Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/213

Rh and to rely on the spirit of the fraternity to furnish volunteers for the purpose. This confidence was not misplaced; the necessary numbers came forward with alacrity, and were at once despatched to take over their new acquisition.

The old and constantly recurring difficulties as to the nonpayment of responsions from the various priories again came to the front during Julliac’s rule. It was decided in council that any receiver who failed in remitting the due amounts to the general treasury, should be at once superseded and replaced by one who would make his payments with punctuality. The same regulation was to be enforced against commanders. The execution of this decree led to much ill-feeling on the part of the defaulters, who laid their remonstrances before the Pope. Julliac showed great tact in his manner of dealing with this appeal. He pointed out to his Holiness that it was impossible for the Grand-Master and council to carry on the government of the Order if their decrees were to be constantly objected to and suspended from action until the matter had been decided. The Pope saw the justice of the complaint, and ruled that all regulations emanating from the council were to be at once carried into effect, any appeal therefrom notwithstanding. As regarded the immediate subject in dispute, he further decided that the fiat of the Grand-Master as to removals from office on account of non-payment of responsions should be final.

This firmness and decision on the part of Julliac was attended with the happiest results. It was seen on all sides that he was a man not to be trifled with, at the same time that he was rigidly just and impartial in his decisions. Unfortunately he did not live long enough to carry out any permanent reform, as he died on the 29th July, 1377. He was buried in an antique Greek sarcophagus of white marble, which was utilized for the purpose. This sarcophagus, after the capture of Rhodes by the Turks in 1522, was emptied of its contents and turned into a basin for a public fountain. It remained converted to this ignoble use until quite recently, when it was purchased by the French government, and deposited in the museum of Cluny. The inscription placed on it at the time of Julliac’s death still remains. It runs thus:—“Rio jacet in Christo religiosus et