256 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book in.

tify our conduct at this immensity of disaster. Itwas more than becoming of you and me that weshould at the same time in justification leaveauthentic juridical proofs, that we did all we could,all that to human force and judgment was possible.And if the just grief I feel that so mighty a cala-mity has befallen our order in my time, and nonecould be greater except utter extinction (which Ihope in God never shall take place) has made meseem unjust and transgress in terms, most lov-ingly do I beseech you to pardon me, and attributeit to no bad intention. And I am not a littleproud both of you and myself that it was no faultor inattention of any of us. Then be His holy willdone! Therefore to place our sacred order in somenew residence not unworthy of it, assist me withyour united wisdom and efforts!”

With that he embraced the grand crosses, andgave his hand to kiss to the knights, until the headesquire called out, “ Let all who are not of theinterior council retire.’’ Then were the financialquestions entered into, and by way of farther re-warding Martinengo dreadfully wounded, and de-prived of an eye at the siege, he was named to thePriory of Pisa just fallen vacant; which opened tohim a fine field for promotion, that shortly he suc-ceeded to Barletta—richest dignity in the ItalianLanguage.