AREY. II.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

253

and applies to your reason, which asks time forreflection; but the Koran or the sword admits none,but takes you by utter surprise. 1

He and his were soon forced to return to theirown country, in consequence of a civil war, and sothe Hospitallers had to retreat as well, from evidentinability to withstand the Sultan of Cairo, who wascoming. 2 *

In the meantime, Sir Gaudin, who had beenmade Grand Master of the Templars, after himkilled at Acre, went with the King of Cyprus tomake a diversion on the Syrian coast, and tookTortosa; but in 1302 it was won back by theSaracens, with the loss of one hundred and twentyof the Templars, 8 which being considered a greatnumber, prepares us to disbelieve the exaggerationsof times at hand. 4

Not that the fusion of Hospitallers and Templarswas in itself bad, but the design of depriving themof their independence for the benefit of a third,reminds you of the lawyer and two clients. Andtowards the end of 1304, when the two GrandMasters, of whom one was the glorious but un-

1 Yertot: iv. 36. 2 Id. : iv. 38.

3 Set. Paoli : Osservazioni, ii. 526.

4 Condussevi la maggior parte del suo convento. Sob. Paoli:

Osservazioni, ii. 526.