THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. with the love of God, so now they may be gladdened and sus-EVE»A»U tained by our love and favour. „ BB i . " I hare to inform you that they have lent me a considerable}1-IU8 sum of money, which must be repaid to them quickly, that their \ houee may not suffer, and that I may kepp my word. . . ." * Among the English nobility who enlisted in the second crusade were the two* renowned warriors, Roger de Mowbray and William de Warrenne.f Roger de Mowbray was one of the most powerful and warlike of the barons of England, and was one of the victorious leaders at the famous battle of the standard : lie marched with King Louis to Palestine ; fought under the banners of the Temple against the infidels, and, smitten with admiration of the piety and valour of the holy warriors of the order, he^gave them, on his return to England, many valuable estates and possessions. Among these Avere the manors of Kileby and Witheley, divers lands in the isle of Axholme, the town of Balshall in the county of Warwick, and various places in Yorkshire ; and so munificent were his donations, that the Templars conceded to him and to his heirs this special privilege, that as often as the said Roger or his heirs should find any brother of the order of the Temple exposed to public penance, according to the rule and custom of the religion of the Templars, it should be lawful for the said Roger and his heirs to release such brother from the punishment of his public penance, without the interference or contradiction of any brother of the order. J About the .same period^Stephen, king of England, for the health of his own soul and that of Queen Matilda his wife, and for the good of the souls of King Henry, his grandfather, and * Ludovici regis ad abbatcm Sugernim epist. 58.—Duchesne hist, franc, scrip, torn. ir. p. 51 'j ; aee alno epìst, 59, ibid. + Simnonis IhtnetmemU hist, ad ann. 1148, apud Hjcript. { Dttgdate Uurmtage, torn. i. p. 122, Dugd. Montiti, vol. 7, p. B38.