The Knights Templars.

grave , serious , and thoughtful . His nights were given to watching and meditation . He Avas persistent in fasting , and diligent in the study of the Koran . His behaviour so Avon upon the admiration of his brethren , that they sty led him Salah-ad-deen

( vulgarly , Saladin ) , " Integrity of Beligion . " Vinisauf states that , Avhen his years Avere matured , and he Avas fit for military service , he came to Enfrid of Tours , the illustrious Prince of Palestine , to be mantled , aud , after the manner of the Pranks ,

received from him the belt of Knighthood ; a strange fact , Avhich is repeated by De Vertot and other authors . No sooner had he succeeded in winning the countenance of the people , than he determined to punish the temerity ancl perfidy of

the Christians , for their treacherous attack upon Egypt . He stirred up the Mussnlmen ' s religious enthusiasm , till they shouted to be led against their enemies ; and then gathering together a huge army , he crossed the desert and laid siege to Gaza .

This city , which Avas strongly fortified , and considered the key of Palestine , belonged to the Templars . Saladin destroyed all the fine gardens

and terror into his camp , that Saladin deeming them invincible , raised the siege , and fled precipitately to Egypt . In the year 1177 , according to Eoger de Hoveden , the Earl of Flanders Avent over to

England , and held a conference with the King , whose permission he received to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land . With him , William de Mandeville , Earl of Essex , and many barons and knights of various countries , assumed the Cross

and set out for Jerusalem . On arriving there , they found assembled a large army composed of the Templars , Hospitallers , Eaymond , Prince of Antioch , and his dependents , and nearly all the Knights of the land of Jerusalem , with whom they

immediately joined , and laid siege to Harang , a fortified place belonging to the Infidel . Having besieged it for a month , and almost undermined it , the besieged offered them a sum of money to depart , which , by the advice of theTemplars , they accepted ,

and departed . The folloiving day a great part of the castle fell doivn , presenting an easy entrance to a besieging army , and on arriving at Jerusalem , the Christians found the money which they had received from the Infidel , to be nothing but copper

and brass . In giving the above story , we would again warn our readers against placing much faith in such statements , for Ho \ eden and the other chroniclers , having but an imperfect knowledge of the events Avhich happened in the Holy Land , Avere

apt to Avrite down circumstances without inquiring very particrlarly into their authenticity . The above is a constant charge made against the Templars , for when no reason Avas assigned for the raising of a siege by the Christians , it was at once assumed

that they had been bribed to do so . Tho great Noureddin having died in 1175 , Saladin seized upon the supreme poAver in Egypt

and Syria , and determined once more to try his fortunes in the Holy Land . He assembled an army of twenty-six thousand light infantry , eight thousand horsemen , an immense host of archers and spearmen , mounted on dromedaries , eighteen

thousand common soldiers , and a body guard of one thousand Mamlook Emirs , clothed in yelloAV cloaks , Avorn over their armour . Victory at first smiled upon Saladin , and as he advanced through Palestine , the Christians abandoned the cities and

toAvus , to take refuge in the caves and among the mountains , from the Infidel . Bakhvin IV ., Avho had just assumed the reins of government , trembling for his kingdom , and fearing the result

of a battle Avith Saladin , shut himself up in Ascalon . Saladin , secure of an easy conquest , distributed the cities of the Holy Land among his Emirs . On hearing of the advance of Saladin , Odo assembled the Templars , and being joined by the

Hospitallers and Barons , Avent forth to join the King , accompanied by a vast number of the people , Avho had taken up arms in defence of the Holy Land . They Avere accompanied by the Bishop of Bethlehem , Avho carried before them the wood of

the Holy Cross . The arrival of the Grand Master of the Templars , and his fiery counsel , soon changed the current of affairs , and victory smiled upon the Christians , Avhile defeat again lvaited upon Saladin at the hands of the Templars . Animated by the

that surrounded the city , and cut doivn the olive and palm groves . The tents of his Arabians whitened the neighbouring heights , and the multitude of the besiegers , moving round the Avails , turned the scene into an appearance , not unlike a

gigantic ant-hill . The city Avas defended Avith the greatest courage ; daily assaults were made upon it by the Moslem , but the Templars easily baffled their attacks and slew great numbers of their troops . The Knights solemnly prayed and fasted ,

as was the Avont of the founders of the Order , confiding their cause to the care of the God of Fights ; and , in an unexpected sally , they performed such prodigies of valour , and carried death