HISTORY OF MALTA.

53

upon various pretences, delayed to deliver this letter to the king’senvoy.”

The grand-master could not possibly listen to a discourse of thisnature without the most lively emotions of resentment: his eyesflashed fire; and, boiling with rage, he commanded Villegagnonto declare to the assembly who was the author of such infamous re-ports. “ It is not yet necessary to name my informant,” modestlyreplied the knight; “ and all we wish to know is, whether the fact istrue or false.”—“ Extremely false,” exclaimed Omedes.—“ Declarethen before this assembly,” said Villegagnon, “ that you free yourjudge from the bond you insisted upon his giving, to pay you fivehundred golden ducats in case he did not condemn the marshal tosuffer death.”—At words so terrible, the grand-maser showed thegreatest signs of confusion. His presence of mind entirely forsookhim ; and, irritated beyond expression at being thus accused by aninferior, he loaded Villegagnon with a torrent of abuse. But, satis-fied with having informed the whole council of the wicked designsformed against the marshal, this intrepid knight immediately quittedthe assembly.

The grand crosses, and the other members of the council,justly incensed at such a perfidious conspiracy, named another judge,and ordered the secretary, under very severe penalties in case of dis-obedience, to deliver the letter for Henry II., couched in the tennsheretofore prescribed to him, either to the envoy or to Villegagnon;and that this should be done the very same day, and in preferenceto all other business of whatsoever nature. The grand-master had