CHAP, V.]

ST. JOHN OE JERUSALEM.

127

relate the historians. And here be it repeated, notin honour of him or order, which would be super-fluous, but in justice to the Rhodians. In thefuneral procession, first went every religious corpo-ration in Rhodes, next came the Greek patriarch,and all his clergy. Then the order’s Latin clergy,a little before the bier, two hundred of the prin-cipal Rhodians all in black, and with torches intheir hands; and following them the knights carry-ing their colours down, so as to sweep the ground,the bier with the corpse borne on the shoulders ofthe priors, and grand crosses of the order; afterwhich marched the long body of deep mourners,about two hundred and fifty, including the de-ceased’s nephew Blanchefort—and loud was theweeping from the windows, streets, terraces, roofs,and the howls and lamentations of the whole popu-lace. Over his tomb was broken the truncheon ofcommand and his spurs, and all the rest of thedoleful formalities, with singular testimonies ofheartfelt grief. Never was son or parent more be-wailed, than he by his people . 1

Yet failed not the dejected knights to instantlymeet (Blanchefort, the deceased’s nephew, at theirhead). And at the election were sworn of theeight and sixteen, Sir John Tong, Commander of

1 Bosio: par. ii., lib. xvi. 469.