Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/363

Rh the members had debated the matter under the seal of secrecy, a ballot was taken, the result of which decided the case. The court was reopened and the sentence announced by the vice-chancellor who recorded it in the archives.

The other three councils were composed of grand-crosses only, the two senior members of each langue below the rank of grand-cross being omitted. The ordinary council was considered to have a quorum provided the eight conventual bailiffs or their lieutenants were present, the attendance of the other grand-crosses being optional. It was in this council that all nominations to vacant offices were made, all disputes arising therefrom decided, and the ordinary business connected with the government of the island transacted. This was the council usually employed by the Grand-Master, who might assemble it at any time and in any place he thought proper. No subject could be introduced without his sanction and approval, and as all grand-crosses had a voice in the council he was enabled, by the creation of a fresh batch of honorary grand-crosses, to carry any measure which he had at heart, but upon which opinions were divided in the convent. The secret council was similarly constituted, and took cognizance of such matters of internal and foreign policy as were not considered fit subjects for publicity, its proceedings were therefore never made known. The criminal council, also composed of the same members, received and adjudicated upon all complaints lodged against individuals connected with the fraternity. The accused persons were arraigned before the court; evidence was taken openly, and sentence was passed in accordance therewith.

The institution of slavery flourished in the Order from the earliest days of its existence until the close of the eighteenth century. During the residence of the knights in Palestine it had been their invariable rule, in accordance with the usages of eastern warfare, to reduce to a state of slavery all prisoners taken in action. This system had been in full operation long before the crusaders had introduced a European element into the warfare of Asia. It was only natural that a spirit of retaliation should have led to the adoption of the same practice. After their establishment in the island of Rhodes the knights continued to enforce the penalty which long custom