138 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book IV.

terms, and though he sent his own nephew with it,imply a fear that his Holiness wished for some otherforms in their sittings, which his knights would notat all tolerate, nor subscribe to the smallest in-novation. 1 Not that De Paul did not perceive itwas the Pope’s intention to strengthen the grandmastery, but he who held it now, preferred theirancient constitution, to any private interests of hisown. It is but justice to him to say that heappears to have been wholly without any undueambition. Much less did he wish for the hatred ofhis knights, and to leave the sad renown of havingsubverted the body who had elected him for otherpurposes. Yet, whatever De Paul thought, orhowever pure the Papal motives, the fact is theorder was deprived of the mainspring of its liberties,the chapter general, during above a century ; andthough the heavy expenses it cost, was the specious

excuse, the real cause might he that it was1634 . .

easier to manage a restricted council, than

a numerous, and, as it were, popular assembly.Nevertheless, Urban VIII. did not change his mind;but obstinately confirmed his bull, regarding theform of electing the grand master, in a document,fromGandolfo Castle, on the 21st of October, 1634. 2

1 Boisgelin : i. 265.

2 Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Num. cccii.