Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/740

702 demands it, let some other priest exercise this office; and let a light be for ever burning in the church, both by day and by night. And for the visitation of the sick, let a presbyter attend, dressed in white robes, bearing with reverence the Body of our Lord; and let him be preceded by a deacon, or a sub-deacon, or, at least, by an acolyte, bearing a lantern with a lighted candle, and a sponge filled with holy water. Furthermore, when the brethren appear in the cities or fortresses, let them not go alone, but two or three together; nor shall they select by whom they are to be accompanied, but shall go with whomsoever the Master shall direct. Also, when they have arrived at their destination, let them remain together. In their gait, in their dress, and in all their deportment, let them do nothing which may give offence in the eyes of any one, but only that which befits their sacred calling. Moreover, whenever they may be in a house, or in church, or wherever else women may be present, let them mutually guard over one another’s chastity. Nor let women wash either their hands or feet, or snake their beds, and so may the God that dwelleth on high watch over them in that matter. Amen.

And let pious persons, both clerical and lay, be sent forth to seek alms for the holy poor. And when they shall require hospitality let them proceed to the church, or to the house of some person of good repute, and let them ask for food of that person for the sake of charity, and let them buy nothing else. And if in truth they find no one who will assist them, let them purchase by measure one meal only, by which to support life. And out of the alms which they may collect let them secure neither lands nor pledges for themselves, but let them deliver the amount over to their Master, with a written account, and let the Master transmit it with the paper to the Hospital, for the use of the poor. And of all their donations let the Master take a third part of the bread, wine, and other nutriment, and should there be a superfluity, let him add what remains to the alms, and let him scud it under his own hand to Jerusalem, for the use of the poor.

And let none go forth from any of their convents to collect alms, save only those whom the chapter and master of the church may have sent; and let those brethren who have gone forth to make these collections be received into whatever convent they may arrive at; and let them partake of the same food as the brethren may have divided among themselves; and let them not give any further trouble there. Let them carry a light with them; and into whatever house they may have been received with hospitality, let them cause the light to burn before them. Furthermore, we forbid our brethren from wearing any such garment as may be unbefitting our religion; and above all, we forbid them to use the skins of wild beasts; and let them eat but twice in the day, and on every fourth day of the week, and on Saturdays, and from Septuagesima until Easter, let them eat no meat, excepting only those who are infirm and feeble; and let them never appear without clothing, but dressed in robes of wool or linen, or in other similar habiliments. But if any of the brethren shall have fallen by the force of his evil passions into any of the sins of the flesh, which may God forbid; if he have