THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS, 4? racterizes them as " New Maccabees, far famed and most valiant champions of the Lord." " The assistance," says the Pope, " rendered by those holy warriors to all Christendom, their zeal and valour, and untiring exertions in defending from the persecution and subtilty of the filthy Pagane, those sacred places which have been enlightened by the corporal presence of our Saviour, we doubt not have been spread abroad throughout the world, and are known, not only to the neighbouring nations, but to all those who dwell at the remotest corners of the earth." The holy pontiff exhorts the archbishop to procure for them all the succour possible, both in men and horses, and to exert himself in their favour among all his suffragan bishops.* The fiery zeal and warlike enthusiasm of the Templars were equalled, if not surpassed, by the stern fanaticism and religious ardour of the followers of Mahomet. " Noureddin fought," says his oriental biographer, " like the meanest of his soldiers, saying, ' Alas ! it is now a long time that I have been seeking martyrdom without being able to obtain it.' The Imaum Koteb-ed-din, hearing him on one occasion utter these words, exclaimed, ' In the name of God do not put your life in danger, do not thus expose Islam and the Moslems. Thou art their stay and support, and if (but God preserve us therefrom) thou shouldest be slain, it will be all up with us.' 'Ah ! Koteb-ed-deen,' said he,'what hast thou said, who can save Islam\ and our country, but that great God who has no equal V ' What,' said he, on another occasion, ' do we not look to the security of our houses against robbers and plunderers, and shall we not defend religion V"$ * Epitt. xvi. S. itemen» archiepiscopo et ejus Bufiiaganeis pro ecclesia Jerosolymitana et militibu» Templi, apud Martene vet. script, torn. ii. col-647. t Islam, the name of the Mahometan religion. The word siguinefl literally, delivering oneaelf up to God. t Keightley'e Crusoderi.