ited with recompense nor chastisement here or
hereafter.' At a later age, when the doctrines of this society had
permeated all Islam, it seems to have labored very zealously to teach
both women and men gratuitously all learning, and give them the freest
use of books. At this time it was in the ninth degree that the initiate
'learnt the grand secret of atheism, and a code of morals, which may be
summed up in a few words, as believing nothing and daring
everything.'[12]

Bearing this in mind, Walter Scott may be presumed to have studied with
shrewd appreciation the character of the Templars, and to have
conjectured with strange wisdom their great ambition, when we find Brian
de Bois Guilbert declaring to Rebecca that his Order threatened the
thrones of Europe, and hinting at tremendous changes in society--'hopes
more extended than can be viewed from the throne of a monarch.' For it
was indeed the hope--it _must_ have been--for the proud and powerful
brotherhood of the Temple to extend their secret doctrines over Europe,
regenerate society, and overthrow all existing powers, substituting for
them its own crude and impossible socialism, and for Christianity the
lore of the serpent. How plainly is this expressed in the speech of Bois
Guilbert to Rebecca:

'Such a swelling flood is that powerful league. Of this mighty
Order I am no mean member, but already one of the Chief Commanders,
and may well aspire one day to hold the baton of Grand Master. The
poor soldiers of the Temple will not alone place their foot upon
the necks of Kings--a hemp-sandall'd monk can do that. Our mailed
step shall ascend their throne--our gauntlet shall wrench the
sceptre from their gripe. Not the reign of your vainly expected
Messiah offers such power to your dispersed tribes as my ambition
may aim at. I have sought but a kindred spirit to share it, and I
have found such in thee.'

'Sayest thou this to one of my people?' answered Rebecca. 'Bethink
thee'--

'Answer me not,' said the Templar, 'by urging the difference of our
creeds; within our secret conclaves we hold these nursery tales in
derision. Think not we long remain blind to the idiotic folly of
our founders, who forswore every delight of life for the pleasures
of dying martyrs by hunger, by thirst, and by pestilence, and by
the swords of savages, while they vainly strove to defend a barren
des