The Knights Templars.

it with a ditch and wall . During four months battles were of daily occurrence , but without any advantage being gained by the Christians . The Castle of Taphins defied all their efforts , and

without capturing it , the city was unassailable . To capture it became the absorbing endeavour of the Crusaders . The Duke of Austria and the Hospitallers constructed two scaling ladders lashed to cogs , but on advancing to the castle they were snapped in two and the attackers thrown into the water where several were drowned . The

Frieslanders and Germans under the command of Adolphus de Monte , fortified a ship with bulwarks , with a small kind of castle at the top of the mast . On advancing to the attack , the Musselmen launched out destructive missies aud Greek fire , so that they were forced to retire . The Templars succeeded no better , the combustible materials

proving overpowering . At length the Germans and Frieslanders joined together two cogs with planks , and so having secured a firm footing thay erected four masts and yards to the same , and on the top fixed a turret made of basket work , which they covered with

hides to keep off the Greek fire . Under the tui'ret they constructed a scalingladder hung with strong ropes and reaching thirty cubits beyond the prow of the vessel . On the sixth day before the feast of St . Bartholomew ,

the Crusaders devoutly marched forth barefoot in solemn procession to the fragment of the Cross , the clergy in advance chanting and reading the service , and humbly imploring the Divine

assistance to the success of the undertaking . On St . Bartholomew ' s day the attack commenced , and in spite of the swollen state of the river and the fierce resistance of the defenders , the Crusaders succeeded in anchoring their machine close to the

tower . A desperate assault was then made , the Patriarch lying prostrate on the ground before the Cross , and the clergy standing around him barefoot , called loudly on heaven for aid . In spite of the gallant defence the castle was stormed , the

iron chain broken , and the Crusading fleet sailing up , took position opposite to Damietta . The loss on the part of the Crusaders was trifling , but one of the Templars' vessels was very seriously injured .

The brave Saif-Eddin about this time died , but the Crusaders after obtaining possession of Taphnis instead of vigorously prosecuting the war , with the advantages which such a death afforded them , at

once neglected the labours of the siege , and appear to have fallen asleep after their first victory . The Friths and the Germans , in spite of expostulations and threats returned home , but they were speedily

succeeded by Genoese , Pisan and French Crusaders . The Pope sent two Cardinals with these Crusaders , Robert de Courcon , one of the preachers ofthe Crusade , and Pelagius , Bishop of Alban ' s . A more unfortunate selection could not have been

made than of the latter . Imperious , vain , and ignorant , he deemed himself born to command man' and control the elements . Puffed up with vanity at the council board , he threatened everyone who dared to differ with him with

excommunication- If the fourth Crusade was ruined by theclergy , the sixth was equally so by Pelagius . His colleague died shortly after landing at Damietta , and this calls from William of Tyre the sarcastic remark , " Thus died Cardinal Peter , and Pelagius lived , which was a greater pity . ""

Malek Kamel , son of Saif-Eddin , with a large force , lay encamped opposite to the Crusaders . Seeing the supineness of the Christians , and deeming the opportunity favourable , on the 9 th of September thebrazen kettledrum of attack boomed ,

the Mussehnen march to battle , while the Templars hastened to meet them . A sanguinary conflict ensued which ended in Malek Kamel forces being repulsed with great slaughter . The Musselmen were however daily receiving reinforcements ,

Damietta was well provisioned and garrisoned , and was in a condition to sustain a lengthy siege . The news of these roused the Christians from their

state of inaction . Animated by their leaders , but more by the appearance of danger and the presence of a formidable enemy ; still led by the King of Jerusalem , who had at last refused to submit to Pelagius , the Crusader resumed the siege ,

and made several assaults upon the city on the river side . The winter which had just set in did not stop their attacks ; nothing could equal the heroic constancy with which they braved during several months , cold , rain , hunger , all the fatigues

of war , and all the rigours ofthe seasons . On the feast of St . Andrew the Apostle , in the middle of the night , the waves of the sea rose and made dreadful inroads , extending up to the camp of the Crusaders . The waters of the Nile thus checked ,

overflowed and inundated the camp . The Templars lost all their provisions , arms , and baggage ; and when the waters receded large fish were found in the tents . To add to the horrors of this catas-