HISTORY

OF THE

KNIGHTS OF MALTA.

BOOK I.

FROM THE FIRST ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORDER IN MALTA, TO THEFOUNDATION OF THE CITY LA VALETTA.

CHAPTER I.

The Order of St. John first established at Jerusalem ; afterwards in theIsland of Rhodes. Rhodes besieged by Solyman. The gallantDefence made by Li Isle Adam. Number of his Troops. One of theprincipal Dignitaries of the Order put to Death for Treason. Sur-render of the Island. Depredations of the Turks, which were almostimmediately stopped, and the Arms and Escutcheons belonging to theKnights preserved. Solyman visits the Grand Master : their Con-versation. The Knights embark, together with the Inhabitants, andtake with them the Archives of the Order and the Relics. TheirFleet is forced, by a Tempest, to take shelter in the Island of Cyprus;after which it arrives on the Coast of Naples, and anchors at Messina.The Pope issues a Bull to prevent, the Knights quitting the Grand-Master. Trial of those Knights who had absented themselves duringthe Siege. The noble Manner in zvhich a Knight named Newport,

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