Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/53

 their most constant occupation. This portion of their work did not commend itself to many of the more youthful aspirants. To devote his life to the protection of the Holy Land, and whilst engaged in that sacred duty to impose upon himself the vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity, was the desire of many a young and enthusiastic mind; but he did not feel equally disposed to undertake those Hospitaller duties which would fall to his lot were he to assume the white cross of St. John.

Under the influence of these feelings a body of nine French knights, with Hugh de Payens at their head, joined themselves together with the object of forming an escort to those numerous bands of pilgrims who were annually resorting to the shores of Palestine. They were at first under no religious restrictions, and had no distinct rules laid down for their guidance, their duties being self-imposed and voluntary; and so they continued to be for several years. The king of Jerusalem gave them as a residence a portion of his palace adjacent to the temple of Solomon: hence arose their name of knights of the Temple, or, as they were afterwards called, Knights Templar.

Hugh de Payens having been sent by the king to solicit assistance from the Pope, in the form of a new Crusade, took that opportunity of presenting his companions. He explained the objects of their association, and requested the permission of his Holiness to establish a religious and military Order similar to that of the Hospital. The Pope referred them to the Council of Troyes, then in conclave, which, after due inquiry and investigation, gave its decided approval to the project in the year 1128. Fortified with this sanction, Hugh de Payens traversed the greater part of Europe in search of candidates for his new Order, and eventually returned to Palestine with a body of three hundred young and ardent spirits selected from the flower of the chivalry of Europe. Here they received every assistance from Raymond and his Hospitallers. For a long time, and until donations began to pour into their own coffers, they were almost entirely maintained by the latter, who took them completely under their protection. By degrees, however, the benefactions of the charitable and the increase