THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS
similar. Bands of Christians sailed to the East imbued with
the fanatical spirit of the First Crusaders, and threw them-
selves against the traditional foe. Clashes between the hot-
heads frequently led to serious engagements in which all
treaties were forgotten. Seldom had either the Moslems or
the Christians any strong central government able to impose
a policy and ensure that it was carried out. Even in the
Temple there were always differing policies. While no
leader was independent, the great officers had wide powers
and sometimes pursued a policy entirely opposed to that of
the Grand Master and the chapter. Retribution would fall
upon those who defied the Order, but the machinery worked
slowly, and months might elapse before a rebel could be
forced to capitulate or removed from his office.
The Rule given to Hugh de Payens after the Council of
Troyes in 1128 had been revised and amplified as the Temple
developed, and some of the additions were made within a
few years of the extinction of the Order. The early Rule
consists only of seventy-two paragraphs, but the complete
Rule is ten times as long and lays down in great detail the
duties, powers and privileges of the various dignitaries, the
method of government, the punishments for different offences
and so on.
The Grand Master ranked as a prince at royal courts 5 in
the council of the Church he took precedence of the
ambassadors and peers and sat with the bishops. His chief
officers were the Seneschal, who was deputy Grand Master;
the Marshal, who had charge of the horses and equipment
of the brethren and took control in the absence of the Grand
Master and the Seneschal. The commander of the land and
realm of Jerusalem had the wealth of the Order in his care,
looked after the houses of the organisation and their pro-
visioning, and was also admiral of the fleet. The com-
mander of the city of Jerusalem was responsible for the
charitable work of the Order in Jerusalem and provided for