The Knights Templars,

monasteries—from which he received the designation of the " Great Builder "—he returned a third time to Jerusalem , amid the prayers and blessings of his people , who , having benefitted by his kindness , thanked God for his conversion . Again

Fulk prostrated himself at the shrine of the Sepulchre , again confessed his sins with bitter lamentations and sincere repentance . When the Count approached to kiss the Holy Sepulchre , he was , by the Divine clemency , shown that his good

zeal was acceptable , for the stone , which was hard and solid , at his kiss became soft and flexible as wax warmed at the fire . Observing this , the

Count bit it and took away a large piece in his mouth without the infidels perceiving it , and he then , somewhat satisfied by this manifestation of the pardon of Heaven , visited the other places . Having renewed his former penances with fresh

vigour , he felt his mind more at rest , and returned to Europe , with the intention of spending the remainder of his days there in peace and holy quiet . But this was not to be permitted him : the extreme penances and mental anguish united in bringing

on severe illness , and he died suddenly at Metz . According to his wishes , his body was conveyed to Loches , and buried under the high altar of his Church of the Sepulchre .

Ihese two instances , not isolated , but two of many that appear on the pages of the history of these times , sufficiently prove the esteem in which pilgrimages , as the means of obtaiuing pardon of sins , was held by the Cristians of the Middle Ages .

For centuries before , they had been held in veneration , and an impetus was given to the mania by the visit of the Empress Helena , the mother of Constantine , after her conversion , coupled with that wondrous episode in Roman

Catholicismthe discovery of the True Cross , an event not even equalled by the discovery of the Holy Sepulchre . The devotion of the Empress speedily covered the Holy Land with magnificent shrines . These became the resort of the pious pilgrim , and to visit

the Holy Land , to follow in the footsteps of Jesus , were sufficient to clear away all sins , and to open the gates of heaven to the penitent , as if the Pope himself had granted absolution . The waters of the Jordan had power to wash away even the

blackest and deadliest crimes , although unaccompanied by sincere repentance , just as they washed away the leprosy of Naaman the Assyrian , who had greater faith in his own native rivers than in those of Judea . In fact , a visit to the Holy Land

was precisely the same as a direct pass to heaven , whether the pilgrim might be the haughty noble _ , with a conscience darkened by deeds of infamy , or the poor monk , who , from his childhood up , had never harmed a fly . A few prostrations at

Calvary , genuflexions at Bethlehem , and prayers said at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—the magnificent building of the Empress Helena and her son Constantine — were sufficient . The

pilgrim , kueeling at the feet of the patriach , received his blessing , and with cockle-shell in hat ,, and palm-branch in hand , returned to Europe ,, where he was received as a paragon of sanctity , and passed the remainder of his days , in holy calm

and tranquillity , amid the popular z-espect and ' esteem . But the dangers that beset a pilgrimageto Jerusalem were so many and imminent , that few essayed the journey , the greater portion of the faithful contenting themselves Avith a visit to

Rome , or some celebrated chapel near at hand ,, even though less effectual for the remission of sins than the shrines of the Holy Land , rather than face the perils of the East . Thus , pilgrims to the Holy Land , before the eleventh century , consisted

principally of ascetics and criminals of the blackest , dye . But during the eleventh century the Holy Land became thronged with pilgrims . Popular legends , descending from sire to son , and finally

takingthe disguise of prophecy , pointed out this century as the one in which Christ was to return aerain toearth , robed in all the majesty of Heaven , and this time , not to save , but to judge man . Thus crowds upon crowds hastened to the East from Europe . The streets of Jerusalem became impassable

fromthe crowds of devotees . The blue-eyed , flaxenhaired Dane jostled the dark-browed , fiery-eyed ' Italian ; the laughing Saxon , the grave Spaniard ; the minne-singer , the monk ; the courtezan , the nun ; the beggar , the prince . Rank disappeared ,,

antipathies vanished , and foes knelt peaceably together at the shrine of the Nativity , and wept bitter tears at the altar of the Sepulchre . Thechurches were filled with peniteuts , and the Valley of Jehoshaphafc , the place , according to tradition ,,

of the coming judgment , was covered , day after day , by kneeling hosts , recalling their good and evil deeds , and invoking each his favourite saiut for prayers to God on his behalf . Masses were continually being sung , at which innumerable multitudes communicated , each one supposing that , ere evening fell , the great white throne would .