178 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

crowds of pilgrims in their Xenodochia, and sick intheir temporary infirmary . 1 It is enough to knowwhat they did, to know they had the means ofdoing it. Now, French historians tell us it re-quired one of the richest estates in France topurchase a battle horse and equip one singleknight . 2 What but a league of Norman sovereignscould have compassed it? A mind like Gerard’salways finds a propitious time and fitting instru-ment. But had he not been a Norman prince,himself, could he have persuaded them to league?He knew how to use them, and was worthy ofthem. That is all—and everything. “ My ordermust not be mere men,” he said, “ but superior tomen, and proper companions for that S. Georgeand S. Demetrius against whom those greendemons — or angels, as the Saracens pretend—come down on green horses to join Islam in fight . 3He must be guilty of an anachronism who thinksthere was a Latin human being, or hospital ormonastery, in Jerusalem, when taken at the firstcrusade. A little earlier or later, but not then,Godfrey built the church called Latina, and gave

1 Tlie chronicler wrote in his old age 1150, what he had Seenin his youth, a great many years before. P. A. Paoli : 67

2 Michaud : Hist., i. 83.

3 Arab. Chron., 41.