Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/55

Rh the establishment of the Templars on a similar footing, set the example of combining the warlike duties of the knight with the asceticism of the monk, the members of the Order of St. Lazarus took the same step. For this purpose they divided themselves into two separate bodies, viz., lepers and non-lepers, the former, amongst whom was their Grand-Master, who ex-officio was required to be a leper, carried on the duties of the hospital. The others, being in a condition to bear arms, joined the general Christian forces in repelling the constant inroads of the infidels. Their precise habit has not been recorded, but they wore a green cross.

Whilst these bulwarks were arising for the support of the kingdom the march of events had been producing other changes by which its fortunes were much affected. Baldwin had two daughters, of whom Alice (the younger) was married to Bohemond, prince of Antioch; the elder was unmarried. At about this period Full, count of Anjou, having lost his wife, undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Whilst there he rendered good service to Baldwin in his wars, maintaining a company of a hundred knights at his own expense. The king, anxious to retain in his service a leader of such renown, offered to him the hand of his eldest daughter, Milicent, in marriage, at the same time engaging to name him as his successor to the throne. These terms were accepted by Fulk, and faithfully adhered to by Baldwin, the marriage being solemnized with great pomp. The death of the king took place in the year 1131, much accelerated by the undutiful conduct of his younger daughter, Alice, who considered herself injured by the arrangement made, and Full of Anjou ascended the vacant throne.

Before this, however, Bohemond, the husband of Mice, had been killed in battle, leaving as his sole heiress a young daughter. By the promptitude and decision of Baldwin and Full the rights of this infant were preserved intact, in spite of the machinations of its mother on the one side, and her uncle, Roger, duke of Apulia, on the other, both of whom were intriguing for the sovereignty of Antioch. Full, however, soon saw that if the rights of the young princess were to be guarded against the plots hatching on all sides it would be advisable to bestow her in marriage, in spite of