THE   TEMPLE   IN   EUROPE	149
to gain control of the Temple by having an illegitimate son
introduced into it.
Everything was done three times. The candidate was
asked three times if he wished to enter the Order and had to
beg thrice for food—the food he asked was bread and water
to indicate the humble nature of his demands from the institu-
tion. The procedure to be followed in the reception of
recruits into the Order was explained in great detail and the
exact wording was provided in the Rule for both Receiver
and candidate. When the chapter was assembled and the
proposal to examine the recruit had been made and agreed by
the brethren, the Receiver was to address these words to the
chapter: " The majority of you have agreed to take this man
into the brotherhood. If any among you knows of anything
concerning him which makes him ineligible according to the
Rule, let him say soj for it is better that such should be said
now than when he is brought before us ". Provided no obj ec-
tion was raised, the candidate was taken to a room near the
chamber where the chapter was in session, and two or three
of the oldest and best knights of the preceptory were
instructed to examine him. " And when he is before them,
they must say, c Brother, do you wish to enter into our
brotherhood?? And if he says, c Yes *, they must explain the
hardships of the Order and the strictness of its regulations.
And if he says that he will gladly suffer everything for God
and that he wishes to be the serf and slave of the Order
henceforth during all the days of his life, they are to ask him
if he is married or affianced; if he has ever vowed himself or
promised himself to another Order j if he owes anything to
any man which he cannot pay and if he is healthy, has any
hidden disease, and if he is any man's vassal.
" And if he says c No ?, and that he is free of all such
embarrassments, the brothers should return to the chapter and
say to the Master or his deputy, * We have spoken to the
applicant who is outside and to the extent of our knowledge