146 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book m.

particularly the post of England and Auvergne,where were many working parties; and it beingnow April, all the barley was cut down a littleearlier than usual . 1

Solyman, born with excellent parts, and whohad acquired prudence before a hair was on his chin,saw at once the grand master copied his own artifice^and that Rhodes was ripe for hostilities; so, havingtried his troops with an animated harangue, andfinding them ripe and ready to follow their youngemperor to any attack upon the Christians, proudof his spirit, and the honour of the empire, andthe Islam religion, he permitted himself to holdhis self-restraint no longer, but wrote what wasreally and openly a declaration of war:

“ Rot only to the grand master and his knightsI direct my warning, but also to the inhabitants atlarge, how my pity towards my own people, andindignation at the monstrous injuries you Rhodianshave dared to heap upon them, make me commandyou instantly to give up your town and island,with gracious leave that you may carry off the mostprecious of you r effects, or if you choose to remainunder my sway, I permit your doing so, and pro-mise to require no tribute, or anything in diminution

> Bourbon: 629. For the title of this book look at Ap-pendix, cxci.