46 ΤΠΕ KXIOHTS TEMPLARS. not a single Templar escaped : they were slain to a man, and the dead bodies of the Master and his ill-fated knights were exposed in triumph from the walls.* BXHTIMND M De Treuielay was succeeded (A. D . 1154) by Brother Bertrand ^ι!?™™ Τ " de Blanquefort, a knight of a noble family of Guienne, called by William of Tyre a pious and God-fearing man. The Templars continued to be the foremost in every encounter with tbe Mussuhnen, and the Monkish writers exult in the number of infidels they sent to hell. A proportionate number of the fraternity must at the same time have ascended to heaven, for the slaughter amongst them was terrific. On Tuesday, June 19, A . D . 1156, they were drawn into an ambuscade whilst marching with Baldwin, king of Jerusalem, near Tiberias, three hundred of tbe brethren were slain on tbe field of battle, and eighty-seven fell into tbe hands of the enemy, among whom was Bertrand de Blanquefort himself, and Brother Odo, marshal of the kingdom.f Shortly afterwards, thirty Knights Templars putto flight, slaughtered, and captured, two hundred infidels ;% and in a night attack on the camp of Noureddin, they compelled that famous chieftain to fly, without arms and half-naked, from the field of battle. In this last affair the names of Robert Mausel, an Englishman, and Gilbert de Lacy, preceptor of the Temple of Tripoli, are honourably mentioned The services of the Templars were gratefully acknowledged in Europe, and the Pope, in a letter written in their behalf to the Archbishop of Rheims, his legate in France, cha • Âwlmi Gemblaccntu Chrm. ad aim. 1153. Witt. Tyr. lib. xviL cap. 27. f Captua est inter cuteros ibi Rertrandus de Hianquctbrt, Magieter Militile Templi, t'ir religioans ac timen* Deem. Will. Tyr. lib. xviii. cap. 14. Regûtr. epitt. apnd Marlene vet. script, torn. ii. col. 647. î Milites Templi circa trìginta, duccntos Paganorum euntes ad η up has vcrterent in fugam, et divino presidio coroitante, omnespariun ceperuut, pavtim gladio trucidanint. lìegixtr. epitt, ut tup. col. 647. $ ÌYilì. Tyr. lib. xix, cap. 8.