CHAP. IV.]

ST. JOHN OE JERUSALEM.

271

Poggio was Bishop of S. Miniato, in 1038. 1 2 Butwherever the grand master’s birth-place was, orhowever illustrious his ancestors, he added newlaurels to all that belonged to him. Nor the deny-ing his having been the founder of his order, or itsearliest legislator, is at all to try to deprive him ofhis fair fame, which needs no other support than itsown. Far indeed was it from him to wish totarnish Gerard’s merits, or foresee that maliciousfables were to make him and his great predecessorrivals; or rather, to throw our founder completelyinto the shade; whereas Raymond’s loftiest ofdesires was to he his follower in worth as station.That his Hospitallers were showing themselves de-serving of the name, and his royal pupil gatheringhonour, soothed his respected death-bed, when,valiant and saintly octogenarian, he expiredplacidly at Jerusalem in the first monthof 1160- 1160

1 Borghini Discorsi : ii. 421.

2 Cod. Dipl. Geros., i. 335.—Yertot: i. 170, &c.—Bosio: par.1, lib. ii. anno 1160.