88

THE HISTORY OP THE ORDER OF [book ii.

That Sir Godfrey Lo Rath did not succeed till1205 1205 (though Yertot like the rest has 1195)

is clear from the document of December,1204, in which Alphonso was still the reigning GrandMaster. 1

But if the fourth crusade took place earlier abouta year, yet as a war between Roman and GreekChristians, the order had nothing to do with it, butkept true to its neutrality between all such; exceptthat individual Templars and Hospitallers went toGreece also, for it was the land of glory f nor eitherthen nor ever could the grand master preventindividual knights from taking what side theypleased; nor, though the order had a priory andmuch property at Constantinople, did its bannerever fly there, although it had scarce a memberbut had near relatives amongst those Franks, andthey had certainly its sympathies and names thatwere very dear to it, and reminded it of its ownNorman descent, and its earliest protectors andfriends, and its founder, and all his glorious race.Nor is it surprising it exulted when a Baldwin waselected Emperor of Constantinople, and testifiedhis singular esteem by sending it, as proof of hisvictory, the chain he had to break, to reach the

1 Cod. Dipl. Geros., Hum. lxxxvii., i- 92.—Appendix, lv.

2 Michaud : Hist., iii. 210.