HISTORY OF MALTA.

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convinced them, that their island, once submitted to the governmentof knights who consecrated themselves entirely to the defence of thefaith, would infallibly become the bulwark of Christendom. Sucha motive made the most lively impression upon the inhabitants,who, as it will presently appear, received the order with the greatestdemonstrations of joy.

We come now to show in what manner Charles V.* consentedto cede Malta and its dependencies. He granted for ever, as wellfor himself as his heirs and successors, to the right reverend thegrand-master of the said order and religion of St. John, an unlimitedtitle, in fee-simple, to all the castles, fortresses, and isles, of Tripoli,Malta, and Goza; to have and to hold by the most ample tenure ;together with power over the lives and fortunes of their inhabitants;and that without appeal to any lord paramount whatsoever. Heat the same time absolved them from their oath of allegiance tohim; empowering them to transfer it to then - new masters, andabdicating all feudal rights heretofore vested in the imperial crown.

The only conditions on which he made this cession were,1st, That the order should swear, never to suffer its new subjects totake up arms against the king of Sicily and his states. 2dly, Anannual homage of a falcon to the said king, or his viceroy. 3dly,A renunciation on their part, to the king, of the nomination to thebishopric of Malta. The presentation to that dignity to be madefrom among three of their order, of which one should be a Sicilian

* Sec Appendix (No.V.) the Act of donation, by Charles V., of Malta, Goza,and Tripoli, with the oath taken by the viceroy of Sicily.

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