Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/618

582 Poland, and Chaplain Extraordinary to George IV., was invested with the functions and authority of grand-prior of the revived English !angu’. The names of many English noblemen and gentlemen were then inscribed on the roll of the tongue.

In 1834, acting under the advice of the Vice-Chancellor of England, Sir Launcelot Shadwell (who himself shortly after joined the Order), Sir Robert Peat sought to qualify for office, and at the same time to revive the charter of Philip and Mary, before referred to, by taking the oath de fideli administratione in the Court of King’s Bench. He accordingly attended, on the 24th February, 1834, and the Court, as the records of the langue state:—

“On its being announced by the Macer that the Lord Prior of St. John had come into Court to qualify, rose to receive him, and he did then and there openly qualify himself before the Lord Chief Justice of England, Sir Thomas Denman, Knight, to hold exercise and discharge the office of Prior of the tongue of England under the Charter of King Philip and Queen Mary.” The oath of qualification taken by Sir Robert Peat in the Court of King’s Bench is now a record of the kingdom, and a copy of the same, authenticated by the signature of the Lord Chief Justice, is in the archives of the langue. The following is the copy:—

“In the King’s Bench

“I the Right Reverend Sir Robert Peat Knight Vicar of New Brentford in the County of Middlesex and Prior of the Sixth Language of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem in London do make oath and say that I will faithfully truly carefully and strictly perform I fulfil keep and obey the ancient Statutes of the said Sovereign Order as far as they are applicable to the government of the Sixth Language and in accordance with the other seven languages and that I will use the authority reposed in me and my best endeavours and exertions amongst the Brethren to keep the said Statutes inviolable, this deponent hereby qualifying himself to govern the said Sixth Language as Prior thereof under the provision of the Statute of the 4th and 5th of Philip and Mary in the case made and provided. “(Signed).