HISTORY OF MALTA.

31

CHAP. IV.

Peter Dupont appointed Grand-Master. Expedition of Charles V.into Africa. Acts of Valour performed by the Knights ; one ofwhom presents the Keys of Tunis to the Emperor. Didier de St.Jaille succeeds Peter Dupont. A Corsair,, surnamed Ciiasse-Diable(Drive-Devil), is repulsed from before Tripoli. John d’OmedesGrand-Master. An unfortunate Expedition to Algiers. Servicesrendered by the Knights and their Navy. Memorable Action by twoMaltese Galleys. Capture of Africa ; in which the Knights had aprincipal Share. Descent of the Turks in the Island of Malta.They present themselves before the old City. Their Re-embarkation.They seize upon Goza, oiving to the Cowardice of the Governor. ThePunishment he received .

Charles v., as has been already observed, had soon reasonto congratulate himself on the concessions he had made to theorder. Some celebrated corsairs, having long been thieves andpirates, became, by degrees, the conquering party. The Rarba-rossas likewise had possessed themselves of some powerful states onthe coasts of Africa; which, joined to continual prizes taken fromthe Spaniards, and their frequent descents upon the coasts of Italy,induced the emperor to declare war, and to communicate his deter-mination to the knights of St. John of Jerusalem.

Peter Dupont, by birth a Piedmontese, who succeeded LTsleAdam, sent out a squadron with land forces to assist the emperor;who, thus supported, obtained a complete victory over Barbarossa.