Knights of the Temple

Jerusalem has fallen!
Come all you pious pilgrims
plundered by the roving Bedouins
to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
Brave Hugo languishes
within the walls of St. Maria de Latina,
under the care of Gerhard
a pious man mild and benevolent.
Predatory bands rob and plunder
all who fall in their way
seeking to drive out the infidels,
red runs the blood of slaughtered unbelievers.
Hardly yet healed Hugo arose
from his bed and gathered about him
his true and faithful companions,
vowing to protect the pilgrims
combating without ceasing
against the heathens.
He wore upon his breast a red cross
symbol of martyrdom,
and gathered to him a band of Knights
three hundred strong.
Mighty were they in battle,
to fall to Saladin was death
for no brother could be redeemed
for higher ransom than a knife.
None could vie with them in prowess and valour
troubadours glorified the name,
devoted to arms many where their enemies,
so long as a Christian banner waved in the field,
he would not abandon it.
As a Knight, he obeyed the call of honour.
As a Monk, in the service of God.
...................................
Acre has fallen!
The gallant Knights losing possessions
and so many lives, must away to other lands
taking also the greatest treasure of all.
Upon the throne of France
Philip the Fair, an evil man,
plotted with Pope Clement to destroy the Knights
inviting them with all hospitality to Paris.
Jacques de Molay unsuspecting
obeyed the mandate from the Pope,
bringing men and large treasures
to be received with honour.

Squin de Flexian sought favour with Philip
release from the prison where he lay
put out of the order for heresy,
confessing to vice, murder and blasphemy
as being the ways of the Knights.

Friday the 13th of October
all Templars were arrested at break of day,
flung into freezing prison tortured on the rack.
Barely alive fingernails torn out
forced to watch carts of comrades
go before them

The Knights were put to the fire.

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