HISTORY OF MALTA.

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order, were received, and held equally capable with the otherknights of obtaining commanderies in the priories into which theyhad been admitted.

Under the government of the successors of L’Isle Adam, weagain see English knights appear upon the scene; but, alas ! in avery different manner. One, in a transport of jealous fury, assassi-nated his mistress; for which, according to custom, he was deliveredup to the common law, tried, and sentenced to be taken one milefrom the port, put into a sack, and thrown alive into the sea: whilstanother, an English commander, of the name of Upton, one of thebravest knights in the order, placed himself at the head of thirtyknights, together with four hundred of the inhabitants, and thusopposed the disembarking of the infidels upon the first descent ofDragut on the island, which happened during the grand-mastershipof John d’Omedes. This valiant knight lost his life in consequenceof the wounds he received in the action.

Towards the conclusion of the same grand-mastership, Marymounted the throne of England, and, being a Roman catholic,restored the wealth of the order, which had been annexed to thecrown by her father, to its original possessors. This fortunate in-telligence was carried to Malta by captain Hosmadon; and we neednot say how much the whole order, and particularly the Englishknights, were delighted by this intelligence. To show their grati-tude to the queen, the grand-master and the council bestowed thepriory of St. John of London upon sir Richard Seeley, who had,indeed, greatly contributed to this restitution.