The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 29 , 1863 .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HATE . ( Continued from page 146 ) . BOOK THIRD—CHAPTER ELEVEN .

GltAND MASTEKS—WlLLIAH DE BEAUJEU AND THEOBALD G-AUDINIUS . The Templcvrs send to Europe for assistance . —The Council of Lyons . —Bendocdar poisoned . —Truces with Ms suecessor . —Attach on Tripoli — Siege of Acre . —Heroism of

the defence . —De Beaujeu slain and Acre captured . —The Templars retire to the Cctstle , offer a stvMorm defence , hut are obliged to quit it by night . — -The Templars abandon the Holy Land , A . D . 1273-1298 .

On the 13 fch of May , 1273 , the Templars assembled at Chateau Pelerin , to elect a Grand Master . William de Poucon had been Regent of the Order since the death of De Beraud but the brethren thought it expedient in their then perilous

state , at once to elect a Grand Master . Furthermore , it was considered proper , so that the European brethren might be attracted to the Holy Land , to elect one of the Preceptors in the West , and their choice fell upon William de Beaujeu ,

Preceptor of Apulia , a veteran warrior of a hundred battles . William de Poucon , and Bertrand de Fox were despatched to Europe to convey to him the tidings of his election , and to explain to him the perilous state of the Holy Land , and the pressing necessity of haying succours sent thither . The Grand Master of the Hospitallers had come

to Europe for the purpose of despatching troops to the East , and William de Beaujeu and he waited OIL Pope Gregory X . to urge upon him the necessity of summoning the Western Christians to their assistance . They accompanied the Pope to

the famous council of Lyons , where they took precedence of all the peers and ambassadors present at that assembly . It was there resolved to preach a new crusade , that a tax should be levied upon all ecclesiastical benefices , and that the sovereigns of

Europe should cease their wars and aid in drivingback the infidel . Prom Lyons William de Beaujeu went to England , and on his arrival at London he held a chapter at the new Temple , and Edward I ., who had borrowed a considerable sum of money

when at Acre , repaid the money to him there . The Pope died in the midst of his exertions for promoting the Crusade , and thereupon the

enthusiasm which had been awakened by his influence died away , and those who had put on the Cross forgot their vows . William de Beaujeu , finding no assistance could be got from Europe , collected a small band of English and French Knights , and

with sorrow and chagrin set sail for the Holy Land , landing at Acre on St . Michael ' s Day , 1275 . Shortly after his arrival , Bendocdar died by poison . His son , Malek Said , was deposed immediately upon ascending the throne , and

Malek-Mansour-Kelavim , the bravest of the Mamlook emirs , seized the sceptre . All hope of recovering the Holy Land was abandoned by William de Beaujeu , and his whole efforts were directed to the preservation of those cities still in the

possession of the Christians . For this purpose he entered into various truces with Malek-Mansour , by which the Christians became bound not to rebuild any fortifications . These treaties , however , the Sultan had no intention of keeping , and the

Christians having built a watch-tower between Merkab and Tortosa , the war commenced anew . Merkab , Laodicea , and Koak fell before the arms ofthe infidel , and' on the 9 th of February , 1287 , the Sultan advanced against Tripoli , which , under

the command of John de Breband , Preceptor of the Templars there , made a desperate resistance . With a few knights and serving brethren , he kept the ramparts against all attackers , but the infidel having poured Greek fire upon them , they were speedily overthrown and the town sacked .

In the midst of his victorious career Malek-Mansour died , and was succeeded by his eldest son , Aschraf Khalil , who prosecuted the schemes of his father , and assembling a large army laid siege to Acre . His army was so immense that it

covered a space of several leagues between the sea and the mountains , while three hundred engines of war—one of which , according to Aboulfe do , who was present at the siege , a hundred chariots were scarcely sufficient to transport—were placed in line

to batter the walls . These formidable preparations struck terror to the hearts of the citizens . They flocked to the churches and cried to Heaven for aid , and gave themselves up to the wildest transports of despair . William de Beaujeu , at the

sight of their abject fear , grew desponding of success , and convened an assembly of the leaders to consult on the best means of preserving the city and the lives of the inhabitants . It was resolved to send messengers to treat with the Sultan for peace , ancl De Beaujeu ancl one or two of the