The Knights Templars.

of good faith , * represented strongly to the Germans the weakness of the Chi-istian force compared with the Musselmen , and urged them at least to wait the arrival of the other division . This prudent advice was hailed with derision

and the advisers branded as traitors , and lukewarm in the cause of Christ .- } - The Germans eager to signalise themselves before the arrival of the other division , sallied out of Acre , carrying destruction into the Musselmen dominions , and committing the wildest excesses . This breach of the truce

fired the Musselmen with the greatest indignation , and Saif-Edden , gathering a vast array marched upon Joppa , where the Germans had retreated on hearing of his advance , and by a skilful manoeuvre , he induced them to make a foolish

sortie , when suddenly falling upon them , he defeated them with immense slaughter , entered the town pell mell with the fugitives , and annihilated then . ' entire force . The small garrison maintained there also were massacred , the fortifications levelled

with the ground , and not a single Christian inhabitant spared . J Now that the war had commenced , and with such disastrous results for the Christian arms , the military Orders buckled themselves for the fray .

But disaster followed close on the heels of disaster . The troops despatched to attack the Musselmen were marching out , in the cool of the evening , from Acre to encamp at Caiphas , when the Kino- , who had stationed himself at a window to see them pass , fell to the ground and was killed . & Isabella

was thus a second time a widow . Radolph of Tiberias became a candidate for her hand , but him the Templars rejected on account of his poverty , || and sent to Almerie , King of Cyprus , who had succeeded his brother Guy , offering him Isabella .

Almerie eagerly embraced the offer , and hastening to Acre was married to Isabella a few weeks after her husband ' s death .

On the arrival of the second division of the German force , the war was prosecuted , and Saif-Eddin defeated with immense loss , he himself being desperately wounded . He fell back upon

Damascus , and the Christians took in succession Beyrout , Gabala , Laodicea , and all the maritime towns between Tripoli and Joppa . * An expedition wasundertaken against the strong fortress of Thoron , perched on the summit of a

rocky mountain , situated between Anti-Libanus and the sea . The attack was successful , the besieged were prepared to capitulate , when a sudden panic seized the Christians , who retreated precipitately from the spot . No satisfactory reason has

heen given for this dastardly action , although writers , as usual , have been found ready to assertthat the Templars , the old story , had been bribed to cause the retreat . f As might have been expected recriminations broke out among the

Christians , a split took place , the Military Orders and the Barons of Palestine marching to Acre , while the Germans , throwing themselves into Joppa , hattily rebuilt the fortifications . Saif Edden hearing of this , marched against the Germans , whom

he defeated , the Dukes of Saxony and Brabant , many Bishops Barons and Knights , and a vastnumber of common soldiers being slain . The Germans accused the other Christians of having abandoned them to destrnction ,: jj but this was an idle accusation . Their blood was on their own

heads . Shortly after this , the news of the death of Henry VI . arrived , and the Germans , eager to take part in the disputes which would follow that event ,, prepared , to return home in spite of the prayers of

the Pope to continue the war . The leaders left the Holy Land with the exception of the Queen of Hungary , who remained behind with her Knights faithful to her vow . The Germans left behind them a garrison at Joppa , but whilst celebrating

the feast of St . Martin with every excess of drunkennes and debauchery , this garrison was surprised and massacred by the Saracens . Fuller writes of this crusade in the following terms : — - " In this war we may contemplate an episcopal

army which might have served for a synod ; or , more truly , it offers us a picture of the Church militant . Many captains returned home secretly , and when the soldiers wanted to fight the officers went away ; what remained of this army fortified

themselves at Jaffa . The feast of St . Martin , the great saint of Germany , fell at this time . This holy man , a German by birth , and bishop of Tours