HISTORY OF MALTA.

1.‘.)

the king of Portugal, and formed the design of annexing the com-manderies to his domains; as if the loss of Rhodes were to befollowed by the total extinction of the order. AVhcn this intelli-gence reached L’Isle Adam, he was in France; whence he im-mediately sent an embassy to the court of London, which w asreceived very coldly by a haughty prince, who thought he wasentitled to the same marks of respect from the grand-master whichhad been shown to the neighbouring monarchs. L’Isle Adam,unmindful of his advanced time of life, braving the severity of theseason (it being the month of February), set out for England. Thisproof of the venerable old man’s zeal for the order affected Henry,and stifled all emotions of resentment in his bosom; he thereforereceived the grand-master in the most splendid and honourablemanner, and sent some of the first noblemen of his court to meethim. Upon his arrival in the palace, Henry accosted him mostgraciously ; and insisted upon his accepting of a superb apartmentprepared for the occasion, where he was served with a magnificencesuitable to his rank, and to the esteem felt by the king for so illus-trious a guest.

Henry, who knew how to appreciate brilliant actions andmilitary fame, frequently conversed upon the siege of Rhodes, andits noble defence. L’lsle Adam communicated to him the offermade by Charles V., of the island of Malta, and Tripoli inAfrica; acquainting him, at the same time, with the conditionsannexed to it, which were incompatible with the independence ofthe order; it being impossible for the knights to acknowledge, as