The Knights Templars.

greater part of them purchased their own freedom . Balian d'Ibelin employed the treasures for the defence of the city for the redemption of a part of those unable to pay the ransom . Malek-el-Afdel paid the rausoni of two thousand—rare

generosity on the part of an enemy ; and Saladin broke the chains of many others . Fourteen thousand , hoAvever , Avere kept in bondage , and finally sold as sla \ es . " Glorious AA'as Jerusalem , " writes Yinisauf , " the city of God , Avhere the Lord

suffered and AA'as buried , and AA'here he displayed the glory of his resurrection ; but she is UOAV subject to contamination at the hands of her barbarous foe ; nor is there any grief like grief , that they should possess the sepulchre of Him that lay

bound in it ; and those AVIIO have despised the crucified , have made themselves masters of the Cross . " The humanity which Saladin displayed on the capture of Jerusalem is almost incredible ; and although several of the chroniclers depict him as cruel aucl bloodthirsty , it is clear that such was not his character .

The Christians having been disposed of , Saladin prepared to enter Jerusalem with the greatest pomp . Preceded by his victorious standards , and surrounded by an immense host of warriors , doctors of the laAA * , and tlie ambassadors of many

Musselmen princes , he made his triumphal entry . By his order , all the churches , except that of the Holy Sepulchre , were couA'ertecl into mosques . The great attraction to the Musselmen AA'as the Temple , to Avhich they croAvded in thousands .

Kadolph of Coggleshale describes the scene : — " The imauns and the doctors aud expounders of the Avicked errors of Mahomet first ascended to the Temple of the Lord , called by the infidels Beit Allah ( the house of God ) , in AA'hich , as a

place of prayer and religion , they place their great hope of salvation . With horrible belloAvings , they proclaimed the law of Mahomet , aud vociferated , with polluted lips , Allah aebar ! Allah acbar . ' —( God is victorious ) . They defiled all the

places that are contained within the Temple—i . e ., the place of Presentation , Avhere the Mother and Glorious Virgin Mary delivered the Son of God into the hands of the just Simeon ; aud the place of the Confession , looking towards the porch of

Solomon , AA'here the Lord judged the woman taken iu adultery . They placed guards that no Christian might enter Avithin the seven atria of the Temple , aud , as a disgrace to the Christians , AA'ith vast clamour , Avith laughter aud mockerv , thev hurled

clown the golden cross from the pinnacle of the building , and dragged it Avith ropes throughout the city , amid the exulting shouts of the infidels , and the tears and lamentations of the foIIoAvers of Christ . " The Temple having been cleared of

every Christian , AA'as cleansed by rose-Avater being sprinkled on the Avails , Five camel-loads were brought by Saladin from Damascus for this purpose . Saladin , then , with great pomp , entered the Temple , to repeat his prayers . He , with his own hands , placed in it the pulpit , the work of the great Nour-ed-deen .

lhe Christians , upon leaving Jerusalem , received but a sorry welcome from their brethren in Tyre and the other cities . Thoy were accused of having basely surrendered up the tomb of Christ to his enemies , and were reproached with not

defending the city till each one had found a grave beneath its walls . So deep was the feeling against the poor inhabitants of Jerusalem , that many wandered about Syria , imploring assistance and an asylum , Avithout obtaining either ; many died of

grief and hunger . The city of Tripoli shut its gates against them ; aucl one Avoman , urged by despaii ' , cast her infant into the sea , cursing the Christians , Avho refused her succour in the hour of her terrible need . The Tripolese Avere , perhaps ,

actuated by prudential motives in thus refusing to receive the fugitives , for , in the event of a siege , they Avould be encumbered by the presence of those AA'ho could not fighfc , bufc who would require to be fed . Many embarked for Europe , carrying thither the tidings of the capture of the Holy City , and the ruin of the Christian power in Palestine .

The arms of Saladin were now supreme in Judea , the martial ardour of the followers of the Cross broken , aud they Avaudered sori'OAvfuIIy among the sacred places , heedless of the ' gibes and insults of the infidel , aud even courtino death at

their hands , since the glory had dejiarted from Israel . Never , in the history of the Avorld , had there been such a signal overthrow , and the activity and determination of Saladin for a long while kept CIOAVII the spirit of resistance . The

faithful could but smite their breasts and Aveep , praying , although they dared not hope , for better times . Sybilla , attended by the Patriarch of Jerusalem ancl the Hospitallers , retired to Naplous , where she had an interview with her

husband , Guy de Lusignan . ( T . rlieoiitlu . u'J . )