The Incredible Mr. Ziing

White habits, Red Cross

Four ranks of brethren

Nine Templar Knights

Impoverished status didn’t last long

Proved their worth –

Extraordinary fervor &growth.

Lay authorities

Heaped on them favors

Both spiritual & temporal

Moved swiftly – sharp singing

Exempted from all jurisprudence –

Okayed by the Pope.

Property assimilated

Exempted from taxation

(Without representation)

Not even ecclesiastical tithes

Soon gave way to speculation –

Conflict proceeded in the Holy Land.

Landed property of the Order Led

Revenue due the churches quite certain

Castles turned quickly into remarkable ruins

By first to attack, last to retreat

New factions, blind obedience –

Also, docile to the voice of the ‘leader’.

Now, 400 Templar Knights strong in Jerusalem

As an army they were never very numerous

But were inspirited by a force quite Christian

The terror of the Mohammedans

90 met death & 80 were taken prisoner –

To the spoils belong the victors.

Hecatombs compelled the use of recruits

Excommunicated men now admitted

Jerusalem governmental orders brought

Intestine dissentions & fear

Papal (“by & for the”) inquiry –

Templar Knights found innocent?/quickly absorbed.

Copyright © 2007 Tinka Boukes & R. Lance Sheridan