Page 177 - A Knight of the White Cross

"The sole vow necessary, so far as I can see, would be that knights should
remain unmarried and disposable at all times for service until ten years

after making their profession, and that afterwards they should ever be ready
to obey the summons to arms, on occasions when the safety of Rhodes, or

the invasion of any Christian country by the Moslems, rendered their
services needful, when they would come out just as the knights of Richard
the Lion Heart went out as crusaders. I have spent half my life since I

joined the Order in commanderies at home, and a dull life it was, and I was
glad enough to resign my last command and come out here. Had I been able

to marry, I might now have had a son of your age, whose career I could
watch and feel a pride in. My life would have been far happier in England,
and in all respects I should be a better man than I am now. Methinks it

would strengthen rather than weaken the Order. As a fighting body we
should be in no way inferior to what we are now, and we should be more

liked and more respected throughout Europe, for naturally the sight of so
many men leading a luxurious life in commanderies causes a feeling
against them."

"But I suppose, Sir John, that there is no great difficulty in obtaining a

dispensation from our vows?"

"In this, as in all other matters, everything depends upon interest or money.

Of course, dispensations are not common; but doubtless any knight when
he had served his term of active service could, especially if his request were

backed by the grand master, obtain from the Pope a dispensation of his
vows. If he had a commandery it would make a vacancy, and give the grand
prior, or the grand master, or the council, in whosoever's gift it might be, an

opportunity of rewarding services or of gratifying some powerful family."

"I agree with you that it would have been much better, Sir John. I can
understand that monks, ever living a quiet life apart from the world, should
be content so to continue; but among a body of warlike knights there must

be many who, in time, must come to regret the vows they took when boys.
The cadet of a noble family might, by the death of elder brothers, come to

be the head of a great family, the ruler over wide domains. Surely it would
be desirable that such a man should be able to marry and have heirs."