CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

75

the republican in their own constitution, did notdislike this. Gerard, when he had to choose, didnot choose a monarchy, but a sort of common-wealth, with a Moderator or President, with onlyone vote more than any other knight of the order.Indeed it was but conforming to the Normanfashion, for the first Normans established a militaryrepublic in Puglia; and, if they afterwards becameroyal, it was to follow the taste they found there;they only did not resist the temptation, but theyhad brought other usages. The Normans per-mitted, as an exception, the use of force as to whatthey considered their right to visit the HolySepulchre as often as they pleased. Their desireto go there might be religious, but to impede themwas an attack on their liberty; and would be, hadthe Moslems been Christians. The holy war wasthen (at least at its best, the first crusade) not somuch a war against Mahometanism as againsttyranny; and rather defensive, than aggressive.So in strict neutrality between Christians, theorder were only keeping to Norman principles, neverto use force in matters of mere belief.

The Hospitallers perhaps gave the example forthe Italian republics. It is not hard to creditthat the reins of government were loose in Acre—too loose. Times of great trouble, as a siege,