. Military and religious life in the Middle Ages and at the period of the Renaissance. tatutes of the Order of Malta,although the knights of the latter, on theirreception into the order, were still termed servants of the sick and needy. For along time there existed in Spain, Lady Hospi-tallers of St. John of Jerusalem, who devotedthemselves to hospital work and deeds ofcharity (Fig. 145). Every country in Europefurnished its quota to the Order of Malta, whichhad entirely replaced that of St. John, andwas divided into eight different tongues ornations, each under the direction of a grandprior,
. Military and religious life in the Middle Ages and at the period of the Renaissance. tatutes of the Order of Malta,although the knights of the latter, on theirreception into the order, were still termed servants of the sick and needy. For along time there existed in Spain, Lady Hospi-tallers of St. John of Jerusalem, who devotedthemselves to hospital work and deeds ofcharity (Fig. 145). Every country in Europefurnished its quota to the Order of Malta, whichhad entirely replaced that of St. John, andwas divided into eight different tongues ornations, each under the direction of a grandprior, viz., Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy,Aragon, Germany, Castile, and national grand priors were termedpiliers, or monastic bailiffs. Each nation wassubdivided into a number of lesser commands, to hold one of which wasequivalent to holding an ecclesiastical benefice, and which were subordinateto their grand prior alone. The regular dress of the order consisted, in each nation, of a black robe,with a pointed cape of the same colour ; on the left sleeve of each robe was. Fig. 145.—Tomb of Beatrix Cornel,Prioress of the Lady Hospitallersof St. John of Jerusalem, in theConvent of Sigena, in Aragon(Fifteenth Century).—From the Iconografia Espanola of MILITARY ORDERS. a cross of white linen having eight points, typical of the eight beatitudes theywere always supposed to possess, and which, according to a MS. preserved inthe library of the Arsenal, were :—1, spiritual contentment; 2, a life free frommalice; 3, repentance for sins; 4, meekness under suffering; 5, a love ofjustice ; 6, a merciful disposition; 7, sincerity and frankness of heart; and 8, acapability of enduring persecution. At a later period the regulations becameless austere, and permitted the knights to wear an octagonal golden crossinlaid with white enamel, and suspended from the breast with black ribbon. A candidate for the robe of St. John of Jerusalem was obliged to presenthimself at
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