CHAP. II.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

167

lated for their lives, but notwithstanding were allslaughtered, with the exception of two alone j anHospitaller, that he might go to Acre to announcethe terrible tidings; and a Templar, who became arenegade it is said, but is it true ? Why assert it with-out proof? only the unfortunate Templars have to be-come callous to flippant accusations. It is a noveltyto require proof in their case I Soon shall theirwhole innocent body be accused of all enormitieswithout proof, and confess them too, but undertorture, and to avoid the infamous stake, to which,however, they shall be condemned, and burn thereto death, as guilty on their own avowal. Here byBibars the rest, men, women, children—every humancreature fell by the sword, whence the consternationand grief of the Acre Christians may be supposed.Nor is it an exaggeration, but much under the truth,by the Moslem accounts themselves. 1 Yet eventhe Christians allow Bibars a few of the redeemingqualities, so as not to be quite a monster. 2 Mon-fort in 1270 confirms the splendid donationmade by his great-grandmother. 3 YetBibars was reluctant to attack Acre, for fear ofEurope, to which the Patriarch and the two grand

1 Arab Chron., 526.

2 Bib. Crois., i. 308.—W. of Tripoli.

3 Cod. Dipl. Geros. i., Num. ol.—Appendix, xcvii.