Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/647

Rh had even, with a view to eventualities, secured from the Pope a brief, declaring that any knight who had been guilty of canvassing or bribery, or who had employed either promises or threats to secure his election, should be ineligible for the post of Grand-Master. In pursuance of this decree, the inquisitor denounced Redin, and proclaimed to the electoral body that he was, on account of his various malpractices, which included simony, debarred from competition for the vacant dignity. The electors disregarded this notification, being, probably, not averse from taking the opportunity of proving to the inquisitor that his interference was distasteful. Redin was duly proclaimed Grand-Master, and Odi, having vainly protested against the election, appealed, as a last resource, to the Pope. Redin did the same, and mollified his Holiness by expressing readiness to resign his office if he were personally objected to by the court of Rome.

The Pope was far too politic to proceed to extremities against a knight who enjoyed the favour of the king of Spain so strongly as to have been nominated viceroy of Sicily. He therefore confirmed the election, and completed the mortification of the inquisitor by requiring him to announce in person to the Grand-Master and council the papal acquiecence in the nomination. Whether Redin had used any underhand influence at the court of Rome to secure this ratification is unknown; but it is very certain that he was not ungrateful to the Pope, since he shortly afterwards nominated the prior de Bichi, the Pope’s favourite nephew, to one of the richest commauderies in the langue of Italy, in open violation of the rights of seniority, and further presented him with a diamond cross of the value of 12,000 crowns. Nor did he stop here, for during his brief rule he continued to provide for various members of the Pope’s family, to the detriment of older and more worthy candidates. It may therefore well be credited that the accusations originally preferred against him by the inquisitor were well founded.

He did not remain long in his government, nor were his immediate successors more fortunate, several changes occurring within a very short time. Redin died in the early part of 1660, and was followed by Annet de Clermont, bailiff of Lyons, who only enjoyed his position during three months, and who died. from the effects of a wound which he had received at the capture 40’