The Knights Templars.

The King , thereafter , assisted the Templars m repairing the fortifications of Joppa and Cassarea Louis was anxious to undertake the siege of Naplous , but the Templars advised him not to proceed against it in person in case any accident

should happen to him . They were supported in this advice by the other leaders , and finding them so unanimous the King declared that if he was not to go , the army should not go , and so the enterprise was abandoned . The Saracens having

broken the truce by slaughtering the Christian : sick at Damietta , the Templars recommenced -hostilities , and accompanied by Joinville and the French Crusaders , ancl the Hospitallers marched against Paneas . Joinville in the attack had his post between the castle and the town ; the Hosp itallers on the right ; the barons on the left ;

while the Templars marched right up to the front . Joinville found himself placed in imminent danger , but the Grand Master of the Templars by a skilful movement relieved him before he lost many men . After an obstinate resistance the

town was captured . The Sultan of Damascus on hearing of the capture of Paneas took the field with a large army , carried by assault Dok , a fortress of the Templars , and after putting the garrijson to the sword he razed the fortifications to the

ground . He next attacked the castle of Ricordane , which shared the fate of Dok , and advanced against Siclon . The Christians were busily employed repairing the walls when he approached . He slew the builders , and carried the town by storm , and taking many prisoners he went back ¦ to Damascus .

The King of France after spending two years at Acre was anxious to return home . He had

fortified m the meanwhile the maritime towns of Palestine , and laid out a considerable sum on their defence . He left Acre with a flotilla of fourteen vessels on the 24 th of April , and the Grand Master of the Templars sent his own pilot ,

Remond , a skilful seaman , to steer the vessel of ihe King , and who was instructed not to leave him till he had conveyed him safely across the wide wilderness of waters to his own land . The

King was much pleased with the Templars , and could not sufficiently admire their valour in the field ancl their humility in the house . On arriving in France to mark his esteem he bestowed on them the chateau and lordship of Razees , near Bauvez , in Aquitaine . The deed of gift was delivered to Hugh , Grand Preceptor of Aquitaine on

Pentecost , in the Cathedral of Angoulem , in . the presence of many archbishops , bishops , counts , and barons . It bears thab the King bestowed it on them for the charitable works which he had himself seen them perform , in acknowledgment

of the services which they had rendered to him in the Holy Land , and that by this gift he might become a participator in the good works of the brethren , and have a share in their prayers for their benefactors .

Henry III . of England , sadly in want of money , determined to . extort it from the religious Orders , ancl in an interview with Robert de Sandford , Preceptor of England , and several of the principal clergy , he said in an angry tone , * ' You

prelates ancl religious men , and especially you Templars and Hospitallers , have so many liberties and charters that your superfluous possession of them makes you proud , and from pride drives you on to folly . We ought , therefore , to revoke with prudence what has been imprudently granted , and to recall into our own care what has been ill

advisedly dispersed , and , he added , does not the Pope sometimes , yea , many ancl many a time , recall his acts ? Does he not , by inserting thet clause , ' Notwithstanding , ' cancel previously granted charters ? Thus also will I break this

charter , and others too , which my predecessors ancl I have rashly granted . " The clergy were thunderstruck at this announcement , but Robert de Sandford , pretending to be surprised , said , " W hat is it you say , my lord , King ? God

forbid that such a graceless ancl absurd speech should proceed from your mouth . As long as you observe the laws of justice , you will remain King ; but when you infringe them you will cease to be one . '" The King , whose character Robert knew

well , hastily replied , " What means this ? Do you English wish to hurl me from the throne , as you formerly did my father ; and after dethroning me to put me to death ? " To this no answer was vouchsafed , but the spirited language of the

Templars had the desired effect , and the King did not attempt to put his threat in force . Upon the marriage of the Earl of Gloucester to the King ' s niece , Henry asked the Templars to become surety for the payment of her dowry , but they flatly

refused to do so , declaring that it was not in their power , being against their laws , whereupon the King became enraged , and uttered many threats against them . In his anger he dismissed Roger , a Templar , from his office of Almoner , and