not aim very high! Templars and Hospitallers were already famous
bodies; the latter now almost a century old. Walpot's new
GELUBDE was of similar intent, only German in kind,--the
protection, defence and solacement of Pilgrims, with whatever
that might involve.


HEAD OF TEUTSCH ORDER MOVES TO VENICE.

The Teutsch Ritters earned character in Palestine, and began to
get bequests and recognition; but did not long continue there,
like their two rival Orders. It was not in Palestine, whether the
Orders might be aware of it or not, that their work could now lie.
Pious Pilgrims certainly there still are in great numbers;
to these you shall do the sacred rites: but these, under a Saladin
bound by his word, need little protection by the sword. And as for
Crusading in the armed fashion, that has fallen visibly into the
decline. After Barbarossa, Coeur-de-Lion and Philippe Auguste have
tried it with such failure, what wise man will be in haste to try
it again? Zealous Popes continue to stir up Crusades; but the
Secular Powers are not in earnest as formerly; Secular Powers,
when they do go, "take Constantinople," "conquer Sicily," never
take or conquer anything in Palestine. The Teutsch Order helps
valiantly in Palestine, or would help; but what is the use of
helping? The Teutsch Order has already possessions in Europe, by
pious bequest and otherwise; all its main interests lie there;
in fine, after less than thirty years, Hermann von der Salza,
a new sagacious TEUTSCHMEISTER or HOCHMEISTER (so they call the
head of the Order), fourth in the series, a far-seeing,
negotiating man, finds that Venice will be a fitter place of