10

HISTORY" OF MALTA.

easy victory : but the scheme was discovered; and the enterprise,being thus rendered impracticable, w r as relinquished. He wastherefore at last obliged to listen to an offer made by the emperor'sminister, who consented to give up the islands of Malta and G ozato the order, adding likewise the city of Tripoli, with the terri-tories thereunto belonging. But a condition was annexed to thisoffer which could not possibly subsist; and which, it was hoped, ~might be dispensed with in the course of time:—it was required,that the whole body of the religious should take the oath offidelity to the emperor. This could never be conformable with theinstitution of an order, the independence of which constituted itsutility; since to that independence alone was owing their beingentirely employed in defending equally all Christians, of whatsoeverdescription, against the infidels; for they never took a part in anywar which subsisted between Christian princes, nor in the smallestdegree favoured one party to the disadvantage of the other.

Whilst they waited in expectation of being able to soften theterms upon which this donation was to be granted, eight com-missaries were sent to visit the new possessions destined for theorder*; and, in the interim, the regent of France proposed to thegrand-master to escort, in his galleys, the duchess of Alenin intoSpain, whither she was going to visit her brother, Francis I., at thattime prisoner to Charles V. LTsle Adam set sail immediately, andproceeded quickly to Marseilles, from whence he conducted the

* June 25 , 1525 .