Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/64

30 the management of the monks. In 1099 Godfrey of Bouillon having conquered Jerusalem, gave to the hospital a constitution, endowed it with considerable lands and capital, and released the monks from the duties of its management, which now devolved upon several of the Knights of his army, who soon formed themselves into a spiritual order, that was confirmed, in 1113, by Pope Paschal II.

The members, who made the vows of obedience, chastity and poverty, divided themselves into three classes.

1. Knights, warring against the infidels, and protecting the pilgrims.

2. Priests, managing the spiritual affairs of the Order.

3. Brother servants entrusted with the care and nursing. of the sick in times of peace, who served as inferior warriors in times of war. Subsequently, a fourth class was created for subordinate menial duties and labours—that of Donatists.

The original costume of the Order was a black coat, a cloak with a pointed hood, adorned on the left side towards the heart with a small white cross, (that of the Donatists with only half a cross), as also with a golden cross in the middle of the breast. In war, the Knights wore splendid armour, and a red over-garment adorned with a silver cross.

The Knights of St. John, in conjunction with the Templars and other Knights, (with whom they lived, however, in continual conflicts) succeeded for a long time in keeping in their hands the tottering throne of Jerusalem, for which cause they fought with such admirable zeal, that many places in the Holy Land have now become monuments of their valour—more especially Jerusalem (1152), Ascalon (1153), Balbais (1118), Hittin (1187), &c.; nor did they retire—as the other Knights and secular Princes did—from the campaign even after Soliman had, in 1187, conquered Jerusalem. They greatly harassed the Turks, first from Margat, then from Acca (Ptolemais), in which last place