HISTORY OF MALTA.

133

BOOK IL

FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY LA VALETTA, TO THEELECTION OF THE GRAND-MASTER ROHAN, 1775.

CHAPTER I.

The City La Valetta completed by the Grand-Master, Peter de Monte, andmade the Residence of the Order. Most of the Galleys destroyed. Bat-tle of Lepanto. The celebrated Monastery of the Hospitaller Nuns ofSixena, in the Kingdom of Arragon, return to their Obedience underthe Order of St. John. Origin of that Monastery. De La CassiereGrand-Master—His Character. Disturbances fomented by the In-quisitors. Patents granted. Pretensions of the Bishops of Malta.The Officers of the Holy Brotherhood accused of having attempted tomurder the Grand-Master. Misunderstanding between Malta andthe Republic of Venice. The Knights begin to make Complaintsagainst the Grand-Master. Spanish Knights punished.

Peter de monte was extremely anxious to complete thecity La Valetta, and for that purpose not only attended himselfto the works, but contributed to the expenses out of his own pri-vate property. The whole was finished three years after the deathof La Valette (1571). The convent was removed to the new city ;and it became from that time the seat of government.

It was during this mastership that the squadron of galleys wassurprised by Ucchiali (1570), a celebrated corsair, whose forces