The Knights Templars.

Bearer preceding them with a banner . At a halt , the Marshal selected a place for his own tent , and the chapel containing the Holy Cross . He then cried , " Pitch your tents , 0 , Brethren in the name of God ! " The tents were pitched around

the chapel , without the ropes . No brother was permitted to go beyond hearing of the war cry , or to visit anyone but the Hospitallers , if their tents were pitched near . The Prior of the province selected the camp ground , the Marshal assigned

the different quarters and appointed the Knights Preceptors . When the battle commenced , the Marshal unfurled the standard in the name of God , and appointed from five to ten Knights to surround and

guard it . One of these he made a Knight Preceptor , whose duty it was to keep beside him with a banner furled on a spear , so that if the one borne by himself should be torn or destroyed , he might display it . If the Marshal should be wounded or slain , this Knight Preceptor bore the standard in

his stead . No one was to lower a banner , or thrust with it , for fear of causing confusion . No brother was to go beyond the defence of the banner ; but if he saw a Christian in imminent danger , he might hasten to his relief , bufc was to return to

Iiis place as speedily as possible . Should the Christians be defeated , the Templars were not to leave the field so long as the Beauseant flew , under the penalty of being expelled the Order ; and should no Temple standard be seen , they were then

to join the Hospitallers or some other Christian force . If no Christian banner appeared at all , they were then to retreat as best they could . The Templars , in the event of defeat , were either taken prisoner or slain , for they seldom condescended to

retreat before the enemy , choosing to die rather than to suffer defeat . By the laws of the Order , no one taken prisoner could be ransomed for anything * more valuable than a girdle , a knife , or some such trifle . Captivity was thus , in the case of a Templar , the certainty of death , and that generally -of the cruellest description .

Book Ii—Chapter Vii.

BOOK II—CHAPTER VII .

The chapter-general of the Order was composed of all the dignitaries and the Kni ghts who could attend , and the place of holding it was fixed by the Master . Every brother was permitted to be present as a spectator , but only the proper

members were allowed to speak . Laws and regulations were made or confirmed in the chapter-general , the great officers appointed , and the visitors to the provinces chosen . A chapter-general was seldom held , and during the intervals of meeting the

powers of the Order were exercised by the Chapter of Jerusalem . This chapter was composed of the Master , the chief dignitaries , the provincial Priors , and such Knights as the Master might invite , along with his two assistants . This gave the

Master great power in spite of the restrictions put upon his office , as he could , by inviting his friends , contrive to carry matters as he pleased .

This chapter appointed the visitors . When chapters-general where held in Europe , the place of meeting was the Temple at Paris . To these chapters the Prior or Master of England was always summoned .

Each province had a general and ordinary chapter , and every preceptory and great house of the Order had the latter , which was presided over by the Preceptor . The business of the ordinary chapters was the reception of new brethren , and

the making up of quarrels among the members , who , being soldiers , could not fail to have constant disputes . Every question was settled by the votes of the meeting * .

Chapter lix ., states that it was not compulsory that all the brothers should be called in every instauce to the council , but those only whom the Master should know to be circumspect and fit to give advice . When , however , important matters

were to be treated of , such as the granting of land of the fraternity , or when the thing debated affected the Order itself , or when a brother was to be received , then it was fit that the whole society should be called together , if such was the pleasure

of the Grand Master . When the advice of the common chapter was heard , the Master was to do that which in the circumstances he considered the best and most useful .

The proceedings of an ordinary chapter were as follows : — Each brother , as he entered the chapel , took off his cap , unless he was bald , and made the sign of the cross . When the members of the chapter

were assembled , the Grand Master rose , saying , " Rise up , my beloved brethren , and beseech the Lord our God that His holy grace may be upon us this day . " The Knights then repeated in secret the Pater Noster , aud the chaplain said a prayer . Search was then made to see if any one not