Smyrna times., 1872-10-23
MiSce/LU IL z D IL s.
The Punishment of a False Knight.

Some six hundred years ago that gallant gen
tlenlan and wise prince, Edward l., set out for
the conquest OF the Holy Land, accompanied
by his queen. Among the many knights who
followed the valiant King was one named Sir !
Francis ID EsSai, an admirer Of the beautiful
Eva Clare, young lady attendant upon the |
Queen. The fair maid did not recprocate his |
attentions, but bestowed her smiles upon Sir
Henry COurtenay, young knight distinguished |
for his valor and Judgment. ID Essai Jealous |
and mad with rage, determined to possess the |
young lady at all hazards. As Queen EleanOra
and Eva, with an escort commanded by
! ID E>sai. were proceeding on pilgrimage to
the Jordan, a band of his satellites dressed a.
! Arabs suddenly attacked them aud carried off
the maid to the castle of the Old Man OF the
! Mountain, where ID Essai shortly repaired.
Soon Sir Henry Courtenay heard of the out
rage, and cOmprehended the plot. Tie rescued
his lady love, took the false knight prisoner,
and had him conveyed to Acre for the punish
ment he 80 richly deserved at the hands of his
brother knights. The particulars of the awful
ceremony of degradation are thus recorded:
The great church of Acre was thrown open,
and knights in brilliant armOr, and TemplarS
and Hospi;allrrs in the habiliments of their
orders, bishops and priests in their sacred
robes, and va>Sals in their holiday array,
crowded up the long aiSles, and filled the
spacious choir, as though eager to witness
some splendid ceremonial. But instead of
gorgeous decorations, walnScot and windows
draped with black dtfused funereal gloom,
and the solemn reverberation Of the toling
bell seemed to sound a requiem over the grave
Of Hope.
Sir Francis D'Essai had been tried in a
council of his peers aud found guilty of
treason to religion and kni ghtly devoir and
this day, the anniversary Of his admission to
the rank of knIghthood, his companions in
o arms, the vassals whom he despsed, and all
: those actuated by curiosity or enmity, were
J. assembled to witness his deqrdiItt0n. Eva
. shuddered at the terrible doom Of her former
lover, and De COurtenay, with instructive deli
;, cacy, had obtained permission 80 absent him
n sell from the scene on a visit to the Holy
: Sepulchre. As king of.arms and first in
e rank, it was the duty of King Edward to pre-
g side over this fearful ceremony, which, by the
true and loyal, was regarded as more terrible
G. than death itself.
% At the first stroke Of the great bell the pur
suiyants, having robed Sir Francis for the las
,g time in his knightly habiliments, conducted
q him from the Cursed Tower toward tn,
church. As they entered the door the dolefu
le peal sank in silence, and, after one awfu
7: moment, his fellow knights, with broken voices
:, began to chant the burial service.
~ An elevated stage, hung with black, had beef
r. erected in the centre Of the nave, and upon thi
the pursuivants whose business it was to di
ne vest him of every outward insignia of courag
- and truth, placed the culprit in full view of al
lie the vast cOncourSe.
,e, When the chanting ceased, King Edwart
spoke in a voice that thrilled to every heart
y: s =" Sir Francis ID Essai thou who didst receiv
>. the sword of knighthood from the hand of tn
- good St. Louis, dost stand before us this da
9g o attaint of treason to thy God, thy truth, an
the lady of thy love. Wherefore thy peer
DEE have willed that the order of knighthood, b
the which thou hast received all the honor an
nd, worship upon thy body, be brought to nOugh
80 and thy state be undone, and thou be drive
forth Outcast and dishon0red according to tn
0'' base deserts" Instantly the brazen tongu
the from the belfry ratified the fiat and announce
sry, the hour of doom. At the word, the squil
'rsi n with trembling hand removed the helmet, ii
,h defence of disloyal eyes revealing the pale an
Il" haggard countenance of the recresnt kUigh
'aid and the choir resumed the mourntul dirg
Then each pursuivant advanced in his order
! to the performance Of his unwecome duty. Oh
Org by one the knighty trappings of ID Essai we
y,.n I.a torn from his body and as curass, greave
Az, Az, brassarts and gauntlets rang upon the paw
MY n S ments the heralds exclaimed, Behold Il
the harness of a miscreant
Trembling and bent beneath the weight
bbg, nbgr, shame the craven stood, while they smote &
and golden spurs from his heels, and broke his d
.EY honored sword above his head, and the terril
ui,y requiem walled over the perished emblems
rest his former innocence.
'Eh The Grand Master of the Templars then
81 cher cf tered upon the stage bearing silver ba
one filed with tepid water, and the herald, holdi
rs. it up, exclaimed: By what name call pa
nded the knight before us 2"
sand The pursnivsnts answered, ''The name VIII
was given him in baptism-the name by VIII