CIIAP, IV.]

ST. JOHN OP JERUSALEM.

143

weak and blind are mortals! Why should not thatpetty assembly have its troubles, as well as theillustrious British Parliament? Both have knownhow to overcome all the wit of man. It was fareasier to manage the grand master than the rightfulsuperior meeting. 1 On the 5th of February, 1638,is an extremely courteous letter to the grandmaster from the then Doge of Venice,Franciscus Erizo; 2 as well as a somewhat similar tothe whole order, from Louis XIII. ; 3 and another tothe grand master, from the Queen of France ^signing herself his good cousin Anne, a St.Germain, ce 17 Avril, 1639. 4

Most determinedly following his design of liftingthe grand master into absoluteness, that same Pope,now in his sixteenth pontificate, restricted all dimi-nution of the magisterial authority, during thevacancy between one grand master and another,when the knights indulged in comparative liberty,and whether willing or unwilling, the grand master’sname was used as having applied for such a Papalrescript. 5

On further rumour of an invasion of Malta by

1

Cod. Dipl. Gcros, ii.,

Hum.

cccx.

2

Id.,

Id.,

Id.

cccxiv.

3

Id.,

Id.,

Id.

cccxvii.

4

Id.,

Id,

Id.

cccxyiii.

5

Id.,

Id,

Id.

cccxxi.