CHAPTER Vili. The conquest of Jerusalem by the Carizmians—The slaughter of the Templars, and the death of the Grand Master—The exploits of the Templars in Egypt— King Louis of France visits the Templars in Palestine—He assista them in putting the country into a defensible state—Henry II.. king of England, visits the Temple at Paris—The magnificent hospitality of the Templars in England and France—Benocdar, sultan of Egypt, invades Palestine—lie defeats the Templars, takes their strong fortresses, and decapitates six hundred of their brethren—The Grand Master comes to Kngland for succour—The renewal of the war—The fall of Acre, and the final extinction of the Templars in Palestine. " The Knights of the Temple ever maintained their fearless and fanatic character j if they neglected to live they were prepared to die in the service of Cliriat,"—Gibbon. Shortly after the recovery of the holy city, TJjemal'eddeen, Π βιμανν ce the Mussulman, paid a visit to Jerusalem. " I saw," says he, ^"V".?. the moults and the priests masters of the Temple of the Lord. I saw the vials of wine prepared for the sacrifiée. I entered into the Mosque al Acsa, (the Temple of Solomon,) and I saw a bell suspended from the dome. The rites and ceremonies of the Mussulmen were abolished ; the call to prayer was no longer heard. The infidels publiely exercised their idolatrous practices in the sanctuaries of the Mussulmen."* By the advice of Benedict, bishop of Marseilles, who came to the holy city on a pilgrimage, the Templars rebuilt their ancient * Miehaud Extraits Arabes, p. 549.