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HISTORY OF MALTA.

quences, had not the commandant of St. Elmo, to appease men everalive to sentiments of honour, from which they never deviated infact, though they might mistake the proper means of proving it,sounded the alarm, and every one flew to his respective post.

The commissaries, on their return to the Burgh, franklyowned they thought it impossible the garrison could stand anassault: Castriot indeed, either to support his first opinion, or outof resentment to the knights, declared the fort to be still tenable,and offered to maintain himself in it. La Valette, who very wellknew what must happen, accepted this proposal; and Castriot in-stantly assembled together a number of well-wishers to the cause,who eagerly advanced to be enlisted for this service. The garrisonof St. Elmo was apprised that a body of new-raised troops was ap-pointed to take their place ; and the following letter was written bythe grand-master: “ Return immediately to the convent, where you“ will remain in greater security, whilst w r e shall feel infinitely more“ easy about the preservation of an important fort, on which de-“ pends the safety, not only of the island, but of the whole order.”

The discontented knights felt in the severest manner the indif-ference, indeed the contempt, comprised in these few words. Hum-bled to the dust at the idea of being succeeded by such troops, anddreading the reproaches they w ould receive from the wdiole order ifthey permitted such a change to take place, they instantly resolvedall to perish sooner than give up their posts to these troops, orabandon them to the Turks. The commandant informed the grand-master of this resolution, who, from his perfect knowledge of the