Q. What followed?  A. Having laid aside my staff and taken up the sword, the Most Excellent Prelate continued:  “Having now taken up the sword, we expect you will make a public declaration of the cause in which you will wield it.”

Q. Your answer?  A. I wield my sword in defence of innocent virgins, destitute widows, helpless orphans, and the Christian religion.

Q. What was the Prelate’s reply?  A. With confidence in this profession, our Senior Warden will invest you with the warrior’s pass, and under his direction, as a trial of your courage and constancy, we must now assign you seven years of warfare—­success and victory attend you. (The pass-word is Mahershalal-hashbaz, and is given under the arch of steel, as has been described.)

Q. What followed?  A. I then commenced my tour of warfare, and made professions of the cause in which I would wield my sword.

Q. Where did your tour of warfare end?  A. At the door of the asylum, where, on giving the alarm by 3 x 4, the Warder appeared and demanded, “Who comes there?”

Q. Your reply?  A. A pilgrim warrior, traveling from afar, who, having passed full three long years of warfare, is most desirous now, if it should please the Grand Commander, to be admitted to the honors and rewards that await a valiant Templar.

Q. What was then demanded of you?  A. What surety can you give that you are no impostor?

Q. Your answer?  A. The commendation of a true and courteous Knight, the Senior Warden, who recommends to the Grand Commander the remission of the four remaining years of warfare.

Q. What was then demanded?  A. By what further right or benefit do you expect to gain admittance to the asylum?

Q. Your answer?  A. By the benefit of a pass-word.

Q. Give it. (Here the warrior’s pass is given, as before described.)

Q. What was then said to you?  A. I was directed to wait with courage and constancy, and soon an answer would be returned to my request.

Q. What answer was returned?  A. Let him be admitted.

Q. What did the Grand Commander then observe?  A. Pilgrim, having gained admittance to our asylum, what profession have you now to make in testimony of your fitness to be received a Knight among our number.

Q. Your answer?  A. Most Eminent, I now declare, in truth and soberness, that I hold no enmity or hatred against a being on earth, that I would not freely reconcile, should I find him in a corresponding disposition.

Q. What was the Grand Commander’s reply?  A. Pilgrim, the sentiments you utter are worthy of the cause in which you are engaged; but still we must require some stronger proofs of your faithfulness; the proofs we demand are, that you participate with us in five libations; this being accomplished, we will receive you a Knight among our number.

Q. What were the ingredients of the libations?  A. Four of them were taken in wine and water, and the fifth in pure wine.