The Knights Templar.

which moved upon wheels , was very lofty , and used to annoy the besieged , by letting down from it a sort of bridge with rails . With this machine they made many attempts to enter the place . The Saracens , one evening before the Templars advanced this tower , threw clown from the ' walls a quantity of dry wood , and other combustible matter , near this machine , and then set fire to it , expecting that the flames would

reach the tower ; but an easterly wind springing up , instead of effecting their purpose , carried the flames towards the wall , burnt the mortar , with which it was built , and made it give way . Some Templars , not doubting but that the tower was destroyed , going next day out mere curiosity to see its remains , to their amazement found it entire , and at the same time perceived a small breach in the wall . The Grand Master , without informing the king of Jerusalem , who attended the siege , ordered a-brigade of Templars to scale the wall . They immediately mounted ; and no sooner made their appearance on the wall ,

sword m hand , and with that daring countenance which success inspires , but the besieged fled , imagining that the town was taken ; ancl the principal officers of the garrison , to avoid the first fury of the christian soldiers , threw themselves into boats and put off from the shore . But the Grand Master , from some unaccountable motive , not sending to the king for a reinforcement , and neglecting to profit by the panic of the inhabitants , only posted himself , with a few Templars , at the breach , whilst the rest of the brigade was scouring the city .

The inhabitants perceiving what a contemptible number there was of them , recovered from their fright , rallied and assailed the Templars iu their turn , annoyedthem from the tops of the houses with fireworks , scalding water , stones , tiles , and whatever could be found , whilst the troops of the garrison attacked them on all sides . In this perilous state they were forced to cut their way till they regained the breach , which they bad previously mounted with so much courage . In that affair they lost many of their comrades , who were cut to pieces during' this dreadful contest .

The inhabitants of Ascalon , encouraged by this affair , ancl the next day uniting with the Egyptian garrison , made a fresh sally in good order , and boldly attacked the christian lines . The fi ght was bloody , and for a long time doubtful ; more than once victory seemed to change sides . The infidels at first filled up several fathoms of the trenches , ruined some redoubts ; threw themselves , sword in hand , into the christian camp , demolished the tents , and

penetrated even to the king ' s quarter . Baldwin , at the head of the nobility , fought with invincible courage , and gave time to his troops to recover from their first consternation . The Templars , ardent to expiate with their blood the fault they had committed , exposed themselves like furies in the thickest of the enemies' battalions , whilst the Hospitallers , in emulation , prodigal of their lives , were regardless of danger provided they could but kill a Saracen . The E gyptians shewed no less courage , —all were for conquest or death .

Ihis sally , or rather battle , lasted from morning till evening ; at last the infidels , unable to withstand the obstinacy of the christians , began to give way . The king seeing this , broke into their battalions with his warriors , sword in hand ; now the scene was a mere butchery rather than a fi ght . The christian soldiers , breathing vengeance against the Saracens , gave no quarter ; torrents of blood ran down the lines , and most of the Egyptians who had gone to the succour of Ascalon perished in this sall Such as could escaoe " the of

y . rage the _ christian soldiery got back to town , carrying thither , with the shame of their defeat , despair of saving the city . Such was the terror of the besieged , that they entered into a treaty with the christians , agreed to surrender the place , on condition of being sent to Laris , a city in the desert . This treaty was punctually complied with on the 12 th August , 1154 . J l