Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/549

Rh the master of the horse, and the treasurer. The maitre d’hotel had the entire management of the internal economy of the palace, and regulated all its ceremonies. The master of the horse controlled the stable department, and was in command of the cavalry. No horse, mule, or donkey could be exported from the island without a permit from him. He also took possession, on behalf of the Grand-Master, of the equipages of all knights dying in Malta, the disposal of which was superintended by him. The treasurer had charge of the finances, and made all payments. The remaining officers of the household were of inferior rank. They were the chamberlain, the deputy maître d’hotel, the under cavalerizze, the falconer, the captain of the guard, the three secretaries for France, Italy, and Spain, and the deputy maître d’hotel for the country palaces. The falconer was intrusted with the charge of the preservation of game. No one was allowed the privilege of shooting without a written permit from him, and this did not extend to either partridges or hares, the shooting of which was strictly forbidden under pain of the galleys; he was bound to proclaim the close of the shooting season at Easter, and its opening at the feast of the Magdalen; he had charge of the Grand-Master’s preserves, and reared and trained the falcons which it was the custom to present annually to the kings of Spain, France, and Naples. At the commencement of the shooting season he was instructed to send presents of such game as the island produced to the grand-crosses, the members of the council, the officers of the household, and the inquisitor. The duties of the three secretaries embraced the carrying on correspondence in the three several languages of their respective nationalities, all Latin documents falling tinder the cognizance of the secretary for Italy.

The Grand-Master was attended by sixteen pages, who were received as knights of justice at the age of twelve instead of the ordinary limit of sixteen. Their term of service was three years, during which time they were entirely maintained by their friends. Although the expenses of the post were large, there were always numerous candidates awaiting vacancies, owing to the seniority gained by being professed at so early an age. Their service as pages counted towards the time