172 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [hook i.

sion, were so majestic and fine, that it wasrepresented by some critics as a most indecentrivalry with that in honour of Christ . 1

But that sneer was of posterior times. Thechronicler, who came soon after the first crusade,extols the grandeur and beauty and noble hos-pitality. Where there were two thousand guests,and at such a time, there must often have been sickor wounded, and these were of course removedinto the infirmary belonging to the house, and fornone but pilgrims or crusaders. That the knightshad to sustain the principal military duties in Jeru-salem, and all through Palestine, from the verybeginning, is quite certain; nor had they then anyother of the military orders to assist them; nor inthose first twelve .years were there any otherknights mentioned than the Hospitallers of St.John, that is, St. John the Baptist; for as to thealmsgiver, it is all a humbug, nor the least worthdiscussion; indeed, only for the respectable publi-cation that recently repeated the nonsense, it shouldnot be mentioned here in the least.

That such could be accomplished only by aunion of enterprising sovereigns, requires no de-bate. But not only sovereigns, but that these were

1 T. A. Faoli: 373.