172 THE KNlGnra TEMPLARS. HERMANN M within them their superstitious rites and ceremonies, with invoea-A.ÎU'mÎ tion of Mahomet, and to indulge in secular delights."* The Templars, notwithstanding their disasters, successfully defended all their strong fortresses in Palestine against the efforts of the Carizmians, and gradually recovered their footing in the Holy Land. The galleys of the Order kept the command of the sea, and succour speedily arrived to them from their western brethren. A general chapter of knights was assembled in the Pilgrim's WILLIAM DB Castle, and the veteran warrior, brother WILLIA M D E SONSAC , A. DTIMS. was chosen Grand Master of the Order.f Circular mandates were, at the same time, sent to the western preceptories, summoning all the brethren to Palestine, and directing the immediate transmission of all the money in the different treasuries to the head-quarters of the Order at Acre. These calls appear to have been promptly attended to, and the Pope praises both the Templars and Hospitallers for the zeal and energy displayed by ! them in sending out the newly-admitted knights and novices with armed bands and a large amount of treasure to the succour of the holy territory. J The aged knights, and those whose duties rendered them unable to leave the western preceptories, implored the blessings of heaven upon the exertions of their brethren ; they observed extraordinary fasts and mortification, and directed continual prayers to be offered up throughout the Order.§ Whilst the proposed crusade was slowly progressing, the holy pontiff wrote to the sultan of Egypt, the ally of the Carizmians, proposing a peace or a truce, and received the following grand and inaguificent reply to his communication : • Malt. rar. p. 618—«20. t Cotton MS. Nero E. VI. p. 60, fol. 466, Tir dimetta et circumspect™ ; ία negati» quoque bellicia pcrìtua. i Hospitalarii et Templarii milites neophitos et mnnum nrmnlnm cum thesauninoa modico itine ad coiuolationcro et auxilium ibi commorantiam testiimnler transmiserunt. Epist. Pap. Innocent IV. i Mail. Γατ. p. Bill, «98.