Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/192

166 estates in various capacities, and at its head was placed a brother, in whose hands was vested its supreme control, and who bore the title of commander. Although it was a post of importance and responsibility, it was not necessarily held by a knight of justice, a certain number of the commanderies in every priory having been reserved for the other two classes. It seems strange, but it is a fact, that in commanderies thus governed, there were nevertheless knights attached in the subordinate position of confratres. The commander was bound to exercise the most rigid supervision over the estate under his control, and to husband its resources with care. Grand-priors were appointed, under whose surveillance a certain number of commanderies were placed (usually all those contained in a province or other territorial division). These officials received from the oommanderies all their surplus revenues, which were lodged in the treasury of the priory.

The payment to be made by the grand-priory to the convent at Rhodes, under the title of responsions, was calculated at one-third of the gross receipts of the commanderies. An average was struck, and a fixed amount based thereon. As the commanderies paid over to the treasury of the prior the actual balance remaining of their revenues after payment of expenses, the grand-priory was either a gainer or loser, according as those remittances were more or less than had been calculated on. The responsions were remitted to the treasury through the medium of receivers nominated to act in the capacity of bankers in most of the leading commercial cities of Europe. The grand-prior was bound to make a personal inspection of each commandory in his district at least once in every five years. He had full authority to correct abuses, and to order such renewals, alterations, and improvements as seemed to him necessary to develop the productive resources of the various estates.

It is an interesting study to observe how the system carried out by the Order of St. John adapted itself to the varied circumstances of the localities where its property was situated. In Palestine there were pilgrims to be tended, and sick to be nursed; there was also constant warfare to be waged against the Moslem. We find, therefore, that here the Hospitaller in