Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/201

Rh compared with that forwarded from other quarters, so that the earliest and most correct intelligence would always reach the prior, and this he could at times turn to very valuable account. We may conceive him, on some occasions, in a position to give a friendly hint to the king, in council, of some projected political movement hatched in the fastnesses of the north or in the secluded glens of the west. For such information we may feel sure that an ample qulil pro quo was expected, in the shape either of a direct donation or of exemption from some of the numerous burdens with which the less fortunate laity were oppressed. The knights were well aware of the advantages which their organization gave them on this head, and were not slow to avail themselves of it. The records exhibit carefully the expenses they incurred in hospitality to travellers, but they do not say anything of• the results, pecuniary and otherwise, which were obtained by the practice. The intelligent reader may, however, perform that calculation for himself, and it is to be feared that on striking the balance but little would remain to be carried over to the credit of charity.

There are, nevertheless, some entries which show that this exercise of hospitality was not always free from inconvenience. Although the fraternity did not grudge a heavy bill for the sustenance of their numerous provincial guests, provided the information forwarded by the commander was of a value commensurate with the expenditure, yet cases might, and constantly did occur, where the outlay was large and the results disproportionately small. A few items of local gossip or provincial scandal would be dearly purchased at the expense of many a good quarter of wheat and malting barley. Under such circumstances it was but natural that an exculpatory note should accompany the obnoxious item to explain, away its unwelcome appearance. It was frequently necessary for the commander, whose position gave him considerable standing in the county where he resided, to receive at his table those of the laity who considered themselves his equals, and who chanced to live near him. This has, in more than one case, been quoted as an excuse for the extent of the housekeeping accounts. Thus, for instance, we find at Hampton that the Duke of Cornwall is made to bear the blame of the heavy bread and beer bill