HISTORY OF MALTA. QQg

who, to entitle them to be admitted into the assembl}", musthave resided at least five years in the convent. Appeals weremade to this council from the common and the criminal ones,and it was only of late years that the custom of appealing toRome was first introduced; but it soon became so common,that in default of a general chapter, affairs of all kinds werecarried before that court, which alone gave dispensations,made knights of minority, knights, bailiffs, and grand crosses,by favour. It was indeed much to be apprehended, that be-stowing dignities with so lavish a hand on particular persons,would in. the end have ruined the whole body of the order.

The secret council took cognizance of all state affairs, to-gether Avith extraordinary and unexpected cases, Avhich re-quired an immediate decision. Any serious cause of com-plaint against either a knight or a brother Avas brought beforethis council, at Avhich the grand-master or his lieutenant al-ways presided. The former had the sole right of proposing thesubjects of debate ; he had likeAvise the privilege of giving twavotes, and Avhen the number Avas equal, his vote was thecasting one.

There Avas also another council, usually called the vener-able chamber of the treasury, and A\diich, in fact, Avas theexchequer of the order.

Before the conventual and capitular dignities Avere appro-priated to, and divided betAveen, the languages, the generalchapter, as has been observed in another part of this history,.