CHAPTER V.

Richard Cœur de Lion joins the Templars 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 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 exploits of the Templars in Egypt--The letters of the Grand Master to the Master of the Temple at London--The Templars reconquer Jerusalem--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 CHARTA--Consecration of the nave or oblong portion of the Temple Church at London 129