The Knights Templars.

ciled and purified them , the divine mysteries are daily celebrated , for which God be praised . To visit which places , the road lies open , free , and secure to all . Nor is it doubtful but ifc might remain in this happy and prosperous state for a very long time if in these times the Christians alone in this side the sea would be from this moment of

one mmd and of one heart . Bufc , alas ! how many are there , who through hatred and envy are contrary with us , and troublesome to us , in these and other affairs , which tend to the aggrandizement of the Holy Land . Wherefore , we alone ,

with our convent and the prelates of thechurches , together with a few of the barons of the land , who afford us all the assistance in their power , carry on our shoulders the burden of defending the land . We have wished to possess the entrance to the

country where it touches on the land of Babylon and on the land of Jerusalem , that is to say towards Gaza . In this we have been assisted by the Sultan of Damascus , and by Nazal * , Lord of Carac , not without great peril and fatigue to our persons , great expense of money , and long and

prudent forethought , which we have given to this business . And yet we fear that God will take heavy vengeance by punishing those for ingratitude , who were slothful and rebellious in this affair . Moreover , as a guard and safety for our

land , we propose to erect near Jerusalem , an exceedingly strong castle above Thoron ( if we can succeed in procuring the aid of courageous men ) by which it is hoped that all the land will be the more easily retained , and for ever defended from

enemies . But these things which we possess we are by no means in a position to possess and powerfully to defend for a long time against the Sultan , who is a most potent and crafty man , unless Christ , and his faithful followers , afford us effectual support . " *

Shortly after the capture of Jerusalem , the Templars upon the suggestion of Benedict , Bishop of Marseilles , who was struck with its formidable

position at the cost of eleven thousand golden bezants , rebuilt their strong fortress of Safet . The Bishop laid the foundation stone , and there were employed on the work eight hundred and fifty masons and artificers , and four hundred slaves .

In time of peace it was garrisoned by seventeen hundred men , but the war establishment was twenty two hundred . Ibn Alatsyr relates a gallant action of the

Antioch brethren . * A troop of Turcomans from Aleppo had seized a Templar of Antioch and slain him . The Grand Preceptor of the province thereupon marched against the Turcomans defeated them in a pitched battle , and returned with

many prisoners and much spoil . On another occasion the Templars " more by miracle than by human strength gained a glorious and unexpected victory over many thousands of the Saracens , who had come from the parts near Babylon . "f

Addison expresses his wonder at the successful retention by a mere handful of Templars , of cities and territories which had with difficulty been conquered by the united strength of the Christian arms . When we remember the

admirable discipline of the Templars who were moreover the picked Knights of Christendom the sternness of their rule and the esprit de corps , we cease to wonder . The armies brought against them were for the most part unable to cope wfth

them in the field , and it was only by numbers that they could be overcome . Thus we always find the Saracens loss , even where they gained the victory , ten to one of the Templars . The Christians who came to take part in the wars

were not only ignorant of the Musselmen tactics , but altogether incapacitated for effective good by underrating the dangers and difficulties , and unable to stand the climate . What was necessary for the safe keeping of the Christian territory was

a standing army , constantly recruited from the flower of Europe . It was this that made the military Orders so powerful . The Christian armaments for the most part arrived in times of peace , and when they were not wanted ,

therefore they hastened home again without any serviceable recruifcs being drafted into the army for times of war .

The loss of the Hol y City came like a thunderclap upon the Musselmen , who were plunged in the profoundest grief at the tidings . J The Sultan of Egypt sent an army to drive them out , bufc the Templars defeated it in a battle fought in the

hill country near Jerusalem . The Sultan finding that he could not dislodge the Christians , backed by the Sultan of Damascus , called into his aid the fierce and warlike Carizmans , a pastoral and wandering race from the Caspian . For years they had marched from place to place destroying everything that came in their way . They overrun