Chap. 16.
Knights-Templars, and Teutonicks instituted.
ABout this time the two great orders of Templa•s and Teu∣tonicks appeared in the world.* The former under Hugh de Paganis, and Ganfred of S. Omer their first founders. They a∣greed in profession with the Hospitallers, and performed it alike, vowing Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and to defend Pilgrimes coming to the Sepulchre. It is† falsely fathered on S. Bernard, that he appointed them their rule; who prescribeth not what they should do, but onely† describeth what they did: namely, How they were never idle, mending their old clothes when wanting other imployment; never played at chesse or dice, never hawked not hunted, beheld no stageplayes; arming them∣selves with faith within, with steel without; aiming more at strength then state; to be feared, not admired; to strike terrour with their valour, not stirre covetousnesse with their wealth in the heart of their enemies. Other sweet praises of them let him who pleaseth fetch from the mouth of this mellifluous Doctour.
Indeed at first they were very poor; in token whereof they gave for their† Seal, Two men riding on one horse. And hence it was, that if the Turks took any of them prisoners, their con∣stant •ansome was a† Sword and a Belt; it being conceived that their poor state could stretch to no higher price. But after their order was confirmed by Pope Honorius (by the intreaty of Stephen the Patriarch of Jerusalem) who appointed them to wear a White garment, to which Euge•ius the third added a Red crosse on their breast, they grew wonderfully rich by the bounty of severall Patrons: Yea,† the King and Patriarch of Jerusalem 〈◊〉 this infant-order so long in their laps till it Page 66 brake their knees, it grew so heavie at last; and these ungratefull Templars did pluck out the feathers of those wings which hatched and brooded them. From Alms-men they turned Lords; and though very valiant at first, (for they were sworn rather to dye then to flie) afterwards lazinesse withered their arms, and swelled their bellies. They laughed at the rules of their first Institution, as at the swadling-clothes of their infan∣cie; neglecting the Patriarch, and counting themselves too old to be whipped with the rod of his discipline; till partly their vitiousnesse, and partly their wealth caused their finall extirpati∣on, as (God willing) shall be shewed* hereafter.
At the same time began the Teutonick order, consisting one∣ly of Dutch-men well descended, living at Jerusalem in an house which one of that nation bequeathed to his countrey∣men that came thither on pilgrimage. In the yeare 1190 their order was honoured with a great Master, whereof the first was Henry a-Walpot; and they had an habit assigned them to wear, Black Crosses on White robes: They were to fight in the defence of Christianity against Pagans. But we shall meet with them more largely in the following story.
