Thus the difficulties and jealousies that would have arisen at every vacancy were avoided.
In the early days of the Order, when Jerusalem was in the hands of the Christians, the care of the hospitals was its chief and most important function.

Innumerable pilgrims visited Jerusalem, and these were entertained at the immense guest house of the Order.

But with the loss of Jerusalem and the expulsion of the Christians from Palestine, that function had become of very secondary importance although there was still a guest house and infirmary at Rhodes, where strangers and the sick were carefully attended by the knights.

No longer did these ride out to battle on their war horses.

It was on the sea that the foe was to be met, and the knights were now sailors rather than soldiers.