CHAPTER V
THE TEMPLARS AND THE HOLY SEE
THE number of Knights Templars in the East in the middle
of the twelfth century probably did not exceed five hundred,
but, though its numbers were small, the Order was wealthy
and its treasure and territory grew year by year. The cost of
maintaining the war against the Saracens was high, but the
Temple could recoup itself for at least part of the expenditure
by the rich rewards which were to be won in battle. While
a victory might bring rich spoil, however, it could not add to
the number of knights, and the Order was therefore dependent
on the West for recruits. After 1153, the year in which the
Hospital was organised as a fighting brotherhood, largely on
the same basis as the Temple, the two Orders were in com-
petition in Europe for suitable recruits.
There was no falling off in the number of men willing to
join the Temple, but the casualties in the Order were
tremendous. The belief that it was glorious to find death in
facing the Moslems remained strong among the Templars
after it had waned among the Franks generally, The
brethren were in the front of every fight, almost constantly
engaged in making or repelling attacks, and more than half
the knights might be slain in a single battle. From their
inception it had been the proud rule of the Templars to give
no ransom if taken in battle except their sword or belt, Lay
knights captured by the infidel could expect to be treated as
valuable prisoners who would pay for their release, but as
the Moslems knew that no ransom would be forthcoming for
Templars, those who wore the red cross were usually put to
68