CHAP. V.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

93

after it, had cool water thrown over ■ him.Naturally melancholy, and as it were wrapt up inlofty and profound musings, he was also so restlessthat to confine himself long to one place was im-possible. In the house he was always wan-dering from one room to another, examiningeach sedulously, and preferred changing bedroomsevery night. Often used he to ascend to theterrace on the roof, and go out into the open air,from his bed before daybreak; and then back to bedagain, lie was a strict Mahometan, and seeing oneof his people intoxicated was so scandalised that herose to strike him. Having read much from boy-hood, he had acquired a tolerably good style inwriting.' In vain had hunting parties, tourneys,and every sort of noble diversion occupied eachsuccessive day in his honour; they could not dispelhis anxiety, but increased it; the more at hearingof frequent Constantinopolitan visitors—and thatthe Porte offered not only to forbear from the veryname of tribute, but also to give carte blanche tothe Christians, and engaged to sign it. These ad-vances, so much unlike Moslem pride, alarmedhim to such a degree that he, unbosoming himselfto the grand master on the 17th of August, beggedto be sent to France; that in spite of the generousBosio : par. ii., lib. xiii., 374.

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