CHAPTER VII. Richard Coeur de Lion joins the Templare before Acre—The city surrenders, and the Templars establish the chief house of their order within it—Cœur de Lion takes up his abode with them—He sells to them the island of Cyprus— The Templars form the van of his army—Their foraging expeditions and great exploits—Cœur de Lion quits the Holy Land in the disguise of a Knight Templar—The Templars build the Pilgrim's Castle in Palestine—The state of the order in England—King John resides in the Temple at London— The barons come to him at that place, and demand Magna C hahta —'Ilie exploits of the Templars in Egypt—The letters of the Grand Master to the Master of the Temple at London—The Templars reconquer Jerusalem. M Therefore, friends. As far as to the sepulchre of Christ (Whose soldier now under whose blessed cross W e are impressed and engag'd to fight,) Forthwith a power of English shall we levy, Whose arras were moulded in their mother's womb. To chase these pagans, in those holy fields. Over whose acres walked those blessed feet. Which, fourteen hundred years ago, were nail'd. For our advantage, on the bitter cross." I N the mean time a third crusade had been preached in Europe. Wn.™. William, archbishop of Tyre, had proceeded to the courts of ' "' France and England, and had represented in glowing colours the miserable condition of Palestine, and the horrors and abominations which had been committed by the infidels in the holy city