ABEY. II.]

ST. JOHN OS' JERUSALEM.

245

able state, when he proposed uniting the Hospi-tallers and Templars into one order*,whose commongrand master, to prevent jealousy, should be electedby neither of them, but by himself, and likewisealways for the future by the Holy See . 1 But thatproject was soon rejected . 2 The same Pope -^292showed his liberality by applying to theschismatic Greek Church, to join him in renouncingfor a time all religious differences for defence ofuniversal Christianity against the Saracen, and alsohad recourse to the Pagan Tartars ; 3 but of thewhole powers of Christendom, not one, except theTemplars and Hospitallers alone, took any real partin the attempt . 4 Yet before it there was a generalchapter held at Limisso, of who so faithfully re-sponded to the circular, that scarcely ever before,since the foundation of the order, such a numberof Hospitallers of all nations as then appeared . 5There (it is tradition) the grand master, hardlyrecovered from his wounds, entered with a sorrow-ful countenance, yet that magnanimity whichusually is seen in virtue, and in a calm and slowtone said, “ Of the ancient rule of our order, my

1 Yertot: iv. 6.—Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Num. i. and ii.

a Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., limn. xv.

* Michaud: Hist., v. 158. 4 Michaud: Ilist., v. 159.

5 Yertot: iv. 9.—Bosio.