Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/107

Rh Henry III. of England, made his appearance at Acre accompanied by a strong body of English crusaders. A council had been held at Spoletto, in the year 1234, which decreed that one more vigorous effort should be made to rescue the sacred province from infidel domination. Many causes had interfered to prevent the earlier arrival of this force, and on its landing at Acre the earl was surprised to learn that the count of Champagne, who had preceded him with the French crusaders, had been defeated in a battle with the sultan of Damascus, and had, in consequence, concluded a treaty so disadvantageous to the Christians, that none of their leaders, excepting the Templars, would consent to accept its provisions.

Richard had no sooner arrived at the scene of action than he at once prepared to take the field. From the well-known energy of his character, and the strength of the army which was under his command, the most sanguine hopes were entertained of his success. The sultan of Egypt, in whose possession Jerusalem and its environs still remained, was at the moment engaged in war with the sultan of Damascus. He felt, therefore, that the time was most inopportune for resisting the invasion now threatening him, and so, without waiting for any aggressive movements on the part of the earl, he offered at once to conclude a treaty by which he was to surrender Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Beritus, as well as Mount Thabor and a large portion of the Holy Land. This treaty was accepted by Richard with the approbation of most of the chiefs and dignitaries of the kingdom, and its provisions were at once carried into effect, the cities mentioned being given over to the Latins, and immediately re-occupied by them. Upon this occasion no restrictions were imposed as to the fortifying of Jerusalem, and as it was evidently impossible to hold the place in security without the adoption of prompt measures, the most strenuous exertions were made on all sides to restore its defences. The treasury of the Hospital was in consequence drained to the last farthing, and the power of the Order strained to the uttermost to further the work.

The Templars, indignant that their previous treaty with the sultan of Damascus should have been repudiated, now