Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/634

598 his father to the grand-priors, and was conducted up the centre aisle between these dignitaries, followed by an escort of twelve commanders and twelve knights. At the altar, which glittered with plate and jewels, stood the cardinal de Gondy, the Papal nuncio, and a number of bishops. In the centre of the choir was erected a throne for the king and queen, around whom stood the other members of the royal family and the principal officials of the court. The ceremony began with the consecration of the young knight’s sword, and the change of clothing which was intended to typify the new duties he was to undertake. His mantle and outer garment were removed, and he was arrayed in a vest of white satin, elaborately embroidered in silver and gold, with a waist-belt studded with jewels, a black velvet cap with a white plume and baud of large pearls, and over all a tunic of black taffeta. Thus dressed, the prince was led by the grand-priors to the altar. Then the bishop of Nevers delivered an oration in praise of the Order, enjoining the young neophyte to emulate its good deeds. High mass was commenced, and when the gospel had been read Alexander Monsieur knelt before the bishop, holding a waxen taper in his hand, and solicited admission into the fraternity. On this the king rose from his throne, and saying aloud that he for the moment surrendered his state as a monarch in order to perform his duty as a father, placed himself by the side of his son. The young knight, having been received with the customary forms, the king pledged himself that so soon as his son had reached the age of sixteen he should renew his vows and conform in every way to the regulations of the Order. The young prince was then nominated to one of the best commanderies in the kingdom, and at once put in possession of its revenues, which amounted to 40,000 livres.

The same fate befel de Vignacourt as that which had struck down La Valette. He was seized with an attack of apoplexy whilst hunting, no doubt from the extreme heat of the summer sun, it being the month of August, 1622, and on the 14th September he died, at the age of seventy-five. His successor, Louis Mendes de Vasconcellos only survived his election six months, being nearly eighty years old at the time of his nomination. It seems that at this period it was the practice