[Chapter4][Chapter5]

Mediaeval Knights Templars

Chapter 3.

It may be well now to give some account of the constitution and Officers of the Order before proceeding with its general history.

            The Knights Templars consisted of three classes--The Knights, the Chaplains, and the Serving Brethren. Every candidate for initiation as a Knight Temple was bound to declare that he was sprung from a Knightly family, and that his father was, or might have been, a Knight; that he was born in lawful wedlock; that he was free from all previous obligations; neither married nor betrothed; had made no vows nor received consecration in any other order; was not involved in debt, and was free from disease. He must also have already been made a Knight. The candidate was informed that he must give absolute submission to the commands of the Order. He must rise when he wished to sleep. He must endure fatigue when he required repose. He must suffer hunger and thirst when he wished to eat and drink, and he must go into one country when he was anxious to remain in another. He was enjoined by the Master not to strike or wound any Christian; not to receive any service or attendance from a woman without the permission of his superior; Not on any account to kiss a woman, even if she was his mother or his sister; to hold no child at the baptismal font or be a godfather; to abuse no man or call him foul names, but to be always courteous and polite. He was to sleep in a linen shirt, drawers, and hose, and girded with a small girdle. He was to attend divine service punctually, and at table he was to commence and conclude with prayer; during the meal he was to preserve silence. When the Master died he was, be he where he might, to repeat 200 paternosters for the repose of his soul.

            Each Knight was supplied with clothes, arms, and equipments, out of the funds of the Order. His dress was a long white tunic, with a red cross on the back and front. His girdle was under this over his linen shirt. Over all he wore his white mantle with the red cross on his left breast, and his head was covered with a hood attached to the mantle. His arms were shield, sword, lance, and mace. He was allowed three horses and an esquire, who was a serving brother of the Order, or a layman hired for the purpose. When a Knight had become, from age or wounds, incapable of service, he took up his abode in one of the Temple houses, where he lived at ease, and was treated with the utmost respect and consideration. When he died, he was placed in a coffin in his habit, and so buried. Masses were said for his soul; his arms and clothes were partly given back to the Marshal or Draper of the Order, partly distributed among the poor.

            The duties of the Chaplains were very similar to those of monks in general. They had to celebrate Mass and other religious offices, and to officiate at the ceremonies of the Order, such as the admis­sion of members, the installation of the Master, etc. It was spec­ially provided that the clergy should take no share in. the govern­ment of the Society, yet owing to their superior education they had to act as secretaries and conduct much of the business of the order, and so acquired considerable influence. The habit of the Chaplains was a close-fitting tunic, with a red cross on the left breast. Though, according to the statute, they were to have the best clothes in the Order, they were not permitted to assume the white mantle so long as they were merely Priests. But should one of them be made a Bishop, he was, if desirous of it, cheerfully granted that privi­lege. It was further distinction between the Knights and the Chaplains that the former wore their beards, and the latter were clean-shaven. The Chaplains were also to wear gloves, “out of respect to the body of the Lord.” Their privileges were unimportant; they had the best clothes, sat next to the Master in the Chapter and Refectory, were first served at the table, and in case of committing any offence, were more lightly punished than the others. They could, however, if it so pleased the heads of the Order, arrive at high rank in it; being sometime elected Preceptors.

            The Serving Brethren were the attendants and light horsemen of the Order. They must be free-born, and were frequently of good family, but not noble; and no serving brother could ever become a Knight. In early time their clothing was the cast-off garments of the Knights, but they were subsequently appointed to wear black or brown kirtles, with the red cross on them. Their arms were similar to those of the Knights, but lighter, as they had frequently to jump down from their horses and fight on foot. A serving brother was only allowed one horse, except on special occasions, when the Master could lend him another, to be afterwards returned. The serving brethren were originally of one class, fighting in the field and performing the offices in the houses of the Order. They were subsequently divided into “Brethren-at-Arms,” and “Handicraft Brethren.” The former were naturally the more esteemed, and assoc­iated with the Knights on a footing of equality. They ate in the same refectory, although at separate tables, and always with one less dish than the higher classes. The “Handicraft Brethren” were the tradesmen of the Society--the smiths, coopers, and husbandmen, and lived in the houses and on the lands of the Order, exercising their various trades and looking after the property. They practised the usual religious duties of the Order, and were even allowed to be present at Chapters.

            The head of the Order was, of course, the Master, or Great or Grand Master as he was sometimes styled. He was elected by the Knights, generally having previously occupied one of the higher offices, and must always reside in the East; permission to visit Europe was only given by the Grand Chapter on special occasions. Although his power was largely controlled by the Chapter, he enjoyed great consideration, and was always regarded as the representative of the Order. In the Councils the Masters of the Temple and the Hospital took precedence of all Ambassadors, and sat next to the Prelates. All monarchs conceded Princely rank and place to the Master of the temple. In time of war the Master was commander-in-chief of the forces of the Order, and at such times his power was practically unlimited. When he died he was buried with great pomp and solemnity, by the light of tapers and wax candles--an honour bestowed on no other member of the Order. Each brother who was present had to repeat 200 paternosters within seven days, for the repose of the soul of the deceased; and 100 poor persons were fed at home in the evening with the same design.

    Next in rank to the Master stood the Seneschal, or his lieutenant or representative. He had a right to be present at all Chapters of the Order, and be acquainted with all transactions of consequence. He, as well as the Master, bore the Seal of the Order.

The Marshall was the General of the Order. He had charge of the banner and led the brethren to battle. All the arms, equipments, and stables of the Order were under his superintendence, and he nominated the Sub-Marshal and Standard Bearer.

    The office of Treasurer was always united to that of Great Prior of Jerusalem. He had charge of all the receipts and expenditure of the Order, of which he was bound to give an account when required, to the Master and the Chapter. The wardrobe of the Order was under him, and the Draper was assigned as his companion, without whose knowledge he could not dispose of any of the clothing. He had the charge of the ships of the Order, and may be regarded as the Admiral.

            The Turcopilar was the commander of the light horse. All the armed serving brethren and the Turcopoles* were under his command, and he himself was subordinate to the Marshal.

  * The Turcopoles were the offspring of the mixed marriages between Europeans and Syrians.

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