Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/576



a previous chapter a description has been given of the various tribunals held at the chef-lieu, one of which was the criminal council or council of state. The name of this court naturally leads to an account of the crimes and punishments common amongst the fraternity.

The punishments to which a member of the Order was subject were as follow:—First, the Septaine. This penalty obliged the offender to fast for seven successive days, on the Wednesday and Friday of which his diet was restricted to bread and water only. He was not permitted to leave his dwelling during the period except for the purpose of attending Divine service. The statutes laid down that on the Wednesday and Friday he was to receive corporal discipline at the hands of a priest (usually the vice-prior) in the conventual chtu’ch during the recitation of the psalm Deus misereatur nostri, etc., but this latter portion of the punishment fell into disuse after the sixteenth century. The Quarantaine was similar to the Septaine, excepting that it lasted forty consecutive days, the restrictions as to food being the same. In both cases the culprit was forbidden to wear arms. If a more severe measure than either of the above were required, imprisonment was resorted to, no limit in duration being affixed by the statutes. Loss of seniority was another penalty to which offending members were frequently sentenced, and if a still more severe punishment were necessary they were deprived of their habit either for a certain definite time or for ever. The latter sentence was, of course, equivalent to expuision from the ranks of the fraternity.