Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/572

538 The burial of such as died within the establishment was decently and carefully ordered. Four men dressed in mourning robes carried the corpse to the grave, and with a laudable economy, it was especially provided that these robes, which were kept for the purpose, “should be preserved for another time.” No mourning was permitted to be worn at the funeral of any member of the fraternity, either by the knights themselves, or even by strangers attending the ceremony. The corpse was buried in the mantle of his Order, as it was considered proper that in his grave he should wear the distinctive costume with which he had been invested during his life.

The regulations proceed:—“ Summing up the charities of the hospital, these will be found considerable for quality and quantity. In the first place, it is the duty of the prud’hommes to provide daily allowances to all the poor, blind, lame, leprous, serofulous people, and other sick persons, which amount at present to 100 scudi a month. Soup and macaroni are distributed morning and evening to the beggars and invalids; and bandages, crutches, sticks, linen, and old coverlets are given away freely to every one. Deserted children are taken in and provided with wet nurses, who receive a monthly allowance, and are also given clothes, If the girls remain till they are grown up, seven of them are settled in marriage every year, receiviug fifty scudi as dowry; others are placed in the conservatorio, and others in private service. Besides these there are a large number of poor children, left without relations, or unable to be supported by them, who are helped like the foundlings, and eventually sent back to their homes. To the sick of the Capuchins is given as much as they want in the way of food, and also to those of St. Theresa, in the Borgo. All Maronites, Greeks, and pilgrims from the Holy Land are lodged till they embark again. To all missionary Capuchins, Theresians, and Franciscans, bread and eggs are given, and also assistance for the journey both ways. Fifty south are also given every year to the poor of Burmola, and in Holy Week, at the supper, various other doles are dispensed. Including all these charities, it is calculated that the expenditure of the Hospital costs the Order 60,000 seudi annually.”

The Hospital of St. John had, from its earliest foundation,