The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . ( Continued from page 410 ) . BOOK III . —CHAPTER II .

GRAND MASTEE—GILBERT GRALIUS . Herman cle Salza , the fourth Grand Master of the Order , having by his consummate prudence and superior abilities , found means to terminate the unhappy dissensions existing between Pope

Honoi-ius III . ancl the Emperor Frederick II ., the latter being desirous of conferring upon the Grand Master a signal mark of his gratitude , conferred on him ancl his successors , the dignity of Prince of the Empire , and permission as already stated ,

to charge the arms of the Order with the Imperial Eagle . His Holiness presented him with a valuable ring , enjoining him to wear it constantly . Since that epoch it was customai-y to invest a newly elected Grand Master with that ring .

The Knights acquired so great fame that Conrad , Duke of Massovia and Cujavia , sent an ambassador in 1229 to their Grand Master Salza , requesting his friendship and aid against the Prussians . Wishing to attract the Order into his

states , the Duke granted to the Kni ghts ( Culm and Lobau , and whatsoever they might conquer from the Prussians ) to the end that the latter mi ght be driven from his territories . This donation was confirmed by Pope Gregory IX . This led to their

taking part in a bloody war for the purpose of forcing Christianity upon the heathen nations inhabiting the southern shores of the Baltic , and which resulted in the Order acquiring possession of Prussia , Livonia , and other adjoining territories .

In the year 1186 Mainard first preached Christianity to the Livouiaus , and erected the Bishopric of Riga ; but his successors meeting with many difficulties in the year 1200 , Albert , then Bishop of Livonia , instituted the Order of Knights

Porfes-Glaives , in imitation of the Teutons , with the design of extirpating idolatry , and promoting the spread of Christianity . He prescribed to these Knights the Cistercian rule and habit , viz ., a long white mantle and black hood ; on the breast two

swords in saltire , whence their title of Brethren-Sword Bearers . Their Statutes were similar to the Knights Templars , and they vowed obedience and chastity . Pope Innocent III . confirmed the Order , which became fully instituted in 1203 . In

1237 finding themselves unequal to the task forwhich they were instituted , they called in the aid of the Teutons , by whose help they overcame the-Livonians , and established Christianity , whereupon the Grand Master of Livonia , acknowledged

the-Grand Master of Prussia as his sujaerior . During the 13 th and subsequent century , warriors from all parts of Europe joined the Teutonic standard , including Henry IV . of England , accompanied by 300 Knights and men-at-arms . The

conquests of the Order raised it to the rank of a sovereign power , with a territory extending from the Oder to the Baltic , and embracing a population of between two and three millions . After

being driven , with the other Orders from Palestine , they established their head quarters in Venice , bat soon after transferred them to Marienburg . The decline of the Order began in the 15 th century . It not only suffered on account of the

burthensome wars in which it was engaged , but it was also convulsed and torn by intestine divisions during a long- series of years . Under the administration of the Grand Master Conrad de Juningen , Uladislaus Jagellon , the then reigning King of Poland , endeavoured to profit by these internal feuds . With the assistance of his father

Withold , Duke of Lithuania , he attacked Prussia ; , but the General of Livonia coming opportunely to the aid of the Grand Master , defeated that project , and in 1403 peace was declared , but which was of short duration , being broken by Ulrich de

Juningen . War was again declared , and the King with an army of 150 , 000 men attacked the Grand Master , who had only 83 , 000 men under baton . The battle began at Tonnenberg on loth July , 1410 , and the slaughter was prodigious on both

sides . Authentic accounts set down the Polish loss at 60 , 000 , and the Teutonic at 40 , 000 . The harshness of the Knights caused several countries and cities to form an alliance against them , which was concluded at Marienverder , and in 1453

the greatest part of Prussia seceded from the Knights , ancl put itself under the protection of the King of Poland . A bloody war ensued , desperate and vindictive , till the Pope in 1466 was forced to interfere , when peace was declared . A treaty was

entered into at Thorn , between Casimir IV . of Poland , and the Grand Master in the following ? terms . Pomeralia , Culm , and Michelau , and the cities of Ermland , Marienburg , and Elbing , were ceded to the crown of Poland ; the remainder of Prussia to the Order , the Grand Master receiving