Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/555

Rh threw a purse into the grave. With these incidents the service closed. All the details of these ceremonials have been taken from a manuscript work now in the public library of Malta, drawn up in the beginning of the eighteenth century, and purporting to lay down, by authority, all necessary rules for the etiquette of the Magisterial court.

The Grand-Master had the right, should he desire it, of naming a lieutenant to whom he might delegate such of his functions as, from age or disinclination, he was unwilling to exercise in person. This nomination rested entirely with himself, the council merely receiving intimation of the fact. It was customary for him, whenever he fell seriously ill, to appoint a lieutenant, whose authority lasted until either his recovery or his death. Some, however, named lieutenants in permanency, to relieve them of all the more onerous duties of government, retaining in their own hands only such authority as was necessary for the maintenance of their dignity. As an example of the petty squabbles fomented by the ecclesiastics, it may be mentioned that to the lieutenant was allotted a seat in St. John’s church, above the seneschal, and with a carpet. The bishop, to whom also was allotted a seat above the seneschal, had no carpet. Being unwilling to admit the precedence of the lieutenant, even in this trifling matter, he never attended church when such a functionary was present.

The navy was under the command of the bailiff of Auvergne as grand-marshal, the bailiff of Italy being the second in command with the title of grand-admiral. These two dignitaries had charge of the land forces as well as the navy; indeed, the two services were so mixed up that it would be difficult to draw any line between them except that neither the militia of the island nor the battalion of the guard served on board ship. The other troops were used indiscriminately ashore or afloat as they were required. Every knight, during his residence at Malta, was bound to complete four caravans, which involved cruises at sea of at least three months in each caravan. During this time he was attached to one of the battalions either of the galleys or ships. As the two above-named dignitaries (the grand-marshal and the grand-admiral) held their offices ex officio as heads of their respective lasgues, the actual duty of