HISTORY OF MALTA.

bestowed them on the worthiest members of the community,without regarding any particular nation. But since the year1466 these posts have been attached to the different languages,and the pilliers, or conventual bailiffs, have had a right to claimthe first vacant dignity. For instance, in the language of Pro-vence, the grand-commander might demand either the grand-priory of St. Giles, that of Toulouse, or the bailiwic of Ma-nosque. The grand-marshal in the language of Auvergnemight likewise lay claim to the grand-priory of the same name,or to the bailiwic of Lyons; but if once he was named to oneof these titles, he could not afterwards apply for another.

Though the commanderies in the language of France wereparticularly annexed to each priory, yet still the great dignitiesappropriated to that language were bestowed indiscriminatelyon all the knights of the three priories belonging to the samenation; so that, independently of these priories, seniority alonedecided in favour of the knights of the French language of thethree grand-priories of France, Aquitaine, and Champagne ;and according to that seniority they were named to the baili-wic of the Morea held in Paris, to that of St. John de Lateran,and to the treasurership which was united to the priory ofCorbeil.

The dignities and commanderies were in common in thelanguage of Italy.

The language of Arragon w r as composed not only ofknights of that kingdom, but of those from Catalonia and Na-