Hospitallers slain , a fate which speedily befel Tiberias . The Order ' s affairs in Europe were in a highly prosperous state , and the Templars rose in public esteem from their valorous actions in the field .

It would require another history to detail their deeds in Spainf and Hungary . The Grand Preceptor of Hungary , and many of the brethren , lost their lives in 1241 , in the great battle with the Moguls . In Spain they were exempted from

proceeding to the Holy Land , as they were engaged in conflict with the Moors in that country . In both countries they were greatly cherished , and had many possessions . The Republic of Venice , to mark its hi gh appreciation of their services , built

the Templars , at the public expense , the magnificent church which now belongs to the Confraternity of the Ascension . * In England Henry III . had succeeded John in the sovereignty . In the year 1232 , it was told

the King that the ex-justiciary Hubert had deposited a large sum in the new Temple , under the charge of the Knights . The King summoned the Preceptor to appear before him , and demanded if such was the case . The Preceptor answered

that Hubert had undoubtedly entrusted the Templars with some money , but that they were unaAvare of the amount . The King then demanded possession of the money , but this the Preceptor would not agree to , and when the King , finding him resolute , used threats , declaring that the

money had been stolen from the royal treasury , the Preceptor replied that the Templars would not on any consideration , deliver up to anyone the money Avhich had been entrusted to them ia confidence , without leave from the person who

had deposited it in the Temple for safe keeping . Thereupon , finding the Preceptor resolute , and dreading to use force , he sent to Hubert , who was then in confinement in the Tower , and demanded possession of the money . Hubert thereupon

instructed the Templars to give it up to the King , Avhich was accordingly done . The Caursines ,. against whose usury Matthew Paris complains so loudly , give a form of their bonds ( 1235 ) , in Avhich these Avere made payable at the New

Temple . In 1236 , the brother of Robert de Sandford , the Preceptor of England , was , on account of his relationship with that distinguished Templar , appointed one of the messengers sent by Henry III . to bring home his bride Eleanor from the covirt of her father , the Count of Provence .

The Templars increased greatly m power in England under Henry III ., who employed them in many offices about his person . In 1241 , we read of sending John , a Templar and his almoner , Avith his royal Avarrant to stop a tournament

between Peter of Savoy and Earl Bigod . Henry III ., in 1238 , appointed the Earls of Lincoln and Leicester , and Geoffrey , Chaplain of the