The Temple Garden--The erection of new buildings in the Temple--The dissolution of the order of the Hospital of Saint John--The law societies become lessees of the crown--The erection of the magnificent Middle Temple Hall--The conversion of the old hall into chambers--The grant of the inheritance of the Temple to the two law societies--Their magnificent present to his Majesty--Their antient orders and customs, and antient hospitality--Their grand entertainments--Reader's feasts-- Grand Christmasses and Revels--The fox-hunt in the hall--The dispute with the Lord Mayor--The quarrel with the _custos_ of the Temple Church 373 ERRATA. In note, page 6, _for_ infinitus, _read_ infinitis. 29, _for_ carrissime, _read_ carissime. 42, _for_ Angli, _read_ Anglia. 79, _for_ promptia, _read_ promptior. 79, _for_ principos, _read_ principes. 80, _for_ Patriarcha, _read_ patriarcham. THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. CHAPTER I. Origin of the Templars--The pilgrimages to Jerusalem--The dangers to which pilgrims were exposed--The formation of the brotherhood of the poor fellow-soldiers of Jesus Christ to protect them--Their location in the Temple--A description of the Temple--Origin of the name Templars--Hugh de Payens chosen Master of the Temple--Is sent to Europe by King Baldwin--Is introduced to the Pope--The assembling of the Council of Troyes--The formation of a rule for the government of the Templars. "Yet 'midst her towering fanes in ruin laid, The pilgrim saint his murmuring vespers paid; 'Twas his to mount the tufted rocks, and rove The chequer'd twilight of the olive-grove: 'Twas his to bend beneath the sacred gloom, And wear with many a kiss Messiah's tomb." The extraordinary and romantic institution of the Knights Templars, those military friars who so strangely blended the character of the monk with that of the soldier, took its origin in the following manner:-- On the miraculous discovery of the Holy sepulchre by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, about 298 years after the death of Christ, and the consequent erection, by command of the first christian emperor, of the magnificent church of the Resurrection, or, as it is now called, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, over the sacred monument, the tide of pilgrimage set in towards Jerusalem, and went on increasing in strength as Christianity gradually spread throughout Europe. On the surrender of the Holy City to the victorious Arabians, (A. D. 637,) the privileges and the security of the christian population were provided for in the following guarantee, given under the hand and seal of the Caliph Omar to Sophronius the Patriarch. "From OMAR EBNO 'L ALCHITAB to the inhabitants of ÆLIA."