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TI-IE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book ih.

heirs, and that it was for the parliament 1 and judgesto declare who were such . 2 And so they did, foron an appeal from a family, one of whose ancestorsin Ireland had left a considerable tenement to theTemplars, and that family wishing to take it back,the full courts at London sentenced otherwise, andthat the lands devolved to the Hospitallers, as inthe case of a father who survives his son . 3 And instrict conformity with this is the English sovereign’scommand . 4 And it is a sign he had some entrailsof pity in his composition, that he thought of allow-ing a daily allowance to the Templars; though ittills us with commiseration to think how gentle-men could exist on so wretched a pittance, and towhat severe straits they must have been reduced toaccept it. But it consoles a little, and has some-thing I know not what, of sweet mercy, that of allEnglishmen he selects the Prior of the Hospitallersfor that charity, and ends by entreating him toexecute his commission well; for that otherwise heshould be much embarrassed to find another capableof easing his royal mind of future trouble re-

1 Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Hum. xxvi.—Rymer.—Appendix, cx.

2 Id. Id. xxx. Id. Id. cxi.

3 Lodge.—Sir "William Betham.—Rot. Bi. :—Rolls andRecords.

4 Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Hum. xxxi.—Rymer.—Appendix,Xum. cxii.