HISTORY OF MALTA.

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lette, quartered with those of the order, with the following legend—non aes, sedjides. The punctuality with which payment was madethe moment money was received from the continent, established soperfect a confidence among the people, that they never made thesmallest complaint against the circulation of this copper coin; norwere the works ever discontinued, nor at any time in the leastneglected.

The last moments of La Valette were, like those of his prede-cessor LTsle Adam, embittered by intestine troubles in the con-vent, and by exterior vexations relative to the preservation of thepossessions of the order. Some young Spanish knights, intoxicatedwith joy at the Turks being defeated, allowed themselves the mostimproper liberty of conduct. They lived in a very irregular maimer,and even ventured to write satirical songs against the reputation, notonly of the bravest knights, but of the principal ladies of Malta.These songs were soon publicly known, and complaints made to thegrand-master, who, being a strict disciplinarian, was very justly in-censed at such excesses; he therefore immediately commanded thecouncil and the principal officers of the order to take cognisance ofthe affair. The authors of these defamatory libels were discovered,and an action brought against them. Whilst the proceedings werecarrying on with great activity in full council, these unruly youths,without the smallest respect for the grand-master, who acted aspresident, rushed in crowds into the council, and snatching thepen, with which he was writing the sentence passed on the culprits,from the vice-chancellor’s hand, threw his inkstand out of the win-