Page 171 - A Knight of the White Cross

agree with me that you have shown an amount of discernment of the
highest kind, and that you are worthy of exceptional favour and reward for

your conduct. I therefore in my own name appoint you to the commandery
of our manor of Maltby in Lincolnshire, which, having fallen vacant, is in

my gift; and I release it from the usual payment of the first year's revenue.
Knowing that you desire to establish yourself here, the council have, at my
request, decided to make an exception to the general rule that a knight, on

promotion to a commandery, must return and take charge of it in two years
from the time the grant is made to him. The commandery will therefore be

administered by the senior of the knights attached to it.

"The council, on their part, have requested the bailiff of Auvergne, as grand

master of the Fleet, to appoint you to the command of the galley now
building, and approaching completion. This he has consented to do, feeling,

as we all feel, that although such an appointment is unprecedented for a
young knight, yet in the present case such an exception may well be made.
I may add that the Admiral has -- in order that no knight greatly your senior

should be placed under your command -- determined that he will appoint to
it only young knights, who will, we are assured, gladly serve under one

who has so distinguished himself, feeling certain that, under his command,
they will have ample opportunities against the infidels to prove themselves
worthy of the Order. I may add, also, that the bailiffs of all the langues

promise that they will select from among the young knights such as may
seem best fitted for such service, by their skill in warlike exercises, by their

ready obedience to orders, and good conduct. And I foresee that the spirit
of emulation, and the desire to show that, though still but professed knights,
they are capable of performing as valiant deeds as their elders, will make

the galley under your command one of the most successful in the Order.

"As you are aware, it is a stringent rule, which even in so exceptional a case
we should not be justified in breaking, that a knight must reside in the
Island for five years previous to being promoted to a commandery. It is

now two months more than that time since you were received as page to the
late grand master, and in promoting you to a commandery I have not,

therefore, broken the rule. You may retire, Sir Gervaise."