The Knights Templars.

from the Holy Land , Innocent again resumed the idea of a Crusade . By every means in his power he inflamed the military and religious ardour of the Christians , and adding- example to precept he sent the Templars and Hospitallers in 1209 , 2 , 700

livres of Provence , and 1 , 400 marks of silver , to be employed in the defence of the Holy Land . The truce AYith the Sultan having expired , de Plessis refused to renew it , * aud upon the arrival of the French , Avith de Brienne , the Avar

recommenced , Avhen several decisive engagements took place , in which the Musselmen Avere defeated , and driven across the desert to Egypt . The French , Avho had come to take part in the festivities of the marriage between Mary de Brienne ,

soon Avearied of the rough game of Avar and returned home , although the Sultan of Damascus had broken into the Christian territory and ravaged the country up to the A ery gates of . Acre . The Templars Avere again embroiled with the King of

Armenia , and much blood Avas shed before that irrepressible monarch was brought to terms . De Plessis , Avhile marching through the Armenian territory Avith a body of troops , conveying victuals

to a castle of the Order was set upon by Leon ' s adherents . The Grand Master Avas wounded , and several of his Knights slain . This last outrage exhausted the Pope's patience , and he ordered the King to be excommuuicated , and his dominions

placed under interdict . f The year following the Christians were cast into gloom by the death of the youthful Queen Mary , in the twentieth year of her age . She left one daughter , Violante , and de Brienne , following the example of Guyde Lusignan ,

continued to reign as King . The Pope wrote urgent letters to the military Orders , commanding them to lend him every assistance to maintain Imposition on the throne , and to suppress disaffection . J

Innocent continued to press on the Crusade , and that no more time should be lost , summoned a general council to be held at Rome . This council met in the summer of 1215 , and was largely attended representatives from the military

Orders , the Emperors of Germany and Constantinople and the kiugs of France , England , Hungary , Jerusalem , Cyprus , and Oragon being present . The Assembly Avarmly supported the cause , and preachers Avere appointed , amongst them

Jacques de Vitri , the enthusiastic eulogist of the Templars . Philip of France gave a fourth part of his territorial revenues for the expence of the Crusade . Innocent died , however , before the expedition started , and was succeeded by Honoiius III .

The persons who assumed the Cross Avere John of England , Frederick of Germany , the King of Hungary , the Dukes of Bavaria and Austria . Many prelates nobles aud Kni ghts followed their example . The King of Hungary Avith the Dukes

of Bavaria aud Austria Avere the first to set out on the march , and lauded at Acre in 1217 . The day after the Feast of All Saints , the Crusaders prepared for for Avar , marching out of Acre and encamping by the brook Kishon . Next morning

the Patriarch of Jerusalem , accompanied by the Templars and Hospitallers joined them , bringing Avith them a piece of True Cross , which , it was affirmed , had been cut off , before the battle of Tiberias . * Placing this relic at the head of the

army , and led by the Templars , the Crusaders traversed the passes of Gilboa to Bisan , descended into the A ^ alley of the Jordan and there pitched their tents . Thereafter they marched round the lake of Tiberias to Bethsaida , and returned to Acre

without having met an enemy . The original project had been to proceed to the Nile , but the season was too far advanced for the Crusaders to encounter

the difficulties of such a campaign . That something might be done in the cause of the Cross , the Templars advised an attack upon the fortress of Mount Tabor , Avhich appears to have been a source of great annoyance to them , they having

possessions in the neighbourhood , and the Chateau Pelerin being only six miles distant , made it of vital importance to have it destroyed . The fortress of Mount Tabor had been destroyed by Saladin after the battle of Tiberias , but was rebuilt

by Saif-Eddin . The Crusaders accordingly marched against the fortress , the Templars in the van and the Hospitallers fetching up the rear . The attack was attended with a thousand dangers , but nothing

could daunt the courage of the assailants . The Patriarch marched at their head carrying the fragment of the Cross , and inspired them by his example . Enormous stones Avere rolled down the slopes by the attacked , showers of javelins and arroAVS swept the roads , but the A alour of the