136 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OE [book h.

the Templars and Hospitallers sufficed, not only tomake him forthwith renounce all menaces or preten-sion to tribute from the king, but to impel him tosolicit to become his tributary, sending him presentsand his own privy seal, cut in a golden ring, andshirt, which last might denote their close alliance,the shirt being next the skin and heart . 1 Truth is,that some chroniclers aver it could not be, for thatthose infernal sectaries (neither Mahometans norChristians, but rather a sort of fire-worshippers, orother Pagans) had been extinguished, as far backas Saladin’s time . 2 Yet descendants of that abomi-nable race are said to exist still, near the same spotin Mount Libanus. Why on earth do theypretend to be English? 3

In the Council of Lyons the Bishop of Beyroutrepeated what has been related of the Karismians,and that they were of so fearful a cruelty, that eventhe Paynim refused harbouring them, and none butthe Egyptians could have invited them. “ Thosedirest of savages have ravaged the whole of Syria,from Thoron of the Knights, to Gaza, breakinginto Jerusalem, and disembowelling the priestsin their vestments at the altars of the Holy Se-

1 Michaud: Hist., iv. 140.—Bosio.—Yertot: iii. 514.

a Pipini: Henri de Champagne, &c. &c. &c.,

3 Michaud : Orient.