CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

277

knights were not given time to erect walls. Newproof that valiant hearts and hands are the bestof fortifications, and need none. But though Ot-toman was driven from Rhodes, he attacked theother adjoining islets and ravaged them; and an ob-stinate and fierce war ensued, during which theknights are said to have received much assistancefrom Amadeo Y. of Savoy, and that, to perpetuatethe memory, his descendants have ever since wornthe white cross ; and, as device, the word Fertmeaning Fortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit. And whymay it not be quite true ? 1 To write devices byinitials, was the custom then. As to the cross,indeed they bore it long before ; probably from thefirst crusade; but they may have continued to bearit more exclusively, not using much any other,whether eagle or lion—the rather that they hadbecome sovereign and independent princes, andwished to show it; and, as Menestrier observestruly, at that time amongst the Italians the crossin an escutcheon was a sign of freedom and inde-pendence, and hoisted by any municipality as aproclamation of liberty. It was the cap of libertyof the period . 2 Thus Florence had a cross half

1 With some difference of date; hut in the main Bosio agreeswith the usual opinion about F. E. It. T.; par. ii., lib. vi.anno 1444.

s Aj-t. de Blason, cap. vi.