The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

Of the Knights of Malta.

A DISCOVRSE OF THE ESTATE OF THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA.

[ C] The Contents.

1 THe diuers aboads of the knights of the order of S. Iohn of Hierusalem, before they were setled at Malta, the which they had by guist from the Emperour Charles the fift. 2. A description of the Island of Malta, sometimes called M••lita, how many leagues it hath in circuit, the length and bredth, scituation, climat, pa∣ralell, and ports. 3. A description of the Island of Goza, neere to Malta. 4. The soile of Malta stonie, and yet bearing fruit trees, as Figges, Apples, Almonds, Vines, and Palme trees: Cotton, Roses, Tynne, and F••nnell: it feeds Sheepe, Goats, Oxen, Asses, Mules, Conies, and Partridges: They make salt and honie. It wants fresh water. In old time it was much esteemed in regard of [ D] little dogges fit for gentlewomen. It is free from Serpents, since the comming of S. Paule into this Island. 5. The manners of the auncient inhabitants of this Island, and their Temples, dedicated to Hercules, and the goddesse Iuno. 6. The disposition of the Maltois at this d••y, like to them of Africke. The manner of their garments, and the humor of the women of that countrie. Their sports at Shrouetide: Their deuotion, and religious ceremonies in time of Lent. 7. The reuenues of the great Maister of this Island: and the riches of the order consisting in treasure and com∣mandaries dispersed ouer all Christendome. 8. The forces consisting in strong places and the va∣lour of knights. 9. A distinction and diuision of the order of knights into three rankes: The lawes and ordinances of this order, and the ceremonies which are vsed in the reception of knights. 10. After what manner they depriue a knight of the habit, when he hath committed any great [ E] crime: and the ceremonies with the which they restore the habit to an offendor, who hath had his pardon. 11. Of the great Cloake of the order, and vpon what daies the knights ought to weare it. 12. Of the Hospitall, and the commaunder of the lesser Hospitall: Physitians and other persons entertained to tend the sicke: of their burialls and funeralls. 13. Of the receiuers of the Reuenues, Keepers of the treasure, Auditors of accounts, their power and offices. 14. Of the generall Chapter, and to whom it belongs to call it, what the ceremonies be, and whereon they treat. 15. Of Prouinciall Chapters which are held yearely, and how they proceed. 16. Of the order of iustice and iudgement, and of two sorts of Councells, and what Iudges precide and assist. Of lots, publique audience, and of the forme of iudgement called Esgard. 17. Of the obedience which all they of the order yeeld vnto the great Maister: his dignitie, greatnesse, and power: [ F] his rights and priuiledges: and what commaundaries are appointed for his entertainement, and of which he may dispose, and conferre to whom he pleaseth. 18. Of the office of Bailifes, great Conseruator, Mars••all, and great Prior of the Church of Malta, their wages, and to what end they are instituted. 19. Of the election of the great Maister, and the ceremonies obserued at that act. 20. Of the capacitie or incapacitie to hold commaundaries: and to whom purchases made

by commaunders belong. 21. Of the visitation which is made of commandaries euerie fiue yeare. [ A] 22. Traffique of merchandise, making of wills, donations, and many other things forbidden to knights. 23. For what crimes a knight may be depriued of his habit. 24. Of the Bishop of Malta, subiect to the Archbishop of Palermo: of the diuine seruice, and of the feasts and absti∣nences, whereunto the knights of Malta, and the brethren of the order, are bound.

[ I] THe knights of the order of S. Iohn of Hierusalem, hauing beene put out of Rhodes by the Turkes, in the yeare of Grace 1522, vpon Christmas eue, after that they had held this Island for the space of 212 yeares, came first into Candie, whereas they remained some [ B] time; then they retired themselues, part to Venice and part to o∣ther places of Italie. Hauing made some stay at Venice, and in other places of Italie, they obtained leaue of the duke of Sauoy, to retire themselues to Nisse, and to make it the aboad and seat of their order; and the ra∣ther, for that the Turkes and Moores of Africke, and Barbarie, spoyled all the Christians coasts, and assailed all the sea townes. Afterwards, they resolued to go to Saragosse in Sicile, being a place neere vnto Greece for that the common bruit was, That the Turke would come and inuade Italie, especially the Island of Sicile, and the realme of Naples. In the end, the emperour Charles the fift gaue them the Island of Malta to liue in, as a place commodious to hinder the Turkes incursions into these countries, and to crosse the suc∣cesse [ C] of their enterprises. But before I ingage my selfe any farther in this discourse, you must vnderstand, that in former times there were three places which had this name of Malta or Melita; whereof one was in Greece neere vnto Marathon; another in Cappa∣docia, not farre from the riuer of Euphrates, and this whereof we now treat.

[ II] The Island of Malta lies distant from Sicile about sixtie miles opposit to Cape Pass••ro, and from Africke aboue sixtie good leagues at Sea, the which hath made many to put it among the Islands of Europe. It hath about thirtie small leagues in circuit, and the grea∣test length is but twentie miles, and the bredth twelue. It stands in the sea of Aricke, ha∣uing vpon the North, Cape Passero in Sicile; vpon the South, Africke, and the towne of Tripoli in Barbarie; to the West, the Island of Lampadouse; and to the East, the Medi∣terranean [ D] Sea. The length extends towards Morea, and is scituated in the beginning of the fift climat, and the eight paralell, about three and thirtie degrees from the lyne.

This Island hath many ports, but among the rest, two are capable of much shipping, whereof one was called Marzamusetto, and the other, Marzasirocco. The ports are made by gulfes which aduaunce into the Island, the which in the beginning are strait, then they enlarge themselues hauing past the mouth, and make Peninsulas of some parts of the Island, which stretching farre into the Sea, are joyned to the Island by some little peece of ground. Moreouer, it hath also the ports of S. George, Benarat, S. Paule, Anto∣fegue, Mugiar, and that of Marzascala, which are not verie safe. There, vpon a point of land which extends betwixt two little gulfes, (which makes diuers others lesse) the [ E] knights haue of late built a new towne, whereas S. Elme or Herme stood, and they haue giuen it the name of the great Maister la Valette, who defended this place verie vali∣antly against the Turkes. Vpon another point, stands S. Michael, and the Bourg. In the middest of the Island, and among those Peninsulas, is the Old citie, which Diodorus writes had beene built by the Carthaginians, and which in old time was famous for the fine cloth that was made there.

[ III] The Island of Goza is the same which some Auncients haue called Glaucos, and o∣thers, as Strabo, Gaudos. Her port lies betwixt the West and South, and it is aboue a league from Malta. It hath in circuit about twentie miles: and there is a castle belong∣ing to the knights of Malta. The Turkes carried away three thousand soules out of this [ F] Island, in the yeare of Christ 1551.

[ A] ¶ The Qualitie.

THe soile of this Island is in a maner all stonie, but the stone is soft and easie to worke, [ IIII] and the ground lies three or foure foot aboue the stone. Yet it beares fig trees, apple trees, almonds, vines, and other trees, namely, palme trees; yut there are few vines: and as for palme trees they are barren: and their wheat and wood comes from Sicile. Those things which this Island beares are excellent, as the cotton, fruits, and flowres, especially, roses, time, and fennell, and certaine wild thistles the which are very good, aud the in∣habitants [ B] doe also burne them for wood. They haue store of sheepe, oxen, goats, asses, mules, conies, and partridges. They also make salt in a place called the salt pits, and they haue the best honie that can be eaten: as for their salt, it is solt, fine, and exceeding white. They many times haue haruest twice a yeare, especially, of barley and cotton. They want fresh water, as well that which comes from heauen, as from the earth, and all that they haue is in a manner reserued of their Winters raine: for their waters are brackish, & they drie vp in the great heat of Sommer, which makes the inhabitants tawnie, and in a maner like in colour to the Moores of Africke. Wherfore in Winter and in Autumne all things grow with more cheerefull colour, and more read••ly than in Sommer.

In auncient times this Island was much esteemed for the little dogges which were [ C] found there, fit for ladies. It is much subiect to winds, as well as to heat, as hath been said. It hath this particularitie, that since S. Pauls being there, there were neuer any serpents seene, although there were some before, as may be gathered by the Acts of the Apo∣stles, and scorpions, which in other places are very hurtfull, and should be as much or rather more in this Island by reason of the excessiue heat, doe no harme to them that handle them. And moreouer they say, that God hath giuen force and vertue to in∣sencible things which haue had the happinesse to lodge the Saints, and that the stones which were drawne out of the caue whereas S. Paul was a prisoner, are carried ouer all Europe, and haue a great vertue against the biting of serpents, and especially against the poison of scorpions and vipers; and these peeces of the rocke are called the grace of [ D] S. Paul.

¶ The manners of the Auncients.

WHenas the Romanes conquered this Island from the Carthaginians; the Mal∣tois [ V] were esteemed very happie, by reason of the Commerce of diuers nations, and the great number of arts which were practised in this Island: and they made great account of the cotton cloth which was made at Malta; so as Cicero did neuer obiect vn∣to Verro the excesse and daintinesse of Malta, but in regard of the garments which he ware. And it is most certaine that the Maltois were wonderful delicate, and their women [ E] very nice and daintie, and giuen to voluptuousnesse. In this Island king Batta entertained Dido, and her sister Anna: and Phalaris tyrant of Agrigentum in Sicile was a great friend to the Maltois, and went often to visit them.

Appian Alexandrinus writes, that the Maltois being reuolted, Caesar vanquished them by a long and tedious war, for that they held the sea, and made roads into all places, kil∣ling the little children, and exposing the rest to sale. And seeing he had such difficultie to vanquish them, we must beleeue that the Maltois were rich and powerfull, and that al∣though they had beene subdued whenas the Romans vanquished the Charthaginians; yet they had gotten new courage, and finding themselues strong, reiected the Roman seruitude.

[ F] They worshipped the goddesse Iuno, and there was a very auncient temple, whither all the neighbour people carried gifts of great price. They had also a temple dedicated to Hercules, whereof the ruines are yet to be seene: and it is most certaine that they of this Island were alwaies friends to the Sicilians.

¶ The manners at this day. [ A]

[ VI] THe people of this Island are harsh and vnciuile, and sauour something of the dispo∣sition of them of Africke: yet they are much affected to the Catholicke religion, and do all their best endeauors against the Turkes for the defence of their countrie. They liue very poorely, for that the Island is not fruitfull: and they haue all a particular deuo∣tion to S. Paul.

The women are faire and louely, and remaine shut vp in their lodgings, according to the auncient custome of the countrie, for that the men are exceeding suspitious and iealous. [ B] They neuer go without a vaile, & most commonly there are many of them very deuout, for they are of a disposition to be extreame in all their actions; so as if they giue them∣selues to euill, there is nothing so bad but they will vndertake it to satisfie their wicked desires.

The language which they of Malta vse is like vnto the Africans, at the least there is little difference, and both are nothing but the Arabian corrupted, or the vulgar Ara∣bian, which doth very much differ from that which is printed, the which they speake onely about Mecca. There are many Mahometan slaues which are but rudely entreated, but not equall to that which they of their sect make the Christians to suffer that are vn∣der their power. [ C]

The knights who are of diuers nations haue also diuers manners, and it suffiseth to say, that they are very absolute, and that they dispose very freely of all that is within the Island, especially they that haue any authoritie, who giue themselues content when they desire it, and find no great resistance. I will say in a word, that at Shrouetide they inuent a thousand honest pastimes: some make maskes, others make parties to runne at the ring, or to fight at barriers, and some make forts, and haue men to defend them, and others to assaile them. But Lent being come, there can be nothing seene more deuout than all this companie.

Vpon Maundie Thursday, the great maister washeth the feet of many poore men, which done, they are set at a table, and are serued with eighteene dishes of seueral meats, [ D] not accounting the last, which is of a certaine quantitie of peeces of siluer or gold which he giues them, so as they haue more than they can spend in the whole yeare: hauing serued these poore with his owne hand, the knights of the order hauing brought the ser∣uice, he goes to visite the hospital, and carries the sicke meat himselfe, being all serued in vessell of siluer.

¶ The Riches.

[ VII] IF this Island makes any benefit of her cotton and such like things, it is disbursed in that which they haue brought from forraine countries. Yet the great Maister who enioies [ E] the reuenues of this Island makes ten thousand duckats yerely: & to the end he may shew himselfe more liberall vnto all men, they giue vnto him certaine thousands of crownes out of the treasure of the order, and besides, he hath a good Commaundarie in euery nation, which is of great reuenue. Moreouer if the Knights get any thing from the enemy, he hath alwaies the tenth part of the bootie; and it is well knowne their prises are very great euery yere.

As for the order it is exceeding rich, considering the good Commaundaries they hold in Christendome: and without doubt, the treasure of the order growes great, both by the reuenues, and also by the spoiles which the Knights make in their incursions. And seeing they are to maintaine war continually, it is conuenient they should enioy goodly [ F] reuenues, the which doe come vnto them by the bountie of princes: and therfore euery yeare, all the Bailifes, Priors, and Commaunders are bound to giue in a certificate of their goods and reuenues to the prouinciall Chapter, and they pay the charges where∣unto they are bound to the publicke treasure of the religion, according to the value

[ A] of the commandarie, for the which there is a knight deputed by the order to be Recei∣uor, to whom those duties are payed euerie yeare at the feast of S. Iohn Baptist. You must vnderstand, that no man is receiued to the profession of this order, but he must pay a dutie, which they call the passage of the publique treasure, which amounts to the v••••ue of aboue one hundred and fiftie crownes for knights, and a hundred for those that are cal∣led brothers seruants, and if after his passage, he hath not giuen them, he that receiues them for the order, must make them good, notwithstanding any dispensation, and whe••∣as any one hath satisfied this dutie, they cannot denie him his right of antiquitie. The goods of knights dying, come also to the publique treasure, vnlesse they haue any gold [ B] or siluer vessell which were proper to the seruice of the Church; for those things are left vnto the Church, according to the ordinance of Deodat de Gozon. But whenas the officers which follow the great maister, as the Seneshal, Chastelain, & other knights which serue him, die, their goods go not to the publique treasure, but they come to the great maister.

¶ The Forces.

THe Island of Malta hath all the approaches so well fortified, as it is not onely a diffi∣cult [ VII] thing, but in a manner impossible to make any descent, or being landed, to ad∣uaunce or gaine any thing. But I esteeme more than all these forts, the valour of the [ C] knights which liue there, and their ordinarie resolution, as also, of the brothers seruants, and of the souldiers which remaine there, the which in truth is such, as their small num∣ber is able to defeat a great armie, the which they shewed sufficiently whenas they slew so great a number of Turkes before the castle of S. Elme, they being but a handfull. Finally, they are so farre from being assailed in their Island, as contrariwise, they make daily incursions into Greece, towards Rhodes and Barbarie, yea many times they go neere to Constantinople. They haue commonly many galleys, either of which is able to containe fiue hundred souldiers, and sixteene good pieces of ordnance wherewith they furnish them; so as they want no munition of warre. To conclude, they haue made themselues so fearefull, as for a long time they haue suffered them to enjoy their Island [ D] with peace.

¶ The Gouernement.

THere are three rankes of them which make profession of this order; the first, is of [ IX] knights, which must be of a noble extraction; the second, of priests; and the third, are called brothers seruants. After this, the priests which weare the crosse, are diuided into two; the one are called Conuentualls; and the other, of the obedience. And as for the brothers seruants, there are seruants of armes, and seruants of office, whereof the last cannot attaine to the degree of honour of armes, like vnto the first; for the brothers ser∣uants [ E] at armes make the same profession that the knights doe, taking the same oath, and there is no difference betwixt them and knights, but in regard of their gentrie, for that being no gentleman, they are not admitted to the great crosse, to be Grand Priors, Bai∣lifes, or to haue any other great charge in the order. They haue commaunderies, and may be made Gouernours of places belonging to their religion, and called to the ma∣naging of money, and to the visitation of places belonging to the order; whereas the other seruants cannot be receiued into the order of knighthood, no more than the priests, be they conuentuall, or of obedience. The ordinances of the reception are those which follow:

By the ordinances of Hugh Reuel the great maister, no bastards might be receiued in∣to [ F] this order, without the consent of a generall Chapter, or that he be descended from some great familie: And moreouer, among the lawfull and noble, no man issued from a Iew, a Marran, or a Mahometan, were he the sonne of a prince, is to be admitted in∣to this companie. If he that would enter into this order hath formerly made profession of any other, by the ordinances he may not be receiued: yet this hath not beene alwayes

obserued, for the Chanoins of the holie sepulchre haue been joyned to this order by the [ A] Popes authoritie, although they had made profession vnder another than the great mai∣ster. Moreouer, a man that is much indebted, or maried, may not be admitted▪

In like manner, they may not receiue a man that hath committed a murther, or any in∣famous crime. It is not lawfull to giue the habit to any one that is not eighteene yeares old: yet the great maister may chuse eight children of what nation soeuer, and make them knights, so as they be gentlemen; if they be otherwise, he may make them brothers ser∣uants, to exercise them in armes, and dispence with them for all seruices, but they must be at the least foureteene yeares old, and they cannot take from them their right of anti∣quitie in the ranke of commaunderies. He that will be admitted into this order, must be [ B] found and well composed of his members, and fit for labour, and before he enters, he must proue that he is a gentleman by name and armes, and that he is of the language and Pri∣orie••to whose Auberge or companie he desires to make his entrie. Auberge signifies as much as a house or lodging, and it is a place whereas euerie nation assembles at Malta, to eat there, and consult of the affaires of the house. Hauing made his proofes before them that are deputed by the Grand Prior, and by the assemblie of the prouince, into [ IIV] whose language he enters, he is then solemnely admitted, but as for the habit, he must re∣ceiue it by the sole authoritie of the great maister. The habit of the knights must be a blacke cloake, and a white crosse, according to the auncient statute of the great maister Raymond du Puy: yet he adds, that according to the time and place they are dispenced [ C] withall touching the colour; so as the crosse be according to the order, but this is to be vnderstood of religious men that beare armes, and not of others. He that will be recei∣ued a profest knight into this religion, must first of all confesse himselfe, then with a long secular roabe, without a girdle, present himselfe vpon both his knees before the Altar, holding a burning taper in his hand, where he must heare Masse, and receiue the Sacra∣ment. Then being presented before the brother that is to receiue him, with this reue∣rence, he humbly intreats him that he will be pleased to admit him into the companie of the brethren of the holie religion of the Hospitall of Hierusalem. They then make a dis∣course vnto him of that which he is to doe being receiued, and hauing demanded of him, If he hath a will to accomplish all these things? he answereth, yea; then he that receiues [ D] him, passeth on, and inquires, If he hath made any other vow? if he hath promised mari∣age to any one? or if he be in seruitude to any one? for if he be toucht with any of these things, they reject him: but if he be free, he that receiues him, opens the Masse booke, [] making him to speake these words following: I vow and promise to God, to the blessed virgin Marie, and to S. Iohn Baptist, that with the grace and succours of God, I shall be alwaies obedient to the superiours which God and the religion shall giue me, and that hereafter I will liue chastly, and not enioy any thing proper to my selfe. After which, he is receiued kisseth the Masse booke, and taking it, carries it to the Altar, the which he kis∣seth; then he takes vp the booke againe, and brings it in signe of obedience to him that receiues him, who taking the blacke cloake; shews the white crosse to him that is profest, [ E] asking him, if he doth not belieue that it is the signe of the crosse whereon our Sauiour Iesus Christ was fastened for our sinnes.

He confesseth it, and kisseth the Crosse, then he that receiues him takes the cloake, and sets the crosse vpon his brest on the left side, and kissing it, faith vnto him: Receiue this signe in the name of the Holie Trinitie, of the blessed virgin Marie mother of God, and of S. Iohn Baptist, for the increase of the faith, defence of the Christian name, and s••ruice of the poore: And we set the crosse vpon this side, to the end thou maist loue it with all thy heart, and that with the right hand thou maist defend it, and hauing defended it, preserue it whole: for if fighting against the enemie of Iesus Christ, thou flyest away, and doest abandon the crosse, and his holie-ensigne, then shalt be justly depriued of this sacred [ F] signe and as a rotten member ••••••sed from our companie. After this, he ties the string of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cloake saying, Receiue the yoke of our Sauiour, which is sweet and light, and tho•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therein find rest for thy soule. This done, he kisseth him, and so doe all the other knights which assist, and they say many prayers, as it is contained in the booke of

[ A] their statutes, by the which it is decreed that if any one is receiued against the forme prescribed, if he be a knight he shall be a brother seruant, if a seruant at armes, he shal be of office, and if he be a chaplain, he shall be a brother of obedience, and neuer be able to hold commaunderie, or to attaine to any dignitie of the order, or to the managing of the goods of the religion. As for Priests and Chaplains, no man is receiued before he hath first serued a whole yeare, to the end they may know his life and sufficiencie, during which time he is fed at the charge of the treasure of the order. It is not lawfull for the knights to receiue of their owne authoritie any other brother than the Chaplains, when there is want in their Churches or Chappells, and also of seruants of office for the seruice [ B] of their Commaunderies, and these must be approued and confirmed by the Prouinciall Chapter, to whom they must be represented, with the assignation which they giue them for their liuing and apparell.

There are also fellowes of the same order which do not vow the same things that the brethren do, but they onely promise to loue the order, and that which depends thereon, and to defend the good of the religion with all their power, and to discouer vnto the superiours such as shall annoy it or betray it, as much as in them lieth. These contribute to the order according to their deuotion, as companions do in a brotherhood, to partici∣pate of that which shall be giuen. And yet it is not lawfull for any Priors, Chastelins, Bailifes, or any other Commaunders and Knights to receiue any of these companions [ C] that are vowed to the order, without the commandement of the great Maister: and if any doth it, he shall be depriued of his habit, and they that are receiued shall not be en∣rolled among the other associats, nor enioy the priuiledge which they doe commonly enioy. These associats do not carrie a whole crosse, as all they doe that make professi∣on, but only three branches, as we see in the habit of the religious of S. Anthonie, wher∣as the vpper part of the crosse is taken away: and if they do otherwise, they shall not en∣ioy their priuiledge.

As for the depriuation of the habit, it is made after this manner. The great Maister or his Lieutenant enquires carfully of the crime whereof any one is accused, and hauing drawne the proofe, and seene that he must proceed to extremities, he frames a complaint [ D] before the assemblie, which come thither at the sound of a bell, and propounds the crime in the presence of the offendour, who is brought thither by the chiefe Vsher. The com∣plaint being propounded, the great Maister being present in the Councell, giues charge to the bailises to haue an Esgard (for so they call the judgements giuen in this order) against the offendor, and to proceed according to God and reason, and according to the commendable and auncient customes of the religion.

After this, the great Maister appoints a chiefe of the Esgard, and an vpright man which is his Attorny Generall, to plead the cause before him that hath the Esgard deliuered vn∣to him; and the prisoner hath power to aunswer and to defend himselfe, and then he must either confesse or denie the crime: if he confesseth it, he presently demands grace, [ E] and then the Esgard or Iudge makes his report to the great Maister and the Assemblie, and demaunds grace three times for the offendor: if the great Maister will not insist vp∣on the rigour of their lawes, they proceed no farther, but if he continues to demaund justice, then the Esgard retires himselfe into a place a part to consult againe of the matter, and to execute that which is contained in their statutes.

But if the offendor denies the fact, they come to witnesses, proofes, and informations, so as being conuicted, either by his own mouth, or by proofes, he is condemned in Coun∣cell to loose the habit. This done, they send for the Attourney Generall, to whom they declare what they haue decreed, and he exhorts the offendor to follow the Esgard, who goes before the great Maister, and the assemblie, whereas the accused comes full of teares, beseeching them to do him grace, and the Esgard in like manner entreats the great Mai∣ster, [ F] and all the Knights that assist. If they will not encline to mercie, but insist to haue the sentence pronounced, after they haue thrice reitrerated the commandement to the chiefe bailife of the Esgard to judge according vnto law, he pronounceth the sentence of his degradation in the presence of the offendor, and condemnes him that hath been con∣uicted

of the crime wherof he had beene accused. The partie condemned, to purchase [ A] some grace, and to moue them to pittie, casts himselfe vpon his knees before the great Maister, neere vnto him the Vsher stands, who doth but attend his commaundement, or ••ha•• of his Lieutenant; and one of them speakes to the offendour after this manner: For that by thy actions thou hast made thy selfe vnworthie of the signe of the Crosse, and of our order, into the which for thy former vertues we had receiued thee; according to our statutes and ordinances, for a praise vnto the good, a terrour vnto the bad, and an example to all men, we depriue thee of our habit, and declare thee vnworthie of the companie of our brethren, from the which we expel thee, as a rotten, corrupted, and con∣tagious member. [ B]

Then the Vsher attending the great Maister, takes away the offendours habit after this manner: at the first commaund, he doth onely lay his hand vpon the offendours ••loake: at the second, he vnties the string, and opens the cloake before: and at the third, he takes it quite away, saying, Vsing the authoritie which the superiour hath giuen me, ••vntie this knot, and take from thee the pleasing yoke of the Lord, whereof thou hast made thy selfe vnworthie. This done, according to the statute and ordinance of the great Maister, he leads the offendor to prison, where he remaines perpetually, being once thus degraded.

They vse in a manner the like ceremonies against one that is absent, and hath refused to appeare. It is true that they proceed not but with great deliberation and apparent [ C] proofes: neither are their punishments so seuere; but if they find any one truely repen∣tant of his faults they will shew him grace: so as the offendor hauing beene long in pri∣son, and being found penitent, and desirous to amend his life, they pardon him, and re∣store him his habit with this ceremonie: The great Maister or the Leiutenant causeth a bell to be rung for the assemblie, whereas the great Maister, Balises, and others being set, euery man according to his ranke, the great Maister or the Lieutenant commaunds them to bring the prisoner, who is led in a secular weed by the Vsher, who had degraded him of his habit, and sometimes in his bare shirt, with a halter about his necke, according to the qualitie of the crime, hauing his hands bound, and holding a taper burning, and in this manner he kneeles before the great Maister, humblie beseeching him that he will be [ D] pleased to restore him his habit, and receiue him againe into the order and companie of brethren, protesting to liue an honest man, and neuer to doe any thing contrarie to the rule whereof he hath made profession.

Then the great Maister aunswers him: although thy offence hath made vs to take thy habit from thee, yet vpon hope of thy amendment, we restore thy habit, pardon thy crime, and admit thee againe into the companie of our brethren; be therefore an ho∣nest man, and do so as hereafter we may haue no cause to vse the rigour of our justice with all extremitie against thee. Then the chiefe Vsher puts on his cloake with the like ceremonie, as he had taken it from him; but being thus restored, he doth not en∣ioy the right of his antiquitie nor residence, according to a law made by the great Mai∣ster [ E] Sangle.

When as they go vpon any enterprise, they are bound to make a declaration of all their goods, as if they did presently leaue them, and this they call by a proper word dispro∣prying, or a renouncing of that they had. They giue all sealed and signed to the Prior of the Church, vpon paine to fast fortie daies, to haue the discipline of the Chapter, and to loose the reuenues for one yeare, the which is applied to the profit of the treasure for them that are commaunders.

[ XI] The knights do not alwaies weare the great cloake of the order, the which they take when as they make profession, but it suffiseth to haue a crosse sewed vpon their ordinarie cloakes on the left side, and also on their cassocks, and coats of armes when they go vnto [ F] ••he warre. But there are certaine daies when they are bound to weare them, as vpon Christmas Eue at Euensong, on Christmas day at Masse and Euensong, vpon Saint Iohns day at Masse, the day of the Circumcision at Masse, and to be short, vpon all principall feasts of our Sauiour, of the Virgin Marie, of S. Iohn Baptist, and of the blessed Apostles,

[ A] whenas they are to communicate, and at their Chapters, and Assemblies: and at the ele∣ction of a great Maister, the Priors, Bailifes and Electors must weare the great cloake, vp∣on paine to vndergo the judgement of the fortie.

There is a commaunder of the little hospitall, and a register, with two honest men, [ XII] chosen to visit the sicke, and to see them furnished with all things necessarie, and these take an oath to discharge their places faithfully, and not to deliuer any thing to the sicke, but by the physitians prescription. They are also to make an Inuentorie yearely of that which is in the hospitall, be it gold, siluer, or other moueables, and they signe this Inuen∣torie, and cause the ouerseer of the hospitall to sweare, That he shall not suffer any of [ B] them to be lost, nor imploy them to any other vse but to the seruice of the sicke: Moreo∣uer, the Apothecaries shop must be visited euerie yeare, least the sicke and diseased be wronged with old and corrupt drugges.

There are physitians and chirurgions entertained by the order, for the brethren, as well knights, clerkes, as seruants, and if they die, they are interred as they ought with their habit and white crosse, and there are foure clothed in blacke, which carries them to the ground, and it is not lawfull for any other to weare a mourning weed, no not at the death of the great maister, according to the ordinance of Claude de la Sangle: wherein he would shew, that it was a vanitie to mourne for them that were held happie, or else that the pompe of mourning robes was not sitting for them that made profession of [ C] pouertie.

The hospitall of this order serues as a sanctuarie, so as it is not lawfull to draw out an offendor. It is true, they doe not enjoy this libertie in all cases, but they looke whether the fact deserues this freedome. If it merits, they send the offendor out of the Island by the first ship; and he may no more returne to any place that is vnder the jurisdiction of the order. But this priuiledge doth not auaile the eues, nor them that spoyle the Cham∣pian countrie in the night, nor fierers of houses, Sodomites, robbers, conspirators, nor such as haue wilfully slaine or poysoned any man, nor the houshold seruants to knights which commit any crime. They also that strike or wound any of the order, or any one of the Iudges and officers shall not enioy this priuiledge, nor they that are indebted, nor [ D] false witnesses, forgers of writings, nor Church robbers, nor they that haue committed any crime within the hospitall.

As for the receiuors and proctors of money, they must sweare in the hands of the great Maister, the Prior, or the Conuentuall Bailife, that they will doe their duties in the receit, and they are bound euerie yeare to carrie their accounts to the prouinciall Chapter, with the names of such as haue payed, and of them that owe.

To the end the accounts may be heard, and a care had of the treasure, there is one who [ XIII] is called the great commaunder, and two proctors chosen among the wisest of all the knights; either of which carries a key of the treasurie; and in like manner all the store∣houses, be they of armes, munition, or any other thing, are vnder their guard. But the [ E] great commaunder, must not go out of the Conuent, whilest be is in charge, nor yet the proctors which assist and serue him for the space of two yeares; neither may they leaue their offices all together, but when they change, they alwaies leaue one of the auncient, to the end there may be one that vnderstands the managing of the businesse.

Moreouer, they haue a conseruator or protector of the treasure, who hath charge to distribute the mony, according to the will of the great Maister, and with the leaue of the great Commaunder; and this Conseruator is but one yeare in charge, and is chan∣ged euerie yeare in the Chapter, and chosen of any tongue whatsoeuer. But they haue this obseruation, That when any one goes out of charge, they chuse not another of the same tongue within ten yeares.

[ F] There are also eight knights, one of euerie tongue or nation, who are as it were audi∣tors of accounts, and haue one day in the weeke appointed to this end. Their authoritie is to see and examine how matters are managed, and when they find any fault which re∣quires reformation, they make report vnto the great maister, and to the ordinarie Coun∣cell. These are two yeares in charge, and they are not to make any payment out of the

common treasurie, without their assistance, to the end that so many witnesses may pre∣uent [ A] all abuses.

They giue vnto the Conseruator an adjunct, chosen from among the most expert of the order, and that best vnderstands matters of accounts, and he assists at all the receits of the Conseruator generall, and also at the giuing vp of his accounts; and of two bookes of the receits, the Conseruator hath one, and he another, setting downe that which hath beene receiued, to the end it might be certainely knowne, and he is in charge as long as it pleaseth the great Maister, and the ordinarie Councell.

[ XIIII] As for the Chapter generall of this order, the great maister appoints it, and prescribes the day and time when it shall be held. The day being come, and all assembled, before [ B] they treat of any affaires, they go at the breake of day to the Church, whereas Masse is sung by the Conuentuall Prior, after which, the great Maister, with all the Knights, and Clergie go in procession to the place whereas the Chapter is held, whereas they sing the Hymne of the Holie Ghost. This done, the great Maister, the Bailifes, Priors, and others, hauing voyce in Chapter sit downe according to their ranke, and then there is a Sermon made, which being done, they all depart that may not assist, such as the Chap∣leins be. Vpon the first day, they consider who are absent, and whether the excuses which their Attourneys alledge, be lawfull or no: After this, the Bailifes, Priors, and Chaste∣lins, whom they call Emposte, and other commaunders, carrie a purse, in which there are fiue peeces of siluer in signe of purchase, and a roll about it which containes the names and [ C] value of their Estates, and offices, and in like manner their aduice touching that which is to be done for the publique good, and their seale being set vnto it, euerie one goes and presents his purse, according to his ranke to the great Maister, kissing his hand, and making a curtesie. This done, the great Marshall of the order comes in his ranke, to present the standard of the religion to the great Maister; and the rolls which be presented, are read by the Vicechauncellor with a loud voyce; then they proceed to the election of sixteene Capitulans, to whom they giue charge to determine all matters that shall be propoun∣ded and debated in Chapter. They are chosen by the nations a part, and euerie one chu∣seth two, who vnderstand the language, and the affaires of the nation, and whenas they find them not sufficient of any one nation, they chuse another. These take an oath be∣fore [ D] the great maister, and the whole assemblie, to judge sincerely, and not to be trans∣ported with any priuat passion, of all that shall be to the honour and profit of the order, and of the great maister, and the rest promise to allow and confirme whatsoeuer they shall decree. Then they enter into a priuat place, and with them the great Maisters Proctor generall, who hath a deliberatiue voyce; but he cannot determine nor judge of any thing. They decide that which concernes impositions vpon commandaries for the subuention of the order: of the gouernement of the treasure: the reformation of man∣ners, and institution of lawes; and finally, of all things which happen, and may concerne the publique good. This done, they go forth, and in the presence of all, as well Chap∣leins as others, they publish, by the mouth of the Vicechancellor, the things which they [ E] haue determined; and then the purses are restored, as also, the seales and standard to the Bailifes, Marshall, and commaunders, who had deliuered them into the great Maisters hands, and so the Chapter ends: Then they returne in procession to the Church. But you must vnderstand, that if any one of the sixteene Capitulans finds any matter in que∣stion that concernes his particular, he may not be present when it is decided: neither may any man protest against them, nor appeale from their sentence.

[ XV] As for the Prouinciall Chapters, it belongs to the Bailifes, and great Priors, to call them yearely in their prouinces, which be, France, and it hath fiue and fortie commanda∣ries: Aquitaine, hath sixtie fiue commandaries in that gouernement: Champagne, two and fortie: S. Giles, fiftie and foure: Auuergne, seuentie seuen: Tolousa, fiue and [ F] thirtie: Rome, nineteene: Pisa, six and twentie: Venice, seuen and twentie: Lombar∣die fiue and fortie: Barle••te, and Capoua, fiue and twentie: Messina, twelue: Base or Low Germanie, fortie: High Germanie, seuen and twentie: Lyon and Castille, se∣uen and twentie: Chastelain of Emposte, nine and twentie: Catelonia, eight and twen∣tie:

[ A] Nauarre seuenteene: and Portugal one and thirtie. In these prouinciall Chapters the bailifes or great Priors may not do or say any thing to the preiudice of any knight, nor trouble the quiet nor right of any of their prouinces. They proceede in a manner like vnto the Generall touching prayers, then they read the rule with a lowd voice, to the end, that all men in generall may be warned to kepe it, and they speake of the ob∣seruers or breakers of the same: of the jurisdiction of Priors: of Commaundaries and Commaunders: of visitations and other matters which concerne the profit of the hou∣ses of the prouince.

But for that it is impossible that amidst so great a troupe, so different of humours, of [ XVI] [ B] life, and language, there should fall out no quarrells nor contentions, they haue also wisely prouided touching judgements: and for that they would not make suits immor∣tall, they haue ordained that they should not put those controuersies in writing which fell out among the brethren, neither should there be any other Aduocates or Attour∣neies than the parties themselues, who must deliuer the matter with their owne mouths before them that are deputed to heare the cause. True it is, there are some causes, as mat∣ters of debt, whereas writings are necessarie, and they must haue witnesses to proue them: and the schedules & depositions must be set down in writing, and the Iudges refer them∣selues to the writings which they haue seene. But to to vnderstand who they be, and to whom they commit these judgements, I will set it downe as well as I can.

[ C] The Maltois haue two sorts of Councells, the one is Ordinarie, and the other is called Accomply or Perfect. In the Ordinarie, there assist the great Master, his Lieutenant, if there be any, the Bishop of Malta, the Prior of the Church of the order, who is equall to the Bishop in that which concernes his ranke, and the eight conuentuall Bailifes, or their Lieutenants, the grand Priors of prouinces which are within the Conuent, the chiefe Treasuror or his deputie, and the great Maisters Seneschal, but he hath no voice in judgement.

In the Councell of the Accomply, besides the abouenamed, there are two knights of euery nation, and the Vice-Chauncellor must be called to both, but no other are ne∣cessariely bound to assist, but the Conuentuall Bailifes, without whom they cannot hold [ D] an assemblie, and neither these nor any other can keepe a court without leaue from the great Maister. The parties interessed, or that feare the credit and fauour of their aduerse parties, may refuse any Iudge whatsoeuer, yea the great Maister, shewing good reason for his recusation, according to the ordinance of Baptista Vrsino.

The parties before they come to the Councell, must go vnto the Chauncerie to de∣liuer their names in writing, and the cause why they contend, and to be inrolled: after which euery one is called in his ranke and order by the Vice-Chauncellor. And for that they judge definitiuely in this order, it is not lawfull for any other to meddle with the deciding of any causes which concerne the religious. It is true that secular men which haue to deale with knights, may haue Attourneys and Aduocats to defend them, where∣as [ E] any difference may arise, either in Prouinciall Chapters, or in other assemblies.

They haue also a good order to cast lots whenas two pretend for one office, and ther∣in they haue regard to antiquitie, vnlesse one were of the great Crosse, for then he is al∣waies preferred, and they proceed in their choise after this manner: After an oath taken by the Competitors, the Vice Chauncellor takes two vessells in his hands, whereof the one is white, and the other blacke; then he goes first to the great Maister, and then to euery one of the Councellors in their order, offering them these vessells, to the end they may put their lots into which they please: for if they will fauour him that hath moued the suit, they will put them into the white, and contrariwise into the blacke. This done, they tell the lots publickely, and the Vice Chauncellor puts the white in writing, and he doth [ F] the like when there are two or three competitors; then he numbers all the lots, and he that hath most, is without all contradiction called to the dignitie which he pursues. If there be as many lots of one side, as of another, then the most auncient carries it, or all shall be referred to the discretion of the Councell, which doth judge of all contentions whereas the lots are equall.

The knights doe also vse this casting of lots euery one in their nation, when there [ A] is any question of graces, or of nominations, and elections of bailiwickes, and dignities; for that it is not lawfull to do grace, that is to say, to grant any dignitie to any one of the ••rethren before his ranke, without the consent of all the knights. It is not lawfull for the knights to determine of any other thing in the priuat Councells of their nations, but of possessiions, vines, houses, and such like, which belong vnto the companie, and not to dis∣pute of the publicke affaires of the religion.

They haue •• publicke audience which is held euery Friday at Malta, whereas they of the ordinarie Councell assist, and in like manner the Iudges of appeales, the Vice-Chan∣cellor, the Captaine of the Island of Malta, and the Iudge of the towne. They do iustice [ B] •••• the inhabitants of the Island, and to all other secular men, which are subiect to the lords of this religion, or which haue to deale with them.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 knight may conuent any one before any other Iudge than him of his order for ••••at cause soeuer, and whosoeuer doth the contrarie looseth his right of antiquitie, is depriued of all administration in this order for the space of fiue yeares, looseth his cause, and may not enioy that which he pretended, although he had obtained it by sentence. And without doubt they haue reason, for that such appellations derogate much from the right of soueraigntie, and if they suffered such appellations and sentences to go be∣fore other Iudges, they should in time be depriued of their auncient authoritie, like vnto some others, who could not preserue that which was gotten for them. [ C]

These knights haue also another forme of judgement, which they call Esgard, the which is fit to decide their controuersies speedily which haue not leasure to attend long suits. They chuse a knight of euery language, and they adde a ninth man to this number of what nation soeuer. This is made President of the Esgard by the great Mai∣ster, or by the Marshal of the order, when as the brethren are of his jurisdiction; and the other eight are named by the Conuentuall Bailifes, to whom the Vsher giues notice, but with this condition, that the bailifes of nations may not name any other but such as the parties shall willingly receiue for Iudges. For this Esgard they haue recourse to other Iudges called the Rentfort of the Esgard, where the number of the Iudges is double, and also to the Rentfort of the Rentforts, whereas they take three of euery nation [ D] in steed of one; yet the first President continues still. But whenas the businesse cannot be ended after this manner, the great Maister addes the Esgard of Conuentuall Bailifes, or of the Vice-Bailifes: and if it happens that the President be a Bailife, he is dismist, and one of the ancientest knights put in his place; and they haue but one voice a peece, except the President, who hath two. This President demaunds of the parties con∣tending if they suspect any of the Iudges? then euery one deliuers his matter verbally, and they do them summarie justice according to the order of their lots.

[ XVII] As for the great Maister, all they of the order, as well clerkes as lay-men are bound to yeeld him all obedience; and none can attaine to this dignitie, but he that is a knight, and by consequence of a noble extraction, and come of a lawfull marriage. But notwitstan∣ding [ E] that the great Maister be the head and soueraigne of his order, yet he hath not liber∣tie to do all things, and vpon his voiage (if happily he be not at Malta at the time of his election) he may not take more money than the Councell hath appointed the Receiuors to giue him and if he will spend more, he must vse his owne. Moreouer his estates, dig∣nities, and commaunderies are void from the day of his election, and the collation be∣longs to the great Maister, to the Conuent, and to the Assemblie: neither may he resigne any thing, but the distribution of all those things passeth by the Councell, although he hath his part of the power to conferre them, being alreadie great Maister. As for the goods of his Predecessor, he may onely pretend so much corne and wine as he shall need from the day of his election, vnto the next feast of Christmas, and the rest comes to the trea∣••ure [ F] of the order. As for his plate, he shall haue to the value of six hundred markes of sil∣uer and no more, with a cup and ewre of gold, if there be any, and the rest is put into the publicke treasure.

There haue beene alwaies a good number of Commaunderies appointed for the great

[ A] Maisters entertainement, the which are so incorporated to his dignitie, as it is not pos∣sible to dismember them, the which is done to the end he may with the more credit en∣tertaine his traine. But he hath power to giue them for a time to what knight he shall like best, or to giue them some pension out of them. The commaunderies are these which follow:

In the great Priorie of S. Giles, the commaunderie of Pezenas is affected vnto him: in that of Tolousa, that of Poysubran: In that of Auuergne, the commaunderie of Sa∣lins: in the grand Priorie of France, that of Haynault: in that of Aquitaine, the comman∣derie of the Temple of Rochell: in the Priorie of Champagne, that of Merz: in the Pri∣orie [ B] of Lumbardie, that of Inuerni: in the Priorie of Rome, the commaunderie of Mug∣nan: in that of Venice, that of Treuiso: in the Priorie of Pisa, that of Prato: in that of Capoua, the commaunderie of Sician: in the Priorie of Bari, that of Brindes: in that of Messina in Sicile, that of Polizi: in the Priorie of Cattelonia, that of Masdea: in that of Nauarre, the commaunderie of Calzetes: in the Chastelaine of Emposta, the comman∣dery of Aliaga: in the Priorie of Castile, that of Olmos: in that of Portugal, the comman∣derie of Coue: in the grand Priorie of Germanie, that of Bucs: and in Bohemia, the com∣manderie of Vuladeslauia. To conclude, there is not any great Priorie in Christendome, whereas the great Maister hath not some peece.

The great Maister chuseth a Lieutenant whom he pleaseth, and he giues leaue to all [ C] the brethren of that which they demaund, for (as we haue said) at their entring into the order, they renounce their owne wills.

But you must obserue, that before that any brother which is accused, be condemned, the great Maister cannot giue him pardon for his offence, nor to them that are depriued of the habit for euer, without the consent of a generall Chapter: yet he may change the punishment to one that is lighter: but the Bailifes must first intreat him. And this is done whenas one brother hath hurt another, for that the antiquitie is taken from him that is in the wrong, and giuen to them that are new come, who are called brothers Arnauds, vnlesse he die, or be may hemed of some member, for then they must follow the rigour of the law.

[ D] The great Maister may not make any gift of the rights, prerogatiues, and reue∣nues of the Maistership, that shal prejudice his successour, which if he doe, the graunt is of no force, and shall not stand good.

As for the Bailifes, they were instituted to assist the great Maister, as Councellors, and [ XVIII] Senators. These are called Conuentuall Priors, and they haue also the titles of great com∣mander, and marshall, of which we haue made mention, of Hospitalier, an ancient title of the chiefe of the order of Admirall, who hath charge of the galleys, and of all matters be∣longing to the sea. It is true, that the Marshall being in an armie, commaunds as Gene∣rall ouer all the knights and brethren seruants which beare armes: yet he hath no power ouer Baylifes, as well conuentuall as capitularie, nor ouer Priors, nor Chastelains, who [ E] are held as companions to the great Maister.

There is moreouer he whom they call Drappier, which is one of the Bailifes whom they now call great Conseruator; and also, one whom they call Turcopolier, which sig∣nifies Captaine of the light horse, in the time of the holie warre; and this office did be∣long to the English nation. It belongs vnto the Marshall to call and commaund assem∣blies, whereas the grand Prior of the Cl••rgie is bound to assist. He also makes Gonfalon∣nier, or Standard bearer of the order, whom soeuer he pleaseth, but not without the councell and consent of the great Maister, or his Lieutenant. But neither the Marshall, Admirall, nor any Baylife, may displace any officer which they haue; but this honour is due to the great Maister and the ordinarie Councell, who shall judge of the crimes for the which they are to be deposed.

[ F] Victualls are vnder the charge of the great commaunder, who is also (as we haue said) Superintendant of the treasure. The great Baylife of Germanie had in oldtime charge of the castle of S. Peter, which stood in the towne of Halicarnasses: but this charge was lost whenas the Turkes tooke Rhodes.

The Marshall hath charge of the tower whereas they put their prisoners, yet he may [ A] not deliuer any one but with the consent of the Councell. He is also to see if the vsher doth his dutie, and to repaire defaults. As for the Hospitalier, he hath charge of the hos∣pitall, and to appoint a guardian, who must be of the French nation, if there be any one capable; which if he find not, then may he chuse at his pleasure: and this office of guardi∣an continues onely two yeares.

The Drappier hath care of their garments that weare the Crosse, who may not make any without his permission. The Bailifes haue onely sixtie crownes wages yerely, when∣as they liue in the Conuent: but whenas they are absent, they haue not any. As for their Lieutenants, they haue fortie to beare the charge of the houses: The Prior of the Church, [ B] eight and fortie; and the Treasurer the like summe.

The Treasurer may not be chosen of any other nation but of that of France, and he is numbred among the capitularie Baylifes, hauing in his custodie the Yron Bull of the or∣der, vnder the seales of the great Maister and Bailifes. He assists at Councells, and at the giuing vp of accounts, and is chosen as well of the knights, as of the seruants at armes, and Chaplains. True it is, his wages are greater if he be a knight, than if he were of a meaner qualitie.

Then followes the Chauncellour, who makes the eighth Baylife, and he must alwaies be of the Spanish nation: he hath vnder him a Vice-Chauncellor, who makes the di∣spatches in his absence, and seales patents freely, reseruing onely the rights which are due [ C] to the great Maisters Seneshall for those dispatches. All the Bailifes are of the great Crosse, the which notwithstanding they may not take vntill they come into the Conuen∣tuall assemblie at Malta. And seeing we haue so often made mention of Bailifes, it shalbe fit to set downe the number, which be these: The Bailifes of the nation or language of Prouence, are the great Commaunder, the Prior of S Giles, the Prior of Tolousa, and the Bailife capitularie of Monosco: They of the nation of Auuergne, are the Marshall, the great Prior of Auuergne; the Bailife of Lyon, whom in old time they called Lureoil: Those of the nation of France, are the great Hospitalier, the great Prior of France, Aqui∣taine, and Champagne, the Bailife capitularie of Morea, and the Treasurer generall: Of the nation of Italie, are the Admirall, the great Priors of Rome, Lumbardie, and Venice, [ D] Pisa, Barri, Messina, Capoua: the Bailife capitularie of S. Eufeinia, of S. Stephen neere to Monopoli, of the Trinitie, of Venouse, and of S. Iohn of Naples: the Bailifes of the nation of Aragon, Cartelogne, and Nauarre, are the great Conseruator, in old time called Drap∣pier, the Castelain of Emposta, the great Priors of Cartelogne, and Nauarre, and the Bai∣lifes capitularie of Majorca: Those of the English nation, were in old time, the Turcopo∣lier, the great Priors of England and Ireland, and the Baylife capitularie of Aigle: The Bailifes of the nations of Castile, Lyon, and Portugal, are the Chancellor, the great Priors of Castile, Lyon, and Portugal, and the Bailife capitularie of Bouedo. Finally, the capi∣tularie Bailifes, the great Prior of the Church of the order, and the commaunders of Cy∣pres, and Langon, are common to all nations; but he of Negrepont belongs onely to the [ E] nations of Aragon, and Castile: and all the aboue named are of the great Crosse, and of the Councell of the Accomplie. The great Prior of the Church of Malta, hath power o∣uer all the Chaplains, & others which are of the bodie of the Clergie, except those which serue in the great Maisters Chappell: I meane the Chaplaines which make their aboad at Malta, for the rest are vnder the great Priors, in the commandaries where they liue.

[ XIX] Hauing spoken sufficiently of the dignitie, greatnesse, and power of the great Maister, it shall be fit to say something of his election, and of that which he doth, that is in charge whenas he finds himselfe opprest with sicknesse. Whenas the great Maister feels himselfe sicke, he causeth the Bulls of siluer, and of yron, with the priuie Seale, to be hidden in some secret place, to the end that no man may wrong or abuse them, and if so be he [ F] cannot doe it, then the Seneshall takes the matter in charge. When the Maister is dead, he i•• bound to carrie them to the ordinarie Councell, whereas all are broken, to the end they may be neuer more vsed. After this is done, they interre the dead bodie with as much honour as may be, and yet without any superfluitie. After which, they chuse a

[ A] Lieutenant to the deceased, whose dignitie continues vntill they haue named the Com∣manders whom they call vnto the election. In the meane time they take an inuentorie of the goods which are found in the house of the great Maister deceased; then they pre∣pare to chuse another, and they appoint a day for the election. The day being come, they meet at the church, where masse being said, they go to the publicke place whereas their as∣semblies are held. The lieutenant propounds the causes for which they meet, and com∣mands that the knights and brethren of euery nation go and consult together; and these must sweare that they will proceed with all sinceritie to the election of a President, & of the three Electors of the great maister, that is to say, a knight, a brother seruant, and a [ B] chaplaine.

Eight of these brethren chosen out of the nations, go and take an oath for the choice of a knight president of the election, & he being chosen, the lieutenant giues ouer his charge. This president of the election being in his seat, the foresaid eight come before him, and take an oath to name the 3 electors without any fauour: and these must chuse them to whom the election of the great maister must concern. This done, they enter into the con∣claue, & they secretly name among them these 3 electors, & then they name them to the assemblie, and so Presently leaue their charge. Then the three electors take an oath in the hands of the president of the election, that they will name a fourth which shall not be of their nation; and he being receiued, they sweare to chuse a fift, & so of the rest, till they [ C] come to eight, and then to sixteene; so as there are two brethren of euery nation, among which they may put two chaplains, and three seruants at armes only; for the rest must be knights. These being chosen and hauing confest themselues, and receiued the communi∣on, they go and present themselues before the Iudge of the election, where beare headed, and vpon their knees, they sweare one after another with a loud voice, that they will lawfully chuse, and according to the auncient statutes of the order, a head and prince, a good man, and profitable for the order.

This oath being taken, the commaunder of the election and all the assistants sweare also that they will hold for firme and stable whatsoeuer they shall do in that respect, and obey the great Maister that shall be chosen by them. Being thus entred into the conclaue, they [ D] begin to speake their opinions freely of the liues and manners of them that are propoun∣ded, and for whom any one doth speake. Hauing diligently examined euery one of their liues, they put their lots into vessells, & he that hath most voices carries it; so as the com∣maunder of the election dares not name any other than him that shall be chosen by these sixteen electors, by reason of the oath which they haue taken. This election being ended, they come before the president of the assemblie, demaunding thrice of the whole assem∣blie, if they will allow of their election, and if they ratifie it: the knight of the election, who is one of the three first nominated, (all the rest bein set) names him with a loud voice that hath beene chosen great maister, who being present, is conducted to the great altar, there to take an oath to obserue the lawes of the order, to maintaine the priuiledges, and [ E] to do nothing without the consent of the councell: and if he be absent they enter againe into chapter to chuse a lieutenant vntill he come; whereas if he be present, he makes his owne choise.

During the time of the election it is not lawful for any knight to weare any armes in the place where it is made, for he should loose his voice, and if any one should complain, they would take away his habit. As for bailifes, and conuentuall priors, the election is made before the great maister, who disposeth, hauing the ordinarie councell with him, the which is also obserued in the election of the prior of the church of Malta.

The knights of Malta haue commonly a procurator, or agent in the court of Rome, who is created at a generall chapter, and many times the great maister and the councell may dismisse him, and put another in his place, vpon certaine reasons, making his insuffi∣ciencie [ F] knowne. His charge is to defend the graces, priuiledges, and immunities of the order, and to maintaine the graunts, donations, and prouisions the which are made by the great maister and conuent: and it is his dutie to oppose himselfe against any of the brethren that shall be rebellious and disobedient, and shall blame them, and pur∣sue

them with all rigour, and shall giue aduice to the great Maister of matters which [ A] concerne the order, neither may he take any thing but the ordinarie fees, the which he hath from the treasure. To conclude, there is not any office in this order but is elec••••e: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is when they are to vndertake a wa••re, and to make a General by land, he must be cho∣sen out of the nation of ••••uergne, if there be any one worthie of that charge: and if they are to haue a commaunder at sea, he must be of Italie; and when there is not any one sufficient, they chuse some other, yet without prei••dice to the nation, or to his an∣tiquitie.

[ XX] In rega•••• of Commaunderies, it is not lawfull for any knight to hold two at one time, nor for the grand Priors or Chastelains to haue any in their prouince. It is true, that Pri∣ors and Bailifes lawfully aduanced, may haue Magistrall chambers, which are graunted [ B] them or those which fall vnto them by right, by the depriuation of some knight of their ••••••uince which hath offended.

He that before he takes the habit, hauing been married, hath children, cannot obtaine nor hold any Commaunderie whilest they liue: neither may any man haue a Comman∣derie by grace or by cabiment: that is to say, comming according to the order of his an∣tiquitie, if he hath not serued fiue yeares at the least, after he tooke the habit, and he cannot enioy any pension, or any member, if he hath not serued three yeares. To con∣clude, no man may hold a Commaunderie either by grace, order, or melioration, if he hath not beene in the conuent, and if he hath not had his antiquitie, or expectatiue: and the lette••s of these expectatiues must be taken within the yeare of the execution by the [ C] Commaunders: and no man may come to a melioration of his benefice, if he hath not serued fiue yeres, and continued a yere in his Commaunderie.

All purchases and acquisitions made by Commaunders, belong vnto the order; if they he immoueables, they fall to the Commaunderie that is neerest to the purchased lands; and if they be moueables, all come to the publicke treasure. All places where there are nominations of benefices or prouisions, or presentations depending vpon fees of Com∣manderies the Commander disposeth, if the custome and priuiledge of the place be not otherwise▪ and the said priors, bailifes, and commanders cannot dispose, if those benefi∣ces fall void during the time that the great Maister is vpon the place where this vacancie [ D] happens; for then it belongs to the great Maister, although they should come vnto it by election; vnlesse those benefices were assigned by the right of cabiment, or the order of antiquitie of some one of the knights. It is precisely forbidden in this order, that no man which hath made profession shall demand either office, commanderie, or benefice secret∣ly, nor in any other sort, directly or indirectly from any but the great Maister, the Con∣uent and religious of this order, who haue the right to dispose of them: and if it chance that any one preuailes by any other meanes, it is ordained that he shall quit that which he hath obtained, and resigne it vp to the great Master, and if he makes refusall, he shall be depriued of his habit, and committed to perpetuall prison.

[ XXI] The grand Prior••▪ Bailifes, and Chastelains, are bound euery fiue yeare to visite [ E] the Commaunderies which are subiect vnto their jurisdiction, or if they be otherwise imployed or s••cke, they must send a knight that is a Commander, and a Chaplaine, who hath also a Commanderie to make this visitation, and to see if any thing be ill gouerned, if the house go to ruine and if their be any thing that needs reparation. A knight also, and a chaplaine must visit the chambers and commanderies of grand Priors and Bailifes, for the same reason.

If the grand Priors neglect to do their d••••••es in that behalfe, they doe by the custome loose their ranke, iurisdiction, and preheminence of prioritie, and if the visitors deputed by the chapter fauour the in••ringers of the laws, they shall loose one yeares reuenues of their commaundaries.

[ XXII] It is not lawfull for Commanders to vse any trade of merchandise, and much lesse to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or take any money to interest, neither may they sell nor engage any thing belonging to the order, without expresse leaue of the great Maister, and the consent of the Gene∣rall Chapter: and it is forbidden to treat of such alienations in prouinciall Chapters.

[ A] And if the knights haue purchased any thing, it is not lawfull for them to alienat it, with∣out the consent of the Maister and the Chapter, for they haue the vse of it but for their liues. It is not lawfull for the Receiuors to rent out the commandaries of any knights de∣ceased, vnlesse it be in the Prouinciall Chapter, in the presence of the grand Prior, & foure knights of the most auncient. It is not lawfull for the brethren of this order to make a will, nor to giue any thing, no not vnto their seruants, vnlesse it be their wages. And as for creditors, they must declare their debts. Finally, they must submit themselues in all to the will of the superiour, who will not suffer them to testate but of the sixt part of their moueables, and they the debts of the deceased, with such readie money as they found. The great Maister himselfe cannot dispose of his moueable goods, without leaue from [ B] the generall Chapter, neither may he doe it but when he is neere his end.

And for that it happens many times that the knights haue great numbers of slaues, Moores, and Turkes, by reason of their prizes at Sea, they are forbidden to infranchise and set them at libertie without the permission of the great Maister, and a generall Chapter.

All knights are forbidden to sollicit for the crimes of secular men which are subject to the jurisdictions of this order, for that they must as ecclesiasticall persons leaue them to the secular power; and in like manner, in ciuile causes they may not solicit neither open∣ly nor secretly. Moreouer, if any knight, or other of the Crosse, hath committed an of∣fence. It is not lawfull for any of his friends or companions to intreat for him, vntill that sentence be giuen, and then they may sue vnto the great Maister to moderat his punish∣ment. [ C]

All knights are forbidden to sweare fealtie and homage, or to make a league with any prince, without the leaue of the great Maister, or his Prior; and in like manner to make any assemblie without the like permission. This is in regard of the jealousie of princes, in whose countries these knights liue; for if they did follow one more than another, it would hinder the good of the order. It is not lawfull for them of the Crosse to be wan∣derers vp and downe, and to go out of the limits of their prouinces and commaunderies, without the expresse leaue of their superiour. If they be found thus wandering, and with∣out any leaue in writing, all commanders are enjoyed to seise vpon them, and to put them in prison, and then to aduertise the grand Prior, to the end he may doe justice.

[ D] And to take away all meanes to steale from the publique, the knights are forbidden, or any other, hauing any charge, estate, or office in the order, to arme any galley, or other vessell, to make any enterprise, openly, or secretly, or by any interposed persons; but they must leaue it to priuat men, who dare not haue intelligence with officers, without incur∣ring the punishment of periurie: And the knights may not go to any enterprise without the consent of the great Maister, and leaue from the ordinarie Councell; and before this leaue, they must haue serued fiue yeares, and they must sweare not to commit any spoiles vpon the lands of Christians, nor in their hauens: And whilest they are in those actions, they enioy the right of their antiquitie, as if they were at Malta.

[ E] It is not a lawfull for any, but the great Maister, and the ordinarie Councell, to giue safe conducts to pyrats, the which may not be done, but vpon great necessitie, neither to fugi∣tiues, nor to bankrupt merchants. None but the great Maister, and the Councell called Accomply, may make a truce or accord with the Turks, Moores, or other Infidels: And all men are forbidden to draw artillerie, poulder, and other munition, out of the Island and houses of the order: onely the great Maister, and the Councell, may take such cour∣ses as necessitie shall require. No knight nor seruant at armes may intermeddle with the warres which are among Christians, nor take any oath, or receiue pay, vnlesse the prince of the countrie expresly commaund them, for then they shall be dispenced withall: but they may not carrie the ensignes of the order, vnlesse it be for the defence of religion.

[ F] There is a punishment ordained for such as doe not carrie the Crosse vpon their clokes. All quarrells are forbidden them in their houses, and if any one strikes, or proceeds by way of fact, there are punishments appointed as the case requires, and according to the lawes of the order.

[ XXIII] But for that we haue spoken of the punishment inflicted vpon knights, and others of [ A] the order, I thinke it fit to let the Reader vnderstand the causes for the which they are thus disgraced. They receiue this infamie if they be accused and conuicted of heresie, Sodomie, theft, robberie, or to haue retired themselues to Infidels, if they haue abando∣ned the standard of the order, displayed in warre against the enemies of the faith; if any one flies from the battaile, and leaues his companions, or yeelds any fort vnto the ene∣mie: but they proceed herein verie exactly and carefully, least they should condemne a man, and not heare his justifications. False witnesses and forgers which counterfeit letters of the order; they that forsweare themselues, and which attend the spoile onely being at the warre, are to be depriued for a yeare. They that accuse others of these crimes, and cannot proue their accusations to be true, are subject to receiue the disgrace of the losse [ B] of their habit, whereunto they sought to make others subiect. Keeping of common wo∣men, and all kinds of disordered excesse, are particularly forbidden in the rules of this or∣der: And to conclude, there can be nothing seene better disposed; but if all things be not as they ought, the fault is not in the institution and order, but in the minds of men which are not disposed to doe well.

¶ The Religion.

[ XXIIII] IT is sufficiently knowne, that the knights of this Island are the bulwarkes of the Catho∣lique religion against the Infidels. There is a Bishop in the Island of Malta, who is vn∣der [ C] the Archbishop of Palermo in Sicile. Finally, the brethren of this order are bound by the auncient custome, and by their profession, to say euerie day at once, or at seuerall times, one hundred and fiftie Pater nosters in stead of the Canonicall houres: but the Priests, Deacons, and others of the Clergie, are bound to say the seruice euerie day, accor∣ding to the order and custome of the Church of Hierusalem. They are all bound to fast the time of Lent, from Ashwednesday vnto Easter, at the Rogations, S. Iohn Baptist, S. Marke, at Whitsuntide, the foure Ember weekes, the Apostles eues, S. Laurence, at the As∣sumption, Natiuitie, Conception, Purification, and Annunciation of our Ladie, at the feast of all Saints, and natiuitie of our Sauiour. They are in like manner bound to com∣municat at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide. Whenas they go to any enterprise, [ D] they must confesse themselues, which they may not doe but vnto their priests, but if there be not any, then they may in that necessitie confesse themselues vnto another, with the leaue of the Prior, or Subprior, in the absence of their head. The knights being in the Conuent, are bound to assist at diuine seruice, and procession, euerie man in his ranke, and according to his antiquitie, and no man man may presume to sit in the place of Priors or Conuentuall Bailifes, nor of their Lieutenant, to the end they may obserue the honour which is due vnto the Clergie. They say for euerie brother deceased, thirtie Masses, at the first of which, all the brethren that assist, go & offer a wax candle, and a denier, which must be giuen to the poore. Euerie Priest doth owe vnto the deceased a Masse, the Deacons, [ E] and Subdeacons, a Psalter; and the seruants the office of the dead, or one hundred and fif∣tie, Pater nosters. It is ordained, that there should be a learned man feed to instruct young Clo••kes, and to teach them the Latine tongue, and another to teach them to sing, and no man shall be admitted a Subdeacon before the age of eighteene yeares, nor a Deacon be∣fore fiue and twentie, and euerie Priest must be six and twentie yeares old; and they must all haue made profession of their order.