The Knights Templars.

banished him from his court . On other occasions , too , he laid snares to catch the Templars tripping so as to have an opportunity of punishing them , but these they easily avoided . About the time of King Louis ' s arrival in

France Henry crossed over to Gascouy , where he had already sent Robert de Sandford , to whom had been reconciled to quell certain disturbances which had broken out in that province . * He thereafter proceeeed with the Templars to Paris ,

where he was magnificently received by the King of France . Matthew Paris gives the following account of the festivities : —Louis asked the King where he would please to reside—that the city of Paris was at his disposal . " There is my palace

in the middle of the city ; if you please to take up your abode there your wish shall be accomplished ; or if you would prefer taking up your lodgings at the Old Temple , outside the city , which is more roomy , or anywhere else , it shall

be so arranged . " The King of England chose for his abode the Old Temple , because his retinue was so numerous , and in that building there was sufficient room to lodge an army . At certain

periods and terms all the Cismontaine Templars assembled at that place and there held their general chapter . They found ample accommodation there , for it was necessary for them all to lodge in one building , because at their chapter

they discussed their business during the night . * On the occasion of the King ' s visit , although there were so many dwellings in the court there , yet the company assembled was so numerous that many were obliged to sleep in the open air—the

neighbouring houses , extending towards the street called the " Grove , " not being sufficient to lodge them . The King , on the morning after his arrival , gave instructions that as many poor people as the chamber of the Temple could hold

should be entertained at a feast , which was accordingly done , and although the number was enormous each was supplied with an abundance of meat , fish , bread , and wine . Having entertained the poor , the Templars now

gave a magnificent entertainment to the two Kings and their retinues . "Never in times past was there given such a rich or splendid banquet , " writes , Paris , " even in the time of Esther , Arthur , or Charles . For this one was resplendent

with the rich variety of the food , the delicious abundance of the drinks , the ready attendance of the servants , the orderly disposition of the guests , and the large and handsome presents . At it ,, too , wero present persons held in hi gh reverence

and respect , whose superiors it would be impossible , and whose equals , even , it would be difficult , to find in the world . " All the apartments were filled with guests . There was no porter or feetaker at the great door of the hall , or at any of the

other entrances . Free ingress was permitted toall comers , and a rich repast furnished . The Kings were entertained in the great hall of the Temple , in which were hung up , according to the custom of the Order beyond the sea , as many shields as the four walls could contain . Among , others was seen the shield of Richard I .

concerning which a wit remarked that the guests would be unable to eat through fear of it . After the entertainment the King of England sent to the French nobles at their residences rich silver cups , gold clasps , silk belts , and other presents , such

as it was proper for so powerful a King to give , and for such nobles to receive with thanks . Shortly after the return of Henry to Englandan embassy was sent to him by the King of Castile . The ambassadors took up their residence

with the Templars , and the King commanded three pipes of wine to be sent to the Temple for their use , and ten fat bucks to be brought from the royal forest at Essex for the same purpose . Reginald de Vichierius , in 1257 , fell sick and died , full of years , and covered wth glory . During the Grand Mastership of De

Vichieriusthe Templars in Moravia were engaged in war . In 1252 , Uratislaf , a nobleman , obliged to flee from that country , went to France , where he became a Templar . He made over the whole of his goods and property to the Order , among which was the

castle of Eichhorn . His elder brother Burian ,. however , seized upon the property , declaring thatit fell to him as head of the family . King Winzel on the matter being referred to him decided in favour of the Order , but Burian refused to give

the castle up . The next year the Templars collected some thousands of men , and marched under the command of their Grand Prior to besiege the castle . Burian assembled six thousand men to oppose them , and placing nine hundred in the

castle to defend it , gave the Templars battle with the rest . The engagement was long and bloody , and both armies behaved with distinguished valour