Thus writes the famous Caliph Abubeker, the successor of Mahomet, to the Arabian tribes:
"In the name of the most merciful GOD, _Abdollah Athich Ib'n Abi Kohapha_, to the rest of the true believers."... "This is to acquaint you, that I intend to send the true believers into Syria, to take it out of the hands of the infidels, and I would have you to know, that _the fighting for religion is an act of obedience to_ GOD."
"Remember," said the same successor of the prophet and commander of the faithful, to the holy warriors who had assembled in obedience to his mandate, "that you are always in the presence of God, on the verge of death, in the assurance of judgment, and the hope of paradise.... When you fight _the battles of the Lord_, acquit yourselves like men, and turn not your backs."
The prowess and warlike daring of the Templars in the field are thus described by St. Bernard.
"When the conflict has begun, then at length they throw aside their former meekness and gentleness, exclaiming, _Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee, and am I not grieved with those who rise up against thee?_ They rush in upon their adversaries, they scatter them like sheep, in nowise fearing, though few in number, the fierce barbarism or the immense multitude of the enemy. They have learned indeed to rely, not on their own strength, but to count on victory through the aid of the Lord God Sabaoth, to whom they believe it easy enough, according to the words of Maccabees, to make an end of many by the hands of a few, for victory in battle dependeth not on the multitude of the army, but on the strength given from on high, which, indeed, they have very frequently experienced, since one of them will pursue a thousand, and two will put to flight ten thousand. Yea, and lastly, in a wonderful and remarkable manner, they are observed to be both more gentle than _lambs_, and more fierce than _lions_, so that I almost doubt which I had better determine to call them, monks forsooth, or soldiers, unless perhaps, as more fitting, I should name them both the one and the other."
At a later period, Cardinal de Vitry, Bishop of Acre, the frequent companion of the Knights Templars on their military expeditions, thus describes the religious and military enthusiasm of the Templars: "When summoned to arms they never demand the number of the enemy, but where are they? Lions they are in war, gentle lambs in the convent; fierce soldiers in the field, hermits and monks in religion; to the enemies of Christ ferocious and inexorable, but to Christians kind and gracious. They carry before them," says he, "to battle, a banner, half black and white, which they call _Beau-seant_, that is to say, in the Gallic tongue, _Bien-seant_, because they are fair and favourable to the friends of Christ, but black and terrible to his enemies."[58]