The Knights Templars.

Jacques cle Vitri writes of the Templars at this period , that " they seek to expel the enemies of the Cross of Christ from the dominions of the Christians by fighting manfully , and by moving to battle at the signal and command of him who is

at the head of their forces , not impetuously nor disorderly , but prudently aud with all caution , the first in advance the last in retreat ; nor is it permitted them to turn their backs in flight , nor to retreat without orders . They are become-so

formidable to the adversaries of the faith of Christ that one chases a thousand , and two ten thousand ; not asking when there is a call of arms how many the enemies are , but where they are ; lions in war , gentle lambs at home ; rugged warriors on an

expedition , like monks aud eremites in the Church . " From this we may presume that the Order in the Holy Land had still some pretensions to their predecessor ' s high and venerable character . SaifJEddin had appointed his fifteen sons to separate principalities throughout his vast

dominions , but after his death disputes arose among them as to the supremacy , and a conspiracy was formed to seige the person of his brother Malek Kamel , then in the camp before Damietta , and to dethrone him . On the eve of the day on which

the plot was to be carried into effect , the Sultan warned , left the camp in the middle of the night . On the morning the conspirators discovering that their victim had escaped attempted to seduce the soldiers into rebellion , With some they succeeded ,

but with others they failed . Confusion ensued ; a panic seized upon the loyal portion of the army , who abandoned tents and baggage , aud hastily and in the greatest disorder followed the Sultan . Seizing advantage of this , the Tero ^ lars followed

by the other Christians , crossed the Nile . They were fiercely opposed by the Musselmen on landing , one of their vessels was driven against the bank and boarded , upon whicli the Templars , with their axes , cut holes in her bottom , and both they and their enemies were drowned . Of this , Wendover writes : *

" Like oamson when dying , slew more enemies than during his life , so these martyrs for Christ took more enemies with them into the abj ^ ss of waters than they could have destroyed with the sword . " The Templars , however , at length succeeded in forcing a landing , and were the first to ascend the bank , striking down the Musselmen

and driving them back upon Damietta . The Musselmen abandoned their camp which was given up to plunder . Damietta was then closely surrounded , a trench was dug round the city , aud means were taken to prevent succours reaching

the inhabitants . Two bridges of boats were thrown across the Nile as a communication between the old and new camps , and the charge of one of these was given to the Templars . The Musselmen made a desperate attempt to relieve

the city , but were defeated with immense slaughter , but on making another attempt they succeeded in routing the Templars , though there their success stopped . Meanwhile Coradin , who had taken advantage

of the absence of the Christians from Palestine to lay siege to the Chateau Peleriu , hearing of these disasters , hurried with his forces to the Nile . * He endeavoured , after forcing the old camp , to drive the Templars from the bridge of boats under their

charge , but failed . On the 81 st of July he made a general attack upon the camp , the trenches were forced , the infantry put to flight , and the Christians were falling into a panic , when de Montagu at the head of his Knights , made a

brilliant charge , and hurled back the leading columns of the enemy . " The spirit which led Gideon , " writes de Vitry , who was present , " animated the Templars ; the Master with the marshal and others of the brethren of the Temple

stimulated the rest of the army , who advanced valiantly to their support . Thus did the Lord on that day , through the valour of the Templars , save those who put their trust in Him . "t Much to the discontent of the Christians several

of the Crusaders returned home . The Duke of Austria thought he had done sufficient in fulfilment of his vow , and left the camp , presenting the Templars with fifty marks of gold , and his brother the Count of Austria gave them five hundred marks of silver . !

On the 29 th of August the Crusaders attacked the Musselmen ancl routed them , but untaught by experience no sooner did the enemy abandon their camp than the Christians fell to plundering . Seeing this Coradin rallied his troops ancl returned to

assail the Crusaders , but the Templars and Hospitallers rushed to meet him , and had it not been for their brilliant gallantry , the standard ofthe Cross