On the Extinction of the Order of the Templars

§. 2.

Therefore, so that this evil Referring to the dangers faced by pilgrims on the roads to Jerusalem mentioned in the previous section. could be countered to some extent, nine men, as pious as they were noble, together took the counsel to act strenuously so that they might, to the best of their ability, make the roads and routes safe for the sake of pilgrims. See the Annals of Bruetius for the year of Christ 1118; Jacques de Vitry in the History of Jerusalem, page 1083; and du Cange’s Glossary under the word Templars original: "Templariorum". Although the names of all these men are not found explicitly recorded, historians report the principal authors of this institute were two noble Frenchmen: namely, Hugh de Payens original: "Hugonem de Paganis" and Godfrey de Saint-Omer original: "Gaufredum de S. Audemaro" (or as others prefer, Saint-Omero, or even de Saint-Alexander). See Godefridus’s Chronicle for the year 1307; Fasciculus Temporum, page 73, Pistorius’s edition; du Cange’s Glossary; and Jean de Bussières’ History of France, book IX, page 228.

§. 3.

Extreme poverty initially burdened these nine brothers; for they had neither a fixed church, nor a house of their own, nor even the necessary means to sustain life. See Monasticon Anglicanum, volume 2, page 518. Therefore, taking pity on them, the King King Baldwin II of Jerusalem., the Patriarch, and the Canons provided for their necessities; of whom the King granted them a dwelling in the portico of the temple; the Patriarch established certain revenues, some temporary and some perpetual; while the Canons assigned them a plot next to the temple for constructing workshops. Matthew Paris, page 89; Jacques de Vitry in the History of Jerusalem, page 1083; Monasticon Anglicanum, as cited above; and Godefridus’s Chronicle for the year 1307. And it is written that from this first residence in the portico of the Temple, the name was bestowed upon these nine brothers, so that they were called Templars or Brothers of the Militia of the Temple original: "Fratres militiæ templi" (in German, Tempel-Herren Literally: "Temple-Lords."). Paulus Langius in the Chronicle of Zeitz, page 784, Pistorius’s edition; Monasticon Anglicanum, page 518; Hypodigma Neustriae, page 500, Camden’s edition; Jacques de Vitry, as cited above; and Camerarius in Horae Subcisivae, page 340, citing Chassanée.