That this note may not occupy too much space in your interesting, publication, I would now merely remark that the "convent" was known as the place where the grand master, or his lieutenant, resided, and the "tongue," according to the code of the Order, was the term applied to a nation. A grand prior was the chief of his language, who resided in his native country. A "Turcopolier" was the title of the conventual bailiff of the venerable language of England, "and it took its name from the Turcopoles, a sort of light horse mentioned in the history of the wars carried on by the Christians in Palestine." The English knights won for themselves this high honour by their gallantry in the Holy Land, and in remembrance it ever after remained with their tongue. A Turcopolier was the third dignity in the convent, and the last knight who enjoyed it was Sir Richard Shelley, Prior of England. At his decease the grand master assumed the title for himself. The two interesting letters addressed by Sir Richard Shelley to Henry VIII., in which he complained of his majesty's treatment to the Order of St. John, and pleaded in its favour, were published in the English language, and five years ago were to be seen in the government library of this island. But, on my asking a short time ago to refer to them, I regretted to find that they had been taken from the library by a gentleman who was well introduced to the librarian, and whose conduct in this, and some other transactions where valuable books are concerned, cannot be too strongly condemned. Before returning from this brief digression to the subject of my Note, might I ask if these letters are known in England, and whether copies could be easily procured for a friend who is desirous of having them inserted in a forthcoming publication?

The Knights of St. John being members of a masonic institution, termed each other brothers, is customary with members of the craft at the present time. And it may not be out of place to remark that several of the chapels, churches, and fortifications of Malta are ornamented with masonic signs and emblems, which have been several times referred to, and cleverly explained within the last three years in different numbers of the Masonic Quarterly Review. Those of your readers who take an interest in masonry may peruse these papers of a distinguished mason, now stationed in the West Indies, with instruction and pleasure.

Boisgelin has recorded in the first volume of his History of Malta, p. 182., that the Order of St. John of Jerusalem "might with propriety be considered as being at the same time hospitaller, religious, military, republican, aristocratical, monarchical," and lastly, as if these different terms, which, without his explanation, would appear to be incorrect as applying to one institution, were not sufficient, he has added in a note, that in the last days of its existence it might also have been called democratical. He has stated that it was—

"Hospitaller, from having hospitals constantly open for the reception of the sick of all countries and religions, whom the knights attended in person. Religious, because the members took the three vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, which last consisted in having no property independent of the Order at large, and on that account the Pope was their superior. Military, from being constantly armed, and always at war with the infidels. Republican, as their chief was chosen from among themselves, and could not enact laws, or carry them into execution, without their consent. Aristocratical, since none but the knights and grand master had any share in the legislative and executive power. Monarchical, from having a superior who could not be dispossessed of his dignity, and was invested with the right of sovereignty over the subjects of the order, together with those of Malta and its dependencies. And lastly, Democratical, from the introduction of a language which did not require any proofs of nobility."[[1]]

Before taking leave of Boisgelin, it should be recorded that he was a Knight of Malta; and his history, one of the best now extant, appeared in those troubled times, when he hoped by conciliating all governments, to see his Order again restored. Influenced in all things by this hope, vain as it was, his statements should be received with some grains of allowance.

Before calling attention to the following list, I have to state that a knight could not become commander before he had made four cruises in the galleys, or served five years in the convent. He had also to remain three years a commander before he could claim a pension. Those knights who are known to have been at Malta will be distinguished by a †.

A.
†Aylmer, Sir George1521
Commander of Holstone.
Adfil, George1524
Albrit, Oliver1527
B.
Bouth, John1522
Turcopolier, killed at the siege of Rhodes.
Blasly, Robert1526
Boydel, Edward1529
†Babington, John1531
Bailiff of Aguila, Commander of Dalby.
†Babington, Philip1531
†Belingham, Edward1531
Commander of Dynmore.
†Balfard, Richard1531
†Brown, Edward1531
†Broke, Richard1531
Commander of Mount St. John.
Boydel, George1532
Boydel, Roger1533
Turcopolier.
†Bentham, Anthony1536
Boyse, Andrew1588
C.
Corbet, William1522
Commander of Templebruer.
Cane, Sir Ambrose1525
Chanure, John1525
Campledik, Thomas1529
Commander of Corbroke.
Chambers, Sir James1533
D.
Deston, Claude1522
Docray, Thomas1523
Prior of the English tongue.
Dundas, George1524
Commander of Turfichin in Scotland.
†Dingley, Thomas1531
†Dundas, Alexander1538
†Dudley, George1545
Received in the Order at Malta in 1545.
E.
Edward, George1525
†Eluyn, Edmund1545
Received in the Order at Malta in 1545.
F.
Fairfax, Nicholas1522
Commander of Temple Combe.
Fitzmorth, Robert1527
Fortescue, Adrian1532
This brave knight perished on the scaffold in England at the time of the Reformation (vide "N. & Q.," Vol. vii., p. 628.); was enrolled among the Saints; and his portrait, with a sprig of palm in the hand, as an emblem of his martyrdom, is now to be seen in one of the chapels of St. John's Church at this island. The 8th of July is the day now observed in commemoration of his sufferings, and of those who suffered with him.
Fortescue, Nicholas1638
This nobleman, of the same family as the preceding, was received in the Order on his own urgent application; and with the hope that, by his assistance, the English language would be restored.
G.
Golings, Thomas1520
Commander of Bodisford.
†Gonson, Sir David1533
The last lieutenant of the Turcopolier at Malta.
†Gerard, Sir Henry1541
Glene, Lewis1555
H.
Hyerton, George1523
Hall, Thomas1526
†Halison, James1526
Hussey, Edmund1528
Hussey, Nicholas1531
Hill, Edward1531
†Hornebill, Thomas1536
I.
Irving, James1569
Solely by the strenuous exertions of this knight it was decided, in a general chapter held in 1569, that the Scotch should enjoy the same dignities and emoluments which had been previously granted to the English and Irish knights.
J.
Jones, William1522
L.
Layton, Ambrose1527
Commander of Beverly.
Layton, Cuthbert1528
Lyndesey, Walter1532
Lambert, Nicholas1538
M.
Mobysteyn, John1526
Capellano, and Chancellor, of the Provincial Chapter of the English Language.
Massinbert, Oswaldus1527
N.
Newport, Thomas1528
Bailiff of Aquila, and Commander of Newland.
Nevil, Richard1528
Commander of Willington.
Newton, Thomas1529
Newdegatt, Donston1536
O.
Ozis, John.
On the 16th of March, 1533, this knight obtained permission to return to England. Vide fol. 168.
P.
Pole, Alban1520
Commander of Mount St. John.
Philip, Thomas1521
Plunket, Nicholas1527
Pool, George1531
Pool, Henry1531
Pemperton, Thomas1533
Commander of Mount St. John.
R.
Ransom, John (Senior)1521
Prior of Ireland.
Roberts, Nicholas1522
Roche, Edward1527
Ransom, William1527
†Roger, Anthony1533
†Ransom, John (Junior)1533
Turcopolier.
†Russell, Philip1536
†Russell, Anthony1537
†Russell, Egidius1554
Governor of the city, and Captain of the forces.
S.
Sheffield, Thomas1521
Commander of Beverly.
Sand, George1528
†Sandiland, James1530
Sutton, John1530
Salisbury, William1537
†Starkey, Oliver1555
Confidential secretary of La Valetta, and buried in St. John's Church, at the foot of his tomb.
†Shelley, Sir Richard1566
Prior of England, and last Turcopolier of his language. On the 25th of June, 1567, Sir Richard obtained permission to dispose of his property as he wished.
†Shelley, James1566
†Shelley, John1582
†Stuart, Fitzjames1689
A natural son of James II. A letter is now existing in which this monarch requested the Grand Master to receive his son as Grand Prior of the English language, if it should be agreeable to the will of the Pope. It may be noted that the Germans were the only knights in the Convent who would never admit a natural son of a noble or monarch among them.
T.
Theril, William1533
Tyrell, William1535
U.
Urton, George1523
Upton, Nicholas1536
Turcopolier, and greatly distinguished in July, 1551, when, at the head of thirty knights and four hundred mounted volunteers, he very gallantly repulsed Dragut's attack on the island. Returning to the convent he died of his wounds. On the 20th of June, 1565, Dragut fell mortally wounded in the famous siege of Malta, and the point where he was killed still bears his name. His scimetar is now to be seen in the Maltese armoury.
W.
Wagor, John1523
Weston, Sir William1525
A brief historical description of Sir William Weston's sufferings, decease, and burial will be found in the second volume of Sutherland's Knights of Malta, p. 115., which appears to be a correct translation from Vertot's History of the Order.—Vide "N. & Q.," Vol. vii., p. 629.; and Vertot, lib. 10.
Wyhtt, Sir Rowland1528
West, Clement1532
This knight was a Turcopolier, and never placed his signature to a document without writing immediately above it "As God wills."
Wise, Andrew1593
Nominally Prior of England in 1598. Being reduced to the greatest extremity, the Roman Pontiff decreed that the language of Castile and Leon should allow him out of its revenue a thousand ducats a-year. The Spanish knights objecting to pay this sum, there was a trial before the Grand Master to enforce it; a report of which is now in the Record Office. The Pope's decree was confirmed.

In looking through the records of the "English tongue," I have met with the name of only one lady, Catherine Burchier, who was prioress of Buckland in 1524. Any information respecting her history, or that of the knights whose names are recorded in the above list, will be most acceptable.

William Winthrop.