The Knights Templars.

some cast themselves into the Jordan ; some jumped CIOAVU the Avail on to the rocks , and were dashed to pieces . Saladin reduced the fortress to a heap of ruins , and the enraged Sultan ordered all the Templars taken to be saivn iu two ,

excepting the most distinguished of the Knights , Avho Avere reserved for ransom , and were sent in chains to Aleppo . To Odo , Saladin offered freedom on his engaging to liberate his nepheiv , AVIIO had been taken at the battle of Ascalon , and Avas then a

prisoner in the hands of the Templars ; but the haughty Grand Master replied— " I Avill never , by my example , encourage any of my Knights to be mean enough as to surrender . A Templar ought to conquer or to die , and the only ransom I shall

offer is , my girdle and my knife . " This ivas all the ransom allowed by the statutes to be offered for the release of a Templar from captivity , AVIIO , consequently , fought in the field Avith the conviction that captivity Avas death . Saladin , enraged at

this ansiver of the Graud JIaster , had him conveyed to Damascus and cast into a dungeon ; but the haughty spirit of Odo could not bear this reverse of fortune . He pined in his prison-house , and at length , refusing all food , died , his bearing proud and noble to the last .

Perhaps , of all the Grand Masters , Odo , by his haughtiness and determined vindication of the rights of the Order , did the most , to alienate the affections of the nobles of the Holy Land , from the Templars . In all assemblies he claimed his

proper place , and would brook no superior but the Pope . But if he vindicated the honour of the Order in the Avorld , he did not relax the severity of the rule iu the house , for he Avas austere and firm , in supporting ancl carrying out the Lowsdrawn up

, by St Bernard , and punished severely any infraction of them . His end proved that he preferred death to setting a disloyal example to his brethren . Saladin , on hearing of his death , moved by admiration of his gallantry , ordered him to be buried

Avith magnificent honours ; and his brethren of the Temple Avopt and fasted many days for their Grand Master .

The Templars had , meantime , been gradually increasing iu importance and favour with the sovereigns of Europe . During the disputes between the Pope and the Albigenses , it was affirmed that all archbishops , bishops , priests , monks , canons , hermits ,

recluses , Templars , and Hospitallers , were certain of Heaven , a significant proof of how the Knights stood in the favour of the Holy Father . In 11 G 1 , King

Henry of England and King Louise of France disagreed respecting the division of their territories , and the castles of Gisors and Neafle , which at that time were in the hands of Louis , and which Henry claimed as properly belonging to his dukedom of Normandy . But shortly after they agreed to the following

conditions .- —That the King of France should give his two daughters , Margaret aud Alice , whom he had by his wife , the daughter of the King of Spain , in marriage to Henry and Eichard , the two sons of Henry , who were as yet but children ; that he should

deliver the before-named castles of Gisors and Neaile into the hands of the Templars for safe custody , until such time as his above-mentioned daughters should be married to Henry ' s sons ; and that it should be arranged with Robert de Pirou and Testes de Saint "

Omer , who ivere the leaders of the Templars , placed ' in charge of the castles , that when Margaret , the daughter of the King of France ; should be married to Henry , the son of the King of England , they

should deliver up to King Henry both of the said castles . These terms being agreed to on both sides and confirmed by oath , the King of France delivered both of his daughters to the King of England , and the castles into the custody of the Templars . Shortly after this , the Kmg of England caused his son Henry

to be married to Margaret , the daughter of the King , of France , although the spouses were * ' but little children , " accordiug to Roger de Hoveden , " crying in the cradle , " Robert de Pirou , Tostes de St . Omer , and Richard de Hastings , Knights Templars ,

beingwitnesses and consenters to the marriage , and thereupon , in terms of the agreement between the kings ,, they delivered up the castles to Henry . Louis , finding himself thus outivitted by the King of England , ivas extremely indignant with the Templars ,

andbanished the three Knights from his kingdom . They thereupon repaired to England , ivhere they were . received by King Henry ivith great kindness , and he . conferred ou them manv honours .

Shortly after their arrival , Henry and Thomas . A'Becbett , the Archbishop of Canterbury , came to an opeu rupture , ivhieh perceiving , the Bishops of Salisbury and Norwich , Robert Earl of Leicester . Reginald Earl of Cornwall , and the two Templars ,. Richard de Hastings and Tostes de Saint Omer

, repaired to the archbishop , and , after much entreaty , prevailed upon him to be reconciled to the king . The disputes , however , were soon renewed ; the Popebecame a party to them , and the archbishop had to . flee from England . The king thereupon issued a

violent edict against both the Pope and the archbishop , who replied to it by extremely violent letters . Henry would not submit to the domineering demands of the churchmen , and the Pope excommunicated the adherents of Henry , aud among them , Richard de