306 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [nook.til.

nation to be of no utility to Christendom; that yoiiought to be giving battle to the Paynim in somepart of the Continent, where success would be ofreal importance and extremely easy; that it is thepublic voice, it would be greatly preferable to createa new order, and cut you down as a withered tree,like the Templars; and that, finally, your Smyrnaquota should not be allowed to fall into arrear, butbe paid annually at Avignon, as treaties duly ex-plained prescribe, and his Holiness commandsperemptorily.’’ 1 * Which struck the poor old grandmaster mute, from astonishment and mortification;whence one of the grand crosses rose, and got leaveto answer: “ You, Heredia, of all men, should bethe last to speak thus to him your sovereign, and us3 7 our brethren! Why are you Prior of Castileand Castellan of Emposta, one of the highest of ourorder, and some say the highest private dignity inEurope, and next to the grand-mastery itself?Why are you ambassador at Avignon ? Is it notour goodness? Do you not owe it all to us? Whytake the round by Avignon? It is with us mustbe sought what you probably desire! Will younever discern better? Do we not wink at yourerrors and continual absence? You are certainly

1 Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Hum. lxxiv.—Bosio: par. ii., lib. ii.,

anno 1359.