M

HISTORY OP MALTA.

This success induced him to attack Tunis, which, he very wellknew, contained the treasures of this famous corsair. On approach-ing the city, he was greatly surprised to perceive a knight ol Malta,named Simeoni, coming to meet him, accompanied by six thousandbrave Christians, who, with himself, had broken their chains, andtaken possession of Tunis. Charles flew to embrace him, saying:“ Courteous knight, blessed forever be the resolute valour whichhas enabled you to break your chains, to facilitate my victory, andto increase the glory of your order I ”

Dicker de St. Jaille, who had greatly distinguished himself atthe siege of Rhodes, succeeded Peter Dupont* (1535). During hismastership, Chasse-Diable (Drive-Devil), a victorious corsair, whorivalled Barbarossa in courage, and surpassed him in ferocity, at-tacked Tripoli; but having been wounded in the assault, whilstacting the part of a valiant leader, the town escaped for a shorttime falling into the hands of the infidels ; for the corsair s troops,perceiving the misfortune which had befallen their chief, lost allcourage, and abandoned the place, leaving behind them, under thewall of the fortress, the bodies of many of their comrades who hadbeen killed in the action -p.

* Died November 12 , 1535 .

f Daring his reign, the chevalier de Bourbon, grand-prior of France, ordereda hanging of tapestry to be made, on which were represented the portraits of all thegrand-masters, taken from excellent original paintings brought from Rhodes. Theground of this magnificent furniture was of silk embossed with gold: and when itwas finished, he sent it to Malta, to be placed in the principal church of the island.—Bosio, book viii. Yertot, book x.