4 0 Til Κ KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. KvtjiARi) on board some merchant vessels, and arrived with only a few 1ÌAKRES, attendants at Jerusalem, where he was received and entertained J..D. ι us, py the Templars, and was lodged in the Temple in the Holy City.* Shortly afterwards King Louis arrived, accompanied by the new Master of the Temple, Everard des Barres; and the Templars now unfolded for the first time the red-cross banner in the field of battle. This was a white standard made of woollen staff, having in the centre of it the blood-red cross granted by Pope Eugenius. The two znonarchs, Louis and Conrad, took the field, supported by the Templars, and laid siege to the magnificent city of Damascus, " the Queen of Syria," which was defended by the great Nonreddin, " Light of religion," and his brother Saif-eddin, " Sword of the faith." The. services rendered by the Templars are thus gratefully recorded in the following letter sent by Louis, the French king, to his minister and vicegerent, the fanions Sager, abbot of St. Denis. " Louis, by the grace of God king of France and Aquitaiue, to his beloved and most faithful friend Suger, the very reverend Abbot of St. Denis, health and good wishes. " I cannot imagine how we could have subsisted for even the smallest space of time in these parts, had it not been for their (the Templars') support and assistance, which hove never failed me from the first day 1 set foot in these lands up to the time of my despatching this letter—a succour ably afforded and generously persevered in. 1 therefore earnestly beseech you, that as these brothers of the Temple have hitherto been blessed * Rex per Aliquot dies in Palntio Templariurum, ulii alini Regia Domus, quae et Templum Salomonis construct* fuit rsanetls, et sancta unique loca peragrans. per Samariam nd Galilteam Ptotemaidam rediit Conrenerat tniru cum rege militibusque Templi, circa proximum .îulium, in Syrian, ad cxpugnatiouem Damnsci excrcitum ducere,—Otto Prising, CB]. 58,