270 TI-IE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

tious P. A. Paoli, who had learned from his uncle topluck the very heart of truth from the compilationhe had left him, and to continue in his path. Muratorihad the well-regulated library of Modena, but theundiscovered ocean of the Vatican, and the wholeworld, were to be the field of the diplomatist of theorder of Malta, who for a considerable period com-^ jgg pleted his books, and died. After extractingthe facts from each document, the nephewthrew away the outside, and placing these essentialfacts so as to explain and elucidate each other, pro-duced an impregnable whole, as far as he went, andthen he too died. And now this unworthy pen is atthe third operation, a little history from their mightylabours. But though the nephew’s short volume beended, the diplomatist’s columns still continue, andI mean to try to keep close to them. P. Ant. Paolionly attended to those earliest of the order’s annals,defaced by fables, which, with his aid, I have gotthrough. After having been shown so far, the restis easier, and with the diplomatic help, not difficult,and for that reason more adapted to me.

The Del Poggio had fiefs and lordships in Tus-cany, as early as the Countess Matilda. The DelPoggio were marquises and dukes, and alwayssign themselves with such titles in several papersstill existing, as far back as the tenth century. A