The Knights Templars.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAY 16 , 1863 .

By ANTHONY ONEAL HAYE . ( Continued from page 367 ) . BOOK ILL—CHAPTER I . —( conic ? . )

Saladin , on his part , prepared to dispute every inch of tlie march , and posted his troops in the defiles , through which the Crusaders had to pass . He destroyed his superfluous baggage , and retained only what was absolutely necessary for the

requirements of his men . His cavalry hovered upon the skirts of the Christian army , harassing them by incessant attacks and slaying every straggler , having resolved not to encumber himself with captives . * Saladin shunned pitched

battles , in which the Christians had the advantage , but contented himself with skirmishing-, causing the Christians severe loss , and Richard writing to the Abbot of Clairval says , " Saladin dares not engage the christians , but , like a lion in his den ,

lies secretly in ambush in the heights , for the purpose of slaughtering the friends of the Cross , like sheep destined for the slaughter . " ! The march to Joppa was one continuous skirmish . The Templars encamped for a night on

the banks of the Kishon , and fording it the nest day , cut their way to Caiphas , where they halted till the arrival of the others . On the third day they resumed their march , and halted at Capernaum . At Merla the commands were changed on account of the loss sustained in the rear . The

Templars removed thither , Richard led the van , and the Hospitallers commanded the main body . On the 28 th the Crusaders prepared to force the defiles of Mount Camiel , then in the possession of the Saracens . For this purpose the commanders

were changed . The Templars led the van and cut their way through the dense masses of the enemy , but , on the march to Tortura , they lost so many of their number , that Richard again had to lead the van , and they returned to the rear .

Saladin , on the Christians approaching Ctrjsarea , ordered that town to be destroyed . The Christians halted beside the ruins during Sunday , and on Monday ( 2 nd September ) the Templars with the leading division , crossed the Crocadile river , and advanced upon Joppa , thirty miles distant .

The Templars on the march lost so many horses that they were reduced to despair . * On Saturday ( 7 th November ) Richard succeeded in bringing the Sai'acens to a pitched battle at Assur . The Templars formed the first rank , after them came

the hardy Bretons , and the men of Anjou , followed by King Guy , aud the men of Poitau . The Normans and English came next , guarding the royal standard , while the Hospitallers brought up the rear . They kept together so closely that ,

according to Vinsauf , an apple , if thrown , would not have fallen to the ground , without touching a man or a horse . t At nine o ' clock the Saracens , with

hideous yells , commenced the attack . Among them were a troop of Bedouins , a savage race of men , blacker than soot , who fought on foot , armed with bow , quiver , and round shield . J The Hospitallers suffered severely in the battle , and were

neai'ly overcome , when Gurnier de Napes , one of them suddenly exclaimed , " Oh excellent Saint George , wilt thou permit us to be put to confusion ? Whereupon the Marshal , without waiting for orders , fiercely attacked the Saracens , when

the battle became general . Saladin was defeated , and retired to Ramla , there to defend the passes leading to Jerusalem , while the Templars pushed on to Arsoof and encamped before the town .

Saladin pursuant to a plan which he had laid down , destroyed all the cities in front of the Crusaders , burnt the crops , and drove away the cattle . Ascalon , one of the most beautiful cities of the East , strongly fortified and possessing

edifices remarkable for their majestic grandeur , fell among others , but not without causing a pang to strike the Sultan's heart . He declared that he

would rather have sacrificed a son , than touched a stone of the city , but what God willed , and the good of Islam required , should be performed at any price . It took an army of thirty thousand men to throw down the . fortifications , and at the

end of fourteen days , the work of demolition was so incomplete , that Saladin commanded the town to be fired . Tho tower of the Hospitallers alone withstood the flames , and Saladin would not leave the place till it was destroyed . It stood by the

seaside , and was of amazing size and strength . No battering engines could produce any effect , so it was filled with combustibles , and so overthrown . Ascalon has never been rebuilt . Its ruins still