CHAP. III.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

9

The able-bodied had plenty of work; and for thesick and old, they were cared for by the state, as isjust; and there was a splendid hospital and a houseof fair honourable maintenance, with good clothingand all necessaries, and many of the luxuries oflife, 1 all gratis. As for crimes, there seem not tohave been anjn

His successor was the Grand Prior of Auvergne,Sir John de Lastic, 2 who was at his priory when heheard of his election, and, unable to proceed toRhodes immediately in person, he sent to the com-mander Sir John Claret, already locum-tenens, tocontinue so. Then was Sir William Tong, Com-mander of Wilton in the Priory of England, madeone of the magisterial commission that consisted ofonly three. Sir John Castello was Commander ofLemoggia in England. 3 Lastic’s arrival in De-cember, 1438, found secret communications alreadyannouncing a league between Saracens and Turks,and that the former were to invade Rhodes, whichthe latter were not to oppose. How matters reallystood might be found out by an ambassador, whomLastic despatched to Amurath 11, under cloak of

1 Yertot: v. 192; vi. 377.

2 Seb. Paoli: Serie, ii. 468.

3 Bosio : par. ii., lib. vi., anno 1437.