Page 176 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER XII

THE BOY GALLEY

Among those most pleased at the appointment of Gervaise to the command
of the galley was Sir John Boswell. Ever since the adventure with the

pirates, the knight had exhibited an almost fatherly interest in him; had
encouraged him in his studies, ridden with him on such occasions as he had

permitted himself a short holiday, and had, whenever they were together,
related to him stories of war, sieges, battles, and escapes, from which he
thought the young knight might gain lessons for his future guidance.

"I doubt, Gervaise," he said one day, as they were riding quietly along the

road, "whether our plan of life is altogether the best. We were founded, you
know, simply as a body of monks, bound to devote ourselves solely to the
care of the sick, and to give hospitality to pilgrims in Palestine. Now this

was monkish work, and men who devoted themselves solely to such a life
of charity as that in our Hospital at Jerusalem, might well renounce all

human pleasures; but when the great change was made by Master Raymond
du Puy, and from a nursing body we became a brotherhood in arms, it
seems to me that the vows of celibacy were no longer needful or desirable.

The crusaders were, many of them, married men, but they fought no worse
for that. It would have been far better, methinks, had we been converted

into an Order pledged to resist the infidel, but without the vows of poverty
and of celibacy, which have never been seriously regarded.

"The garrison here might be composed, as indeed it is now, principally of
young knights, of those who have not cared to marry, and of the officers of

the Order whose wives and families might dwell here with them. This
would have many advantages. Among others, the presence of so many
ladies of rank would have the excellent effect of discountenancing and

repressing extravagances and dissolute habits, which are but too common,
and are a shame to the Order. Knights possessing commanderies throughout

Europe would be no worse stewards for being married men, and scandals,
such as contributed largely to the downfall of the Templars, would be
avoided.