The Knights Templars.

Avho might be associated Avith her in the government . The princess passed by the most illustrious nobles and knights , and captiA r ated by the personal beauty and chivairic bravery of Renaud , would accepit of none but him for her husband . "By

this marriage , " says William of Tyre , " Avhich filled the Christian Barons Avith surprise , she raised an obscure young' man to the throne of Antioch . " A formidable party , with Almeric the Patriarch at its head , Avas formed against him .

Renaud , enraged at their conduct , cast into prison all that opposed him , and ordered the Patriarch to be led to the top of one of the towers of the citadel , and ivith his bare head rubbed Avith honey , left during the heat of an entire summer ' s day ,

exposed to the flies aud insects . Thereafter he made Avar upon the Emperor of Constantinople , but Avas defeated and had to sue for peace . Turning his arms against the Saracens , he put to flight the army of Noureddin , which had then advanced towards Antioch , but he thereafter fell into an ambuscade , and was taken prisoner .

Alter being detained sometime m captivity he was liberated , and returned to Antioch , ivhere he found his [ ivife dead , ancl the son of Raymond , who had arrived at the age of maturity , established in the kingdom . He departed for Jerusalem ,

Avhere he was cordially Avelcomed , and succeeded in espousing the AVICIOAV of Humphrey de Thonron , by which marriage he became Master of Carac , and some castles in the regions of Arabia and Palestine . To his neAvly acquired possessions

Eenaud repaired , taking Avith him a great number of the Templars . He had began to ra \ ish Arabia , Avhen the . truce Avas concluded with Saladin , but nothing could induce him to lay down his arms . It was in vain that the king , moved hy the

complaints of Saladin , implored him to desist ; AVitn the aid of the Templars he continued his attacks upon the Infidel , and even conceived the daringproject of going to the cities of Mecca and Medina , and plundering' the Kaaba and the tomb of

Mahomet . At the head of a small but intrepid band of Avarriors , he set forward on his march , surprised the Egyptian merchants Avho Avere bearing back the treasures of India , and , preceded by terror , advanced in triumph into a country ivhieh

had never before been trod by the Christians . Renaud and his companions had reached the valley of Rabid , ten leagues from Medina , Avhen they Avere surprised by the Saracens and defeated . Renaud escaped to Carac Avith a feAV companions

almost by a miracle , while those AVIIO fell into the hands of the Saracens Avere put to a cruel death . Saladin Avhen he heard of this audacious attempt , which he considered a frightful sacrilege , Avas filled Avith fury , and sAvore upon the Koran to revenge

the insult offered to the Mohammedan religion . The Sultan , Avhom the Christians already began to call " The Scourge of God , " entered Galilee Avith sword aiid fire , and advancing toAvards Carac , repeated constantly his oath of putting Eenaud to

death , with his OAVU hand . He failed in possessing himself of the castle of Carac , for one Knight alone maintaining the draAvbridge , by a glorious death deprived Saladin of this conquest . After destroying Naplous and several other great cities , he

retired Avith his army to Mesopotamia . In 1178 , the Templars , to protect the road leading from Damascus to Jerusalem , with the assistance of the King , commenced to build the castle of Jacob's Ford , at the Jordan , so as to check the

incursions of the Arabs . On hearing of this , Saladin determined to punish the Templars for their share in the schemes of Renaud cle Chatillon , as Avell as for the many defeats they hacl caused him to sustain . He advanced at the head of his forces

to oppose the Avork , and Baldwin , Avith his chivalry , hastened to assist the Templars . A general action ensued , which resulted in tbe complete overthroAV of the Cross . For a long A \ hile the soldiery of the Temple and the Hospital , along ivith the Count

of Tripoli , stood firm on the summit of a small hillock , and presented a courageous front to tho enemy ; but at length the Count of Tripoli , cutting his ivay through the foe , fled to Tyre , the Master of the Hospitallers , after seeing almost all his

brethren slain , threAv himself into the Jordan , and amid a flight of arroivs from the Infidel , sAvam across it , and covered Avith ivounds , made his Avay

to the Castle of Beaufort , while the Templars fought bravely to the last , scorning to flee from the enemy , Odo himself holding the Beauseant aloft on the fall of the Grand Marshal . Finally , most of the Templars fell dead under the bloAVS of

their myriad enemies , and the Grand Master AA as taken prisoner . Saladin followed up his victory by an attack upon the newly erected fortress , Avhich ivas defended by thick Avails , flanked ivith huge toAvers , and furnished Avith military engines .

After a gallant resistance on tho part of the Templar garrison , it Avas set on fire and then stormed . The Templars , Avrites Abulpharadge , flung themselves , some into the fire , ivhere they ivere burned ;