CHAP, i.] ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. 127

1236, 1 yet his successor was reigning on the 20thof September of the same year, 2 Sir Bertrand deComps, a gentleman of Dauphiny, Prior of St.Gilles, of the same illustrious family that had pro-duced a former grand master. The lot of thisComps fell on most difficult times. All was inconfusion. To make up for having lost a mistress,the crusading troubadour invokes the Virgin Maryas coming next, 3 and exhorts all ladies and missesto listen to no objection from husbands, parents, orany one, but set out East; for that all brave menflock thither, and none remain in Europe butcowards. No wonder therefore that such worthiesscorned the advice of the Pope; and since he re-fused his consent, sailed without it, after insultinghis nuncio. There was no longer even the nameof religion, nor of soldiership either; but only ofsuch extravagance as suits pipers, and drunkards,and lewd coxcombs, or who is, or fancies himself

in love. It denotes an utter barbarism,

, , , , , 1237

that the same troubadour runs to see the

burning of one hundred and eighty-four innocent

men as heretics, just before he embarks. 4 At that

1 Cod. Dipl. Geros. i.—Hum. cxvii.—Appendix, xciv.

2 Cod. Dipl. Geros., i. 126.—Hum. cxvi., dated Marseilles,1234, among whose witnesses is another, Hontacute, KnightHospitaller, and Draperius, a very ancient charge in the order.

3 Michaud: Hist., iv. 41. 4 Id.: Id., 48.