THE   TEMPLARS   AND   THE   HOLY  SEE	77
refused to take part in the attack on Egypt. Gilbert
d'Assalit, the Master of the Hospital, was, however, strongly
in favour of the fourth expedition. He contributed a force
of five hundred knights from his Order and borrowed money
in the name of the Hospital *for the expenses of the war.
In October, 1168, Amalric, in return for this assistance,
promised to cede Bilbeys and certain other territory to the
Hospital if and when captured, and further agreed that all
towns in Egypt taken by the Hospitallers when the king was
not present should be the property of the Order, The
Temple did everything to oppose the venture, perhaps
because Amalric had shortly before hanged twelve Templars
for surrendering a castle to Noureddin—one of the few
instances in which the brethren appear to have acted
treacherously. 'William of Tyre suggests, however, that the
opposition of the Templars was due to their jealousy of the
Master of the Hospital, who " was said to be the originator
and chief of the enterprise ".
The Franks captured Bilbeys from the Fatimites and won
other successes in Egypt against the vizir Shawar. That
vizir had twice begged the aid of Amalric against Noureddin's
general, Shirkah, but now he besought Shirkah's aid against
Amalric. It was readily given, and when Amalric learned
that Shirkah was marching against him with a great army
he hastily retreated from Egypt. Shirkah was hailed as a
saviour by the Fatimites, but the vizir Shawar and he were
old enemies and were soon at loggerheads again. Shawar,
who had planned to seize Shirkah, was himself seized and
executed, and in January, 1169, Shirkah claimed the vacant
vizirship. He died a few months later, and the most
powerful position in Egypt passed to his nephew, Saladin,
who was to unite Egypt and Syria and humble the Latin
kingdom.
The Hospital suffered severely in Egypt and turned
against Gilbert d'Assalit, who was accused of misdirecting