A Collection of Curious Travels and Voyages, Volume 1 · Part 3 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Of the Knights of the Temple of Jeruſalem, the Order of the Johannites.
HAving made mention of theſe, I remember ſtill an other Order, that is, The Johannites, or Knights Templars of Jeruſalem, which did firſt begin in the Reign of Baldewin de Burgo, the ſecond of that Name, and the third King of Jeruſalem. This Order is more Secular than Divine, and therefore quite differing from all the reſt, for they need not to ſay Maſs, nor perform any other Devotion; but when they have heard Maſs, and ſaid ſo many Pater-Noſters and Ave-Maries, they have ſufficiently diſcharged their Office. This Order was firſt Invented by His Holineſs the Pope to that end, and indued with many Priviledges, that they might reſiſt and oppoſe the Turks, and that all Infidels and Hereticks might by them and their Adherents, by force of Arms, be driven and routed out of the Roman Empire. And that he might promote this deſign of his, more earneſtly, he took in thoſe chiefly that were well Born, and had great Revenues (as Princes, Counts, and other Noblemen). So it hath often happened formerly, chiefly when Popery was in a flouriſhing condition, that along with the Pilgrims, that had a mind to ſee the Holy Places, and to go to the Land of Promiſe, many Perſons of Quality came, moved thereunto out of great Zeal, together with them, to ſee them alſo, and to take upon them the Order of that Knighthood, in the Sepulchre of our Lord Chriſt, as the proper place for that purpoſe. And beſides that, other conſiderations there were which moved them to it, viz. The high Title, and the Authority of the Place, and great Priviledges, whereby they hoped to be ſtill preferred to greater Dignities. Now as every one of them had laid before them to conſider theſe Points and Articles, which every one muſt promiſe and take an Oath to keep them ſtrictly, ſome great and potent Men found it ſo ſevere and hard, (as you may ſee by that that followeth) that they were not only aſtoniſhed at it, but refuſed openly to take it upon them. But what is laid before them that are made Knights, and alſo what Ceremonies are uſed in it, I thought convenient to mention here briefly.
If there be one or more of them ready for it, that have at the inſtance of the Guardian, according to the Ancient Cuſtom, been at Confeſſion, and alſo received the Sacrament, ſub una Specie, under one Species, on Mount Calvaria, they are with great Ceremonies conducted from thence into the holy Sepulchre, whither are alſo conveyed ſome other things that belong thereunto, viz. A fine Book, a Sword richly tipped with Gold, with a red Velvet Girdle, a Chain weighing about a hundred Hungarian Ducats, whereon hangeth a Golden Croſs of this Form and Shape, a pair of Spurs with red Velvet Straps, which are laid down one by another upon the Altar of the Sepulchre. As ſoon as the Gentleman cometh into it, they begin immedidiately to ſay Maſs, and after that they Sing without ſome Latin Pſalms. In the mean while the Gentleman lyeth down upon his Knees in the Sepulchre before the Guardian, until the Friers have done Singing. Then the Guardian bids all that ſtand about, to ſay Our Father and an Ave-Mary, on behalf of the Gentleman that is to be Knighted. When this is done, he admoniſheth the Gentleman, before he taketh the Oath, to conſider upon what condition he is admitted there; When this is done, he bids the ſtanders by Pray for him once more, and then admoniſheth the Gentleman again, and telleth him alſo, That hereafter he muſt be in all things ſubject and obedient to the Roman Church; That he muſt fight and reſiſt the Turks and Lutherans as Enemies and Hereticks, ſo long as his Blood and Heart is warm. Then the Guardian asketh him further, whether he doth receive all theſe Points (as they are written word by word, in that Book, and ordered by his Holineſs the Pope, and ſubſcribed by his own Hand) and whether he will Swear by the holy Sepulchre to keep them. Whereupon he conſents to it preſently, and promiſeth with great eagerneſs and joy to keep it with all his Heart, and thanketh God that he hath made him worthy of this Bleſſing, and for having made him capable of it. After this the Monks begin again a long Song; and then the Guardian taketh up the three Pieces, the Chain, Sword and Spurs, and puts them on upon him, and ſo adorneth him as beginning Knight. At laſt he taketh alſo the Book, and puts it before him, and telleth him once more what he is about, and what he is going to Swear. When he hath underſtood it, he kneeleth down again, and puts out his two Fingers, which the Guardian puts upon the red Croſs in the Book, and readeth to him the Oath; the Contents whereof are theſe:
Firſt, That upon his Conſcience he do Swear there to theſe following Words, Not with a falſe Heart, but that he doth confeſs out of Zeal, with great eagerneſs, and with a clean Heart, and alſo Swear by Gods Omnipotence, the See of Rome, and his Holineſs the Pope, that he is a good Catholick, Educated in that Religion from his Infancy to that preſent hour; and that he never will go from it ſo long as he liveth, but will always Defend and Protect the Roman Church againſt the Lutheran, and their Adherents, with Words and Deeds, ſo long as his Heart is warm; and that he will never be in a place where any evil is taught, or ſpoke of his Holineſs the Pope. Secondly, That he doth Swear by Gods Omnipotence, and the Pope at Rome, and the Croſs of Jeruſalem, that he is a Nobleman in the fifth Generation, both by Father and Mother. Thirdly, He Sweareth alſo, that hath ſo good Income that he need not to follow Merchandizing, or any other Trade, nor to borrow Money, or to ask others for help, but that he hath ſo much that he can live upon his Revenues, and keep three Horſes beſides from year to year, for the Service of the Church of Rome. Nay, if neceſſity ſhould urge, and others ſhould riſe againſt the Roman Church, to moleſt it, that he will then always be willing and ready, beſides the three Horſes, to aſſiſt her with all his utmoſt power. He muſt alſo promiſe that he will ſo long as he ſhall live, diligently attend at Maſs, and hear four or five every day; and alſo that he will keep the Faſts zealouſly, and Eat neither Fleſh, nor Butter, nor Cheeſe, nor Egs, on them; and alſo that he will confeſs and receive the Sacrament once a month, or every ſix Weeks at furtheſt, and ſend his Family at leaſt once a year in Lent time to do the ſame. And alſo that he will not forget, to the Honour and Encreaſe of the ſaid Church, to remember her in his laſt Will; that he will protect and provide for the Widows and Fatherleſs; that he will maintain the Friers and Nuns, and their Monaſteries; and if by the Seculars any thing ſhould be taken away from them, that he will not conceal it, but endeavour to the utmoſt of his power, as if it were his own, to recover it again. That he will aſſiſt thoſe that would willingly turn Roman Catholicks, and endeavor to bring them over; but that he will keep none in his ſervice, nor any ways aſſiſt them that do not firmly adhere unto it. Then there is alſo inſerted, That he will ſay 49 Pater-Noſters, and as many Ave-Maries, every day, and viſit his Holineſs the Pope once a Year, and come into the ſeven Church Proceſſions, and perform his Office; and alſo aſſiſt at the Sacraments, and other Ceremonies, with due Reverence; and alſo Reſpect and Honour the Holy Water. At length to conclude, he is forbid to talk Idly, to be Drunk, to live Looſely, and to commit Sodomy, that he being Knighted, may not lead a diſorderly Life, and give to others ill Example.
When then the Guardian hath read the Oaths that are written upon Parchment out of the Book, the Chevallier kneeleth down again, and when he bendeth his face down, and leaneth with both his Arms on the Book, which lieth on the Altar-Stone of the Sepulchre, the Guardian bids the Friers, or Monks, again to Pray; then he draweth out the Sword, and maketh with the flat ſide of it three Croſſes upon his Head and Shoulders, ſaying, At the Command of God, and the See of Rome, and for the Encreaſe of the Church of Rome, I create you N.N. now a Member of the Roman Church, a Knight, in the Name of the Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt. And further he adds, That in the room of his Holineſs the Pope of Rome, he doth Abſolve him of all his Sins: And that he doth alſo give him leave, and command him, by the Oath he hath taken to his Holineſs the Pope, to wear the uſual red Croſs (as a Sign whereby he may be known) publickly in his Coat of Arms, and on his Clothes. Alſo, if he pleaſe, to put him in mind, as often as he ſhall look upon it, what he hath Sworn, and to keep it the firmer. When all this is over, and they have Prayed again, the Guardian wiſheth him Joy of his Knighthood, and rejoyceth with the whole Convent that he is come to this acknowledgment, and is become a true Member of the Roman Catholick Church; that he and all his Brethren will always pray for his long Life, and that God may keep him in health, to the comfort of the See of Rome. Immediately approach to him all the Monks (while he is ſtill ſtanding in his Ornaments) and call him Brother; and when they have alſo wiſhed him Joy one after the other, the Guardian beginneth the Te Deum, &c. and then he taketh all the Ornaments away again from him. Afterwards he leadeth him about with the Vicar in Proceſſion to the Holy Places, to Inveſt him alſo in every one of them; when that is done they go to Dinner.
Although in former years every body was not preſently admitted (as you may ſee by what hath been here before ſaid) except he were a Nobleman for ſeveral Generations; yet in our time it is come to that paſs, that they admit every body to it without any ſtrict Examination, that can pay the Money (which cometh to eleven or twelve Ducats). Nay, every Pilgrim that doth intend to take upon him that Knighthood, doth pray and perſwade his Companions by the way that they would do the ſame, that he may have company, which the Pope doth allow of (becauſe very few Noblemen come there now a-days) that he may in caſe of Neceſſity ſtill have ſome friends to aſſiſt him, for his Holineſs wants Champions, becauſe he taketh upon him the Civil Government as well as the Eccleſiaſtick, that when they can defend and prove their Religion no longer by Scripture, they may defend and uphold it by Power and Strength of Arms. Now as the Guardian, according to Ancient Cuſtom, gives Atteſtates to every Pilgrim concerning their Pilgrimage, under his great Seal, that they may have it to ſhew, ſo he giveth alſo one to the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jeruſalem, and bids them to carry the Letter themſelves in Perſon to Rome, to ſhew it to the Pope. This is ſufficient of the Temple of Mount Calvaria, and its Holy Places, and the Chriſtians that are dwelling there of their Chapels, and of their Errors.