ciiap. ill.] ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. 185

As Godfrey did not choose to be called King, hecalls himself Advocate, or Protector (Prsepositus),in his letter to the Pope . 1 As Boheinond was Prae-positus of Antioch, and Baldwin of Edessa; so wasGerard Praspositus of the Hospitallers. It was thenconfessedly a royal title, and equivalent to a re-cognition of sovereignty . 2 In after ages it becameinsignificant ; but at that time it was as said. ThePope—at that time a high authority—knew whathe wrote. He likewise calls Gerard’s successorPraapositus at first, but afterwards changes toGrand Master. The first was undoubtedly in con-sideration of Gerard’s royal birth, and the latter thefixed name that was to be legal for the future.

“ Servant of Christ’s Poor ” means, then, Pro-tector of Crusaders and of Christian Pilgrims . 3 ThePapal deeds are always very exact in giving titles;not so individuals . 4 Venerable was then an epithetthat, as to laymen, was only given to princes andlords of the greatest consideration, including theKing of France, to whom it belonged exclusively,according to Mabillon . 5 Roger, son of Bohemond,Prince of Tarentum, and afterwards of Antioch, inwriting a letter to Gerard, gives him precisely the

1 P. A. Paoli: 183. 2 Id. 184.

3 Id. 186. 4 Id. 185.

5 Id. 187 and 188.

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