The Knights Templars.

success of this scheme , he promised them the help of Saladiu , with whom he had opened a correspondence . To this the Barons agreed ; but ITumphrey being- told of the honours in store for him , terrified at such a responsibility and the horrors of a civil

war , fled ivith his wife secretly to Jerusalem , where he took the oath of allegiance to the King and Queen , declaring at the same time that he preferred ease and life to the troubles of the throne of Jerusalem . This flight and loyal

conduct of Humphrey disconcerted the projects of the conspirators . Many of the Barons abandoned the cause of the Count of Tripoli , and repairing to Jerusalem , took the oath of allegiance to Guy , while others retired to their castles there to wait ,

the tide of events . Raymond , abandoned by his supporters , retired to his principality of Tiberias , of which he was feudal lord , and set the authority of the King at defiance ; at the same time resuming his correspondence ivith Saladin , and entering

into a closer alliance ivith that powerful Sultan . Seated noiv firmly on the throne of Jerusalem , Guy displayed IIOAV utterly unfitted he was to sivay the destinies of the kingdom . Instead of conciliating the Barons , and so consolidating the

kingdom , he treated them with great haughtiness , and at length completely alienated from him those very nobles Avho had all'along supported his cause . He , furthermore , resolved to take revenge upon Baymond for his rebellion , ancl sought the

poiverful aid of the Templars in punishing his refractory vassal . To this request Gerard do Ridefort replied , that it ivas against the principles of the Order to

undertake a Avar against any Christian prince . He likewise pointed out to the King the danger of commencing hostilities ivith the Count , who , Ijeing in league with Saladin , would not fail of getting ample support . The consequence Avould

be , that instead of punishing the Count , he ivould only succeed in bringing two armies into the field against him , ancl the attack of Saladin ivould be the more deadly , considering that Tiberias commanded some important passes . Besides the

prudence of this counsel , there was something noble iu the Grand Master suppressing his own desire for vengeance against the Count , which , with the King ' s aid , he might have succeeded in gratifying , for the welfare of the Holy Land .

The King , however , persisted in his desire for vengeance , and ordered an army to be assembled at Nazareth . Raymond , hearing of these preparations , despatched a fleet messenger to Saladin ,

with instructions to enter into a treaty , offensive arc ! defensive , with him . The treaty was concluded , and an army sent to the assistance of the Count . Before , hoivever , any advance was made by the King against Tiberias , the Grand Master

of the Templars conferred ndth several of the most distinguished nobles , and they came to the King and proposed that some parties should be sent to the Count of Tripoli , to reason ivith him upon the errors of his conduct , and to endeavour

to bring him into submission ; for it could not be concealed that the Saracens would take advantage of such a civil Avar to deal a severe blow to the

Christian cause in the East . These arguments , and the high rank of the advisers , overcame the vindictive spirit of Guy , who agreed to the proposal . Gerard de Ridefort , the Grand Master of the Hospitallers , the Archbishop of Tyre , the

Lord Balian d'lbelin , and the Lord Reginald of Sidon , were chosen as envoys , and departed accordingly for Tiberias . The ambassadors slept the first night at Naplous , of which Balian d'lbelin was the feudal lord , and

the next day they departed for Nazareth . On approaching the city Gerard de Ridefort quitted the party , for the purpose of visiting the castle of La Feue , Avhich Avas a stronghold of the Templars in the neighbourhood of Nazareth , purposing to

join his companions early next morning . Meanwhile , the army sent to the assistance of the Count of Tripoli , had entered the territories of Raymond , commanded by Malek-el-Afdal , a son of Saladin .

Gerard ivas sitting at supper ivith the brethren in the refectory , Avhen the neAvs was brought him that a strong party of these Musselmen had crossed the Jordan at sunrise . On hearing of this , he despatched a siviffc messenger to the convent of

La Foco , another stronghold of the Templars about four miles distant , commanding all the brethren , save those required for garrison purposes , to repair at once to La Feue . The Knights of La Foco had retired to rest when the messenger thundered at

the gate ivith the commands of the Graud Master * Immediately every one hurried to equip himself , and used such despatch that long before midnight the Knights were encamped around . La Feue . So soon as it w as light , Gerard de Ridefort , at the

head of his troop of ninety Knights , rode over to Nazareth , where lie was at once joined by Roger de Moulins , the Grand Master of the Hospitallers , and forty Knights of the garrison . The party now numbered six hundred and forty men , five