The Knights Templars.

de Ridefort and the nobles at once agreed , and gave their solemn oaths to obey him she might choose for her husband as their king ; whereupon Sybilla agreed to be divorced tram Guy . These arrangements being concluded , the Grand Master

of Templars ordered the gates of Jerusalem to be closed , and placed in the charge of his Knights . To this he added strict orders to the preceptors , who had the command of the guards of the gates , to alloiv no one to enter or leave the city , without

a written order from himself . Guarded by a strong force of Templars , Sybilla , still attended by Guy de Lusignan , was then conducted to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre , where the Patriarch and the clergy were Avaiting to receive them . The

crowns of the kingdom of Jerusalem were carefully preserved in a chest in the Treasury , Avhich was guarded by tAvo locks . The keys of these locks were severally kept by the Grand Masters of the Templars and the Hospitallers . Roger de

Moulins , Grand Master of the Hospitallers , did not appear with the other nobles at the ceremony of the coronation , being a staunch friend of the

Count of Tripoli , nor did he send the key of the crown-chest which was in his custody . When this was told to De Ridefort , he sent to Roger de Moulins demanding the key ; but the Hospitaller declined to give it up . Thereupon De Ridefort

and the Patriarch , after consultation , went- to the Hospital , but they were at first refused admittance . After much delay , and not without many threats of punishment , they obtained entrance to the presence of the Grand Master , and demanded from

Mm the key in the Queen's name . This he refused to do , and high ivords ensued . At length , taking the key from the place where it was concealed , he threw it scornfully on the ground . The Patriarch

picked it up , and , along with Gerard de Ridefort , lie proceeded to the Treasury , took the ci'OAvns from the chest , and proceeded with them to the church . One of the CI-OAVUS Heraclius placed npon the high altar , and the other by the side of

the chair upon which Sybilla sat . He then pronounced , in a loud voice , the divorce of the Queen from Guy de Lusignan , after which he proceeded to perform the solemn ceremony of the coronation . Kneeling before the sacred tomb of Jesus , he

took the oath of allegiance to Sybilla , in the name of the clergy and people . When placing the crown upon the broAv of the Queen , he reminded her that she ivas but a frail Avoman , unable to cope with or overcome the dangers which then

threatened the Holy Land , and commanded her to make choice of some one AVIIO , in conjunction with herself , might govern the kingdom . Sybilla then rose and took up the second crown , and turning to Guy de Lusignan , who was kneeling

before her , said— " My Lord Guy , I make choice of thee as my king and my husband , and as Lord of Jerusalem . Those ivhom God hath joined let no man put asunder . Receive this crown , sire , for I knoAV of no one more worthy to wear it than ,

yourself . " This choice took the nobles by snprise , and , though chagrined and disappointed , they could not but admire the cleverness with which a

simple woman had outwitted the most astute councillors of Jerusalem . They made no complaint , hoAvever , for the oath Avhich Sybilla had so craftily Avon from them , to obey the husband she might prefer , sealed their lips . The Patriarch crowned

Guy King of Jerusalem , and bestoAved upon him his blessing . Divine service being ended , Gerard de Ridefort gave the King and Queen and the nobles a sumptuous entertainment at the House of the Templars at Jerusalem .

The coronation of Guy was one of those grave mistakes which Avere continually occurring in the state policy of the Holy Land . It took the Avhole people by surprise , and filled with alarm all ivho thought . Jerusalem stood less in need of a king

and more of a defender . Baldwin , of Ramla , one of the skilfulest generals of his time , despairing of the safety of the kingdom , retired to Antioch , repeating the threats of the prophets against

Jerusalem . Geoffrey , the brother of Guy , exclaimed , when he heard of his brother ' s coronation , " Well , if they have made a king of him , they Avould have made of me a god had they only knoAvn me . " Gerard de Ridefort , too , ivas alarmed

at the unfavourable aspect which affairs began to assume ; lint instead of vainly lamenting the error into ivhich the Queen had fallen , he set about actively to prepare for the coming struggle with Saladin . Meanivhile , the Barons , assembled at

Naplous AA'ith the Count of Tripoli , disgusted ivith the conduct of the Queen , resolved to abandon the Holy Laud and return to Europe . Raymond , AVIIO had secretly hoped to have succeeded Guy as the Queen's husband , and to have ascended tho

throne , not haA 7 ing abandoned all hope of yet reaching that dignity , persuaded them to remain , and to appoint a neiv king . The king he proposed ivas Humphrey de Thoron , AVIIO had recently married the sister of the Queen . To aid the