Waitk». of Jerusalem. The English and French nionarchs laid aside A. u. usi. ^ · p j t animosities, and agreed to fight under the same Βτrvae banner against the infidels, and towards the close of the month of May, in the second year of the siege of Aere, the royal fleets of Philip Augustus and Richard Cœur de Lion floated in triumph in the bay of Acre. At the period of the arrival of king Richard the Templars had again lost their Grand Master, and Brother KtiBBRT »» Robert de Sablé, or Sabloil, a valiant knight of the order, who A. So.*n9i. n^d commanded a division of the English fleet on the voyage out, was placed at the head of the fraternity.* The proudest of the nobility, and the most valiant of the chivalry of Europe, on their arrival in Palestine, manifested an eager desire to fight under the banner of the Temple. Many secular knights were permitted by the Grand Master to take their station by the side of the military friars, and even to wear the red cross on their breasts whilst fighting in the ranks. The Templars performed prodigies of valour ; " The name of their reputation, and the fame of their sanctity," says James of Vitry, bishop of Acre, " like a chamber of perfume sending forth a sweet odour, was diffused throughout the entire world, and all the congregation of the saints will recount their battles and glorious triumph over the enemies of Christ, knights indeed from all parts of the earth, dukes, and princes, after their example, casting off the shackles of the world, and renouncing the pomps and vanities of this life and all the lusts of the flesh for Christ's sake, hastened to join them, and to participate in their holy profession and religion."y On the morning of the twelfth of July, six weeks after the arrival of the British fleet, the kings of England and France, the * Hist, de la maison de Sablé, liv. vi. chap. 5. p. 174, 175. Cotton MS. Nero, Έ. vi. p. 60. folio 4IÎ6, where he ie called Robert de Sambell. L'art de Veni p. 347t Jac tie VUrt cap. 65.