2±± POLITICAL HERESY. — THE STATE. ment of the knights, and although they complained of the con- tempt and oppression with which they were treated by their knightly brethren, nevertheless, in their relations with the out- side world, they were full members of the Order, shrouded with its inviolability and entitled to all its privileges, which they were not likely by moderation to render less odious to the community." Thus the knights furnished ample cause for external hostility and internal disquiet, though there is probably no ground for the accusation that, in 1229, they betrayed Frederic II. to the infidel, and, in 1250, St. Louis to the Soldan of Egypt. Yet Frederic II. doubt- less had ample reason for dissatisfaction with their conduct dur- ing his crusade, which he revenged by expelling them from Sicily in 1229, and confiscating their property ; and though he recalled them soon after and assumed to restore their possessions, he re- tained a large portion. Still, pious liberality continued to increase the wealth of the Order, though as the Christian possessions in the
- Guillel. Tyrii Hist. Lib. xvn. c. 27 ; xx. 31-2.— Gualt. Mapes de Nugis
Curialium Dist. i. c. xx. — Innoc. PP. III. Regest. x. 121. Cf. xv. 131. — Regie et Statuts secrets, § 173, p. 389.— Michelet, Proces des Templiers, I. 39; II. 9, 83, 140, 186-7, 406-7 (Collection de Documents inedits, Paris, 1841-51). When, in 1307, the Templars at Beaucaire were seized, out of sixty arrested, five were knights, one a priest, and fifty-four were serving brethren ; in June, 1310, out of thirty-three prisoners in the Chateau d'Alais, there were four knights and one priest, with twenty-eight serving brethren (Yaissette, IV. 141). In the trials which have reached us the proportion of knights is even less. The serving breth- ren occasionally reached the dignity of preceptor; but how little this implies is shown by the examination, in June, 1310, of Giovanni di Neritone, Preceptor of Castello Yillari, a serving brother, who speaks of himself as " simplex et rus- ticus" (Schottmiiller, Der Ausgang des Templer-Ordens, Berlin, 1887, II. 125, 130). The pride of birth in the Order is illustrated by the rule that none could be admitted as knights except those of knightly descent. In the Statutes a case is cited of a knight who was received as such ; those who were of his country de- clared that he was not the son of a knight. He was sent for from Antioch to a chapter where this was found to be true, when the white mantle was removed and a brown one put on him. His receptor was then in Europe, and when he returned to Syria he was called to account. He justified himself by his having acted under the orders of his commander of Poitou. This was found to be true ; otherwise, and but that he was a good knight {proudun*), he would have lost the habit (Regie, § 125, pp. 462-3).
