ions by giving them charge of several of his frontier
towns.

It would be unnecessary, as it would be tedious, to repeat all the
details of the crusades, the varying successes and defeats, in all of
which the Teutonic Knights took part, both in Syria and in Egypt,
fighting side by side with their brethren in arms, the Templars and
Hospitalers. They continued also their humane services to the sick and
wounded, as the following curious contemporary document shows. It
forms part of a charter, obtained by one Schweder, of Utrecht, who
says that, being at the siege of Damietta, "he saw the wonderful
exertions of the brethren of the Teutonic Order, for the succor of the
sick and the care of the soldiers of the army, and was moved to endow
the order with his property in the village of Lankarn."

It was during the siege of Damietta that the famous St. Francis of
Assisi visited the crusading army, and endeavored to settle a dispute
that had arisen between the knights and the foot soldiers of the army,
the latter being dissatisfied and declaring that they were unfairly
exposed to danger as compared with the mounted knights.

In 1226 the grand master was selected by the emperor Frederick and
Pope Honorius to be arbitrator in a dispute that had arisen between
them. So well pleased were they with his honorable and wise counsel
that, in recognition of his services, he and his successors were
created princes of the Empire, and the order was allowed to bear upon
its arms the Imperial Eagle. The Emperor also bestowed a very precious
ring upon the master, which was ever afterward used at the institution
of the grand master of the order. Again, in 1230, the Grand master was
one of the principal agents in bringing about a reconciliation between
the Emperor and Pope Gregory IX, whose dissensions had led to many
troubles and calamities.

It has already been mentioned that the King of Hungary bestowed upon
the knights some territory on the borders of his dominions, with a
view to their defending it from the incursions of the barbarous tribes
in the vicinity. The King's anticipations were amply realized. The
knights maintained order in the disturbed districts, and by their
presence put an end to the incursions of the predatory bands who came
periodically to waste the country with fire and sword. The land soon
smiled with harvests, and a settled and contented population lived in
peace and quietness.

But no sooner were these happy results