Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/552

ancient Maltese costume, which, from its gay colours, added much to the effect of the scene. Arrived at the church, high mass was celebrated by the prior of St. John’s. At the close of the epistle the service was interrupted by the arrival of the grand-standard. It was the privilege of the langue of Auvergne to have charge of this banner, and the knights of that langue took their turn in regular succession as standard-bearers during those festivals in which it made its appearance. In time of war, however, no such roster was preserved, but the grand- marshal selected any member of his langue whom he pleased for the honour. Upon the present occasion, the standard-bearer entered the church arrayed in full armour, with scarlet sopra vest and a silver helmet, surmounted by a nodding plume, forming, as the manuscript from which this account is taken says, “a magnificent spectacle.” He was accompanied by one of the Grand-Master’s pages, bearing the sword and poniard presented to La Valette by the king of Spain, and was followed by the whole langue of Auvergne, headed by the grand-marshal carrying the rod of justice in his hand. The standard-bearer and page proceeded up the church until they arrived at the high altar, which they saluted three times; they then turned towards the Grand-Master, who was seated on his throne, and also saluted him the same number of times, after which they mounted the dais, and placed themselves, the standard-bearer on his right, and the page on his left. The mass was then proceeded with, and whilst the gospel was being read, the Grand-Master took the sword and dagger from the hands of the page, and unsheathing them, held them aloft till the gospel was concluded. This ceremony was a relic of the ancient custom (which had fallen into disuse before the close of the sixteenth century) of the knights to draw their swords during the reading of the gospel, as a token of their readiness to fight in its behalf. When the host was elevated, the standard-bearer knelt and embraced his banner, and at the conclusion of the ceremony, it was borne to the chapel of Our Lady of Victory, built by La Valette, after which it was again taken to the palace, accompanied by the Grand-Master. On the occasion of this festival, ten young women received a dowry of forty crowns each from the treasury. Upon its vigil