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Article THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 29 , 1868 .
By ANTHONY ONEAL HATE . ( Continued from page 147 . ) BOOK II . —CHAPTER IV . THE CHAPLAINS—SERVING BRETHREN , & C .
By Rule 61 , it Avas declared that the Holy Fathers being aware that many out of divers provinces , as Avell retainers as esquires , fervently desired , for the salvation of their souls , to be admitted into the order of the Temple for life , it
was expedient that they should be admitted to the vows , lest perchance the old enemy should suggest something to them whilst in God ' s service , by stealth or unbecomingly , and should suddenly drive them from the right path . Hence
arose the poAverful class of fratres servientes , or Serving Brethren , who attended the Knights in the battle-field , both as horsemen and footmen , and who , by their valour and exploits , were not a whit behind in fame their belted brethren .
The armour of these brethren consisted of bow , bill , and sword . It was their duty to attend closely upon the Knights , to supply them Avith fresh weapons , or a horse at need , to support them in the fight , and to bear them from the field when Avonnded .
The Serving Brethren were sons of traders , Avho , being ineligible for the honours of knighthood , yet Avere glad to join such a famous Order , and act as esquires and servants to the Knights . Some of these , however , were of exalted rank ,
though of mean birth , such as William d'Arteblay , almoner to the King of France , Radulf de Gisi , collector of the taxes of Champagne , and John de Folkay , an eminent laAvyer . Bartholomew Bartholet gave property to the amount of 1 , 000 ,
and William of Liege , 200 Tournois livres a-year , for this honour . A Serving Brother , being ineligible for knighthood , could not arrive at the higher offices of the Order . His reception was similar to that of the two former classes , but he
was bound to SAvear that he was neither slave nor knight , no bondsmen being received into the Order , and the dignity of the accolade liable to be disgraced by the performance of menial offices , for a Kni ght guilty of grievous sins often abased
himself in this manner as a penance . As the most irksome duties fell to the lot of the Serving Brethren , their obligations were laid most prominently before them . By Chapter 21 of the Rule , the esquires and
retainers were to be clothed in black garments , but if such could not be found , they were to have whatever could be procured in the province where they lived , so that they were of one colour , and of a meaner character , viz ., brown . The office of
Esquire , though generally held by a Serving Brother , was often , in latter days , given to sons of noble families , Avho bestowed large sums upon the Order for the privilege of serving under the
Knights , and acquiring thereby chivalrous virtues from the most eminent models . These Esquires . often joined the Order on receiving the accolade . Chapter 51 says that , under Divine providence , " this new kind of religion Avas introduced by you
in the holy places , that is to say , the union of Avarfare with religion , so that religion , being armed , maketh her way by the sword , and smiteth the enemy Avithout sin . Therefore Ave do rightly adjudge , since ye are called Knights of the Temple ,
that for your renowned merit , and especial gift of godliness , ye ought to have lands and men , and possess husbandmen , and justly govern them , and the customary services ought to be specially rendered unto you . "
"Under this the Serving Brethren came to be divided into two classes . The Fighting Brethren ( Freres servons des amies ); and the Handicraft ( Freres servons des mestiersj , Avhich included themasons , gardeners , smiths , bakers , & c . The
Serving Brethren were alloAved one horse , but the Grand Master , on certain occasions , could lend them another , Avhich was to be returned when the duty for Avhich it Avas required Avas performed . Sometimes the Serving Brethren were called upon
to discharge important duties , for Michaud , in his Bibliographie des Croisades , quoting from an old annalist , says : — " At page 540 is found a letter from Dapiferi , a Serving Brother of the soldiery of the Temple , addressed
to the Grand Master , Everard de Barri , who had . returned to France with King Louis VII . In : that letter he tells of the misfortunes of the Holy Land after the death of the Prince of Antioch The serving brother prayed the Grand Master to
send instant succour to the Christians , who were reduced to the last extremity . That letter is dated 1149 or 1150 . " This serving brother would .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Knights Templars.
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS .
LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 29 , 1868 .
By ANTHONY ONEAL HATE . ( Continued from page 147 . ) BOOK II . —CHAPTER IV . THE CHAPLAINS—SERVING BRETHREN , & C .
By Rule 61 , it Avas declared that the Holy Fathers being aware that many out of divers provinces , as Avell retainers as esquires , fervently desired , for the salvation of their souls , to be admitted into the order of the Temple for life , it
was expedient that they should be admitted to the vows , lest perchance the old enemy should suggest something to them whilst in God ' s service , by stealth or unbecomingly , and should suddenly drive them from the right path . Hence
arose the poAverful class of fratres servientes , or Serving Brethren , who attended the Knights in the battle-field , both as horsemen and footmen , and who , by their valour and exploits , were not a whit behind in fame their belted brethren .
The armour of these brethren consisted of bow , bill , and sword . It was their duty to attend closely upon the Knights , to supply them Avith fresh weapons , or a horse at need , to support them in the fight , and to bear them from the field when Avonnded .
The Serving Brethren were sons of traders , Avho , being ineligible for the honours of knighthood , yet Avere glad to join such a famous Order , and act as esquires and servants to the Knights . Some of these , however , were of exalted rank ,
though of mean birth , such as William d'Arteblay , almoner to the King of France , Radulf de Gisi , collector of the taxes of Champagne , and John de Folkay , an eminent laAvyer . Bartholomew Bartholet gave property to the amount of 1 , 000 ,
and William of Liege , 200 Tournois livres a-year , for this honour . A Serving Brother , being ineligible for knighthood , could not arrive at the higher offices of the Order . His reception was similar to that of the two former classes , but he
was bound to SAvear that he was neither slave nor knight , no bondsmen being received into the Order , and the dignity of the accolade liable to be disgraced by the performance of menial offices , for a Kni ght guilty of grievous sins often abased
himself in this manner as a penance . As the most irksome duties fell to the lot of the Serving Brethren , their obligations were laid most prominently before them . By Chapter 21 of the Rule , the esquires and
retainers were to be clothed in black garments , but if such could not be found , they were to have whatever could be procured in the province where they lived , so that they were of one colour , and of a meaner character , viz ., brown . The office of
Esquire , though generally held by a Serving Brother , was often , in latter days , given to sons of noble families , Avho bestowed large sums upon the Order for the privilege of serving under the
Knights , and acquiring thereby chivalrous virtues from the most eminent models . These Esquires . often joined the Order on receiving the accolade . Chapter 51 says that , under Divine providence , " this new kind of religion Avas introduced by you
in the holy places , that is to say , the union of Avarfare with religion , so that religion , being armed , maketh her way by the sword , and smiteth the enemy Avithout sin . Therefore Ave do rightly adjudge , since ye are called Knights of the Temple ,
that for your renowned merit , and especial gift of godliness , ye ought to have lands and men , and possess husbandmen , and justly govern them , and the customary services ought to be specially rendered unto you . "
"Under this the Serving Brethren came to be divided into two classes . The Fighting Brethren ( Freres servons des amies ); and the Handicraft ( Freres servons des mestiersj , Avhich included themasons , gardeners , smiths , bakers , & c . The
Serving Brethren were alloAved one horse , but the Grand Master , on certain occasions , could lend them another , Avhich was to be returned when the duty for Avhich it Avas required Avas performed . Sometimes the Serving Brethren were called upon
to discharge important duties , for Michaud , in his Bibliographie des Croisades , quoting from an old annalist , says : — " At page 540 is found a letter from Dapiferi , a Serving Brother of the soldiery of the Temple , addressed
to the Grand Master , Everard de Barri , who had . returned to France with King Louis VII . In : that letter he tells of the misfortunes of the Holy Land after the death of the Prince of Antioch The serving brother prayed the Grand Master to
send instant succour to the Christians , who were reduced to the last extremity . That letter is dated 1149 or 1150 . " This serving brother would .