Pfliup or church universal, and informs them that the Hospitallers then ΝΛΙΊΟΗΙ. . * Λ. D lier, retained, at their own expense, a body of horsemen and toot soldiers, to defend the pilgrims in going to and in returning from the holy places ; the pope observes that the funds of the hospital were insufficient to enable them effectually to fulfil the pious and holy task, and he exhorts the archbishops, bishops, and clergy, to minister to the necessities of the order out of their abundant property.* The Hospitallers consequently at this period had resolved to add the task of protecting to that of tending and relieving pilgrims. ' After the accession (A. D. 1168) of Gilbert d'Assalit to the guardianship of the Hospital—a man described by De Vertot as " bold and enterprising, and of an extravagant genius"—a military ι spirit was infused into the Hospitallers, which speedily pre' dominated over their pious and charitable zeal in attending upon the poor and the sick. Gilbert d'Assalit was the friend and confidant of A mal rie, king of Jerusalem, and planned with that monarch a wicked invasion of Egypt in defiance of treaties. The Master of the Temple being consulted concerning the expedition, flatly refused to have anything to do with it, or to allow a sin gle brother of the order of theTeropIeto accompany theking in arms ; " For it appeared a hard matter to the Templars," says William of Tyre, " to wage war without cause, in defiance of treaties, and against all honour and conscience, upon a friendly nation, preserving faith with us, and relying on our own faithGilbert d'Assalit consequently determined to obtain for the king from his own brethren that aid which the Templars denied; and to tempt the * Fratrefl ejusdem domua non fonnidanlee pro rrntribua suis anima* ponere ; cum eervienlihue et cquitaturia ad hoc ojfeium tpeciafiter dcpftialis et proprii* mmpiibtie re/fn/û, tarn in cundo, quam redeundo ab incursione Paganonrm dcfeiisuiit.—Tie Ycrtot, hist, den cher, de Malte, Ιίν. i. preuve !ï, t Will. Ti/r. lib. χι. cup, ·Γι.