The fourth Crusade dates from 1204, and was led by Baldwin, earl of Flanders, and Boniface, marquis of Montserrat. This Crusade is marked by the taking of Constantinople in 1204, and the commencement of what is called the Latin empire in that city.

In the fifth Crusade, Damietta was taken by the French in 1215, but afterwards abandoned in 1227. Another unsuccessful expedition, undertaken by the Emperor Frederick II. 1228, is often reckoned as another Crusade.

The sixth Crusade was that on which Louis IX. of France set out in 1248, and from which he returned in 1254, by which he gained the name of St. Louis. This like most of the others though ably conceived, ended disastrously.

The seventh and last was that which he commenced in 1270, in which he died, and in which our Edward I., when Prince of Wales, also bore part.

No crusades were commenced afterwards, but the year 1291, in which Tyre and Ptolemais were taken by the Mamelukes, is commonly fixed as the date of their termination.

(It may be added, that though when we speak of the crusades, the expeditions against the Turks in Palestine are usually meant, the word crusade is also often used in speaking of many other religious wars undertaken, or preached by the pope and his adherents against other infidels, or against heretics, as, for example, against the Albigenses in France.)

Effects of the Crusades.

By means of these joint enterprises, the European nations became more connected with each other, the class of citizens increased in influence, partly because the nobility suffered by extravagant contributions to the Crusades, and partly because a commercial intercourse took place throughout Europe, and greatly augmented the wealth of the cities; the human mind expanded, and a number of arts and sciences till then unknown in Europe, were introduced there. The present civilization of the European world is, in a great degree, the result of these Crusades.

KNIGHTHOOD.

The Knights of the Round Table were founded by Uther-Pendragon, a British christian king, towards the end of the fifth century, who at the advice of Merlin, assembled such knights as were distinguished for piety, courage and fidelity towards him, at feasts about a round table. It was calculated to receive fifty knights, and was, at first, only occupied by forty-nine, one place being left for Arthur as yet unborn. According to another account, Arthur himself established the round table at Winchester, A. D. 520.

The Knights of St. John, or Hospitallers of St. John, afterwards called Knights of Rhodes, and finally knights of Malta were established in 1048, and were regularly instituted as a military order by Raymond du Puy at the beginning of the twelfth century. They were divided into three classes, knights, who should bear arms; chaplains, who were regular ecclesiastics; and servitors, whose duty it was to take care of the sick and accompany pilgrims.

The Knights Templars were established in 1118 for the protection of the pilgrims on the road to Palestine. King Baldwin II. of Jerusalem gave them an abode in this city, on the east of the site of the Jewish temple; hence they received the name of Templars. The different classes of this order were knights, squires, and servitors, to whom were added, in 1172, some spiritual members, who officiated as chaplains, &c.

The Teutonic Order was founded by Frederic, duke of Suabia in 1190, and intended to be confined to the German nobles (Teutones), hence its name. The rule of the order was similar to that of the Templars. As the order was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the knights called themselves also Brethren of the German house of our Lady of Jerusalem.

Knights-errant were introduced in England in the time of King Stephen, by some young and ardent men, who

abhorring the tyranny of the lawless barons, bound themselves by solemn vows to devote themselves to the protection of the injured and helpless.

The Knights of the Blue Thonge. In 1191, King Richard I. at the Siege of Acre summoned 26 knights; and in imitation of a Roman Practice, fastened to the leg of each "a certaine garter of tacke of lether such only as hee had then readie at hand, wherebye they beeing distingued and put in mind of future glorie promised to them in case they wonne the victorie, they might be stirred up, and provoked to perform ther service bravelie, and fight more valient." Richard is said to have kept up what is termed the "Order of the Blue-Thonge" since on his returning to England, he ordered the garter of each knight to be made of blue leather, and the number of the members to continue ever twenty-six.

The Order of the Garter which originated in the order of the Knights of the Blue Thonge was instituted by king Edward the III. after a tournament at Windsor in 1349. It consisted originally of 26 knights companions, generally princes and peers, whereof the sovereign of England is the chief. The number was increased to 32 in 1786. The college of the order is in the castle of Windsor, with the chapel of St. George, and the chapterhouse, erected by the founder. The habit and ensign of the order are a garter, mantle, cap, george, and collar. The origin of the order is variously related, but the common opinion is, that at a court ball, the countess of Salisbury dropped her garter, and the king took it up, and observing some of the courtiers to smile, exclaimed, Honi soit qui mal y pense, (evil be to him that evil thinks), which has been adopted as the motto ever since.

The Knights of the Bath are a military order instituted by Richard II., who limited their number to four; but his successor Henry IV. increased them to forty-six. Their motto was tres in uno. This order received its name from the custom of bathing before a knight received the Golden Spur. The order after remaining extinct for many years was revived under George I., by a solemn creation of a great number of Knights.

The Knights of Thistle or Knights of St. Andrew, according to some writers were instituted by Achaius, king of Scots, in memory of an appearance in the heavens of a

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abhorring the tyranny of the lawless barons, bound themselves by solemn vows to devote themselves to the protection of the injured and helpless.

The Knights of the Blue Thonge. In 1191, King Richard I. at the Siege of Acre summoned 26 knights; and in imitation of a Roman Practice, fastened to the leg of each "a certaine garter of tacke of lether such only as hee had then readie at hand, wherebye they beeing distingued and put in mind of future glorie promised to them in case they wonne the victorie, they might be stirred up, and provoked to perform ther service bravelie, and fight more valient." Richard is said to have kept up what is termed the "Order of the Blue-Thonge" since on his returning to England, he ordered the garter of each knight to be made of blue leather, and the number of the members to continue ever twenty-six.

The Order of the Garter which originated in the order of the Knights of the Blue Thonge was instituted by king Edward the III. after a tournament at Windsor in 1349. It consisted originally of 26 knights companions, generally princes and peers, whereof the sovereign of England is the chief. The number was increased to 32 in 1786. The college of the order is in the castle of Windsor, with the chapel of St. George, and the chapterhouse, erected by the founder. The habit and ensign of the order are a garter, mantle, cap, george, and collar. The origin of the order is variously related, but the common is, that at a court ball, the countess of Salisbury and the king took it up, and observing to smile, exclaimed, Honi soit qui mal him that evil thinks), which has been ever since.