Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/621

Rh The langue now consists of the following members:— The Lord-Prior, His Grace the Duke of Manchester. The Bailiff of the Eagle, The Rt. Hon. Lord Leigh. 1 Knight Commander. 54 Knights of Justice, including H.R.H. The Duke of Cormaught, H.R.H. The Duke of Albany, and H.S.H. The Duke of Teck. 18 Chaplains, including the Rt. Rev, the Bishops of St. Albans, Gibraltar, and Tennessee. 29 Dames Chevalières of Justice, including H.R.H. The Princess of Wales, H.R.H. The Princess Christian, Hit & S.H. the Duchess of Tcck, and the reigning Grand Duchess of Baden. 17 Knights of Grace. 21 Esquires. 3 Serving Brothers.

There are also affiliated to the langue, a considerable number of Honorary Associates and Donate, who have aided in the good works now being carried on.

In Appendix No. 11 will be found a list of the grand-priors of England, Turcopoliers or conventual bailiffs, bailiffs of Aquila, grand-priors of Ireland, and priors of Scotland, so far as they can be traced.

All the historians of the Order who have treated of the relative ranks of the dignitaries comprising the chapter-general have been mistaken in the position which they allot to the grand-prior of England. They have placed him below the grand-prior of Messina, whereas his real place should be above the Castellan of Emposta (vide Chapter XIII.). This is proved by a document in the Record Office of Malta, which shews that the matter was decided on in 1566. As this document, which was written.by the Englishman, Oliver Starkey, secretary to La Valette, gives an interesting insight into the mode of dealing with questions of etiquette in the sixteenth century, a translation of it is given in Appendix No. 12.

This branch of the subject cannot be more appropriately closed than by giving a brief account of some of the knights of the langue who have rendered themselves either celebrated or notorious.

.—First grand-prior of England, at the