The Knights Templars.

the Lord hath consecrated with his own blood , know that at the period of the departure of these letters , an immense number of pilgrims , both Knights and foot soldiers , marked with the

emblem of the life giving cross , had arrived at Acre from Germany and other parts of Europe . Saif-Eddin , the great Sultan of Egypt , hath remained closely within the confines of his own dominions , not daring in any way to molest us . The arrival

of the King of Hungary , and of the Dukes of Austria and Moravia , together with the intelligence just received of the near approach of the fleet of the Eriths has not a little alarmed him . Never do we recollect the power of the Pagans so

low as at the present time ; and may the omnipotent God , O ! holy Father , make it grow weaker and weaker day by day . But we must inform you that in these parts corn and barley and all the necessaries of life , have become

extraordinarily dear . This year the harvest has utterly disappointed the expectations of our husbandmen , and has almost totally failed . The natives , indeed , now depend for support altogether upon the corn imported from the West , but as yet very little

foreign grain has been received and to increase our uneasiness , nearly all our Knights are dismounted , and we cannot procure horses to supply the places of those that have perished . It is therefore of the utmost importance , O holy Father , to

advertise all who design to assume the Cross of the above scariety , that they may furnish themselves with plentiful supplies of grain and horses . " Before the arrival of the King of Hungary and the Duke of Austria , we had come to the

determination of marching against the city of Naplous , and of bringing the Saracen Chief Coradin to an engagement if he would have awaited our attack , but we have all now determined to undertake an

expedition into Egypt , to destroy the city of Damietta , and we shall then march upon Jerusalem" * The Musselmen were undoubtedly taken by surprise , and could offer but a feeble resistance to the

Crusaders . It is said that on the first meeting of the hostile forces they lost a thousand men . - ' r The disgraceful retreat from Mount Tabor , however , produced dissension , and the Christian army disbanded and hurried to the maritime towns , to seize the earliest opportunity of returning to Europe . The King of Hungary , who considered

his three months sojourn in Palestine a sufficient fulfilment of his vow , returned home , taking with him most of his stores and soldiers . The King of Cyprus was about to follow his example , when he

fell sick at Tripoli and died . The Templars , with the assistance of the Teutonic Knights , Andrew d'Avesnes and the Flemish Crusaders , completed the powerful fortress Chateau Pelerin , on Mount Carmel . *

Egypt had long been an object of cupidity to the Christians alike from its wealth , and the belief that by conquering it the Holy Land would be the speedier cleared of the Musselmen . There was wisdom in this , and had the Christians followed up their advantage the scheme would have been crowned with success . Considerable

reinforcements arrived in the spring , among them Templars and Hospitallers , who during their voyage , had stopped for a short time in Portugal and done good service against the Moors . Upon their arrival it was resolved at once to proceed to besiege

Damietta , which was looked upon as the key of Egypt . The fleet assembled off Acre where the Crusaders embarked , and in the month of May , led by the gallies of the Temple , they proceeded on the voyage . A favourable wind in three days

brought them before Damietta , and casting anchor the troops disembarked on the western side ofthe Nile . t

The city of Damietta , situated at the distance of of a mile from the sea , had a double rampart on the river side , and a triple wall on the land side ; a strong castle called Taphnis built on a rock arose in the middle of the Nile , and an iron chain which

reached from the city to the tower prevented the passage of vessels . The city contained a numerous garrison with provisions and munitions of war sufficient to sustain a prolonged siege . Damietta had already several times resisted

formidable attacks of the Christians . Roger , King of Sicily , had made himself Master of it in the preceding century , but he was not able to retain and defend it against the united forces of the

Musselmen . The Templars encamped upon the left bank of the Nile , immediately opposite Damietta , while their galleys were drawn up in a line across the river . They fortified their camp by surrounding

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