ABEY. m.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

239

some a few days later, and some much later,reached Sittia, in the island of Candia, where ourlargest ship ran the utmost risk of being brokento pieces, though after casting anchor; and thelarge galley, commanded by Sir Jerome Carmag-nola, lately knighted for his heroism in coming avolunteer to Rhodes, drove on that part of thecoast where the infidels were tented, and he andall on board perished miserably. The salt sea hadthe lives of so many of our shipwrecked fellow-citizens—and the Mahometans, whatever our poormen had been able to convey with them. Thestormy ocean and barbarous Saracens went shares.The artillery that went down was esteemed at fortythousand crowns . 1

Nearly similar was the fate of another of ourships, which only escaped pirates to strike againsta rock. Most of the ships were little sea-worthy,from having lain uncareened six months in theRhodian harbour; scarcely looked to, all handsbeing called off to the siege, their keels and sidesnever cleaned properly, and they came away toomuch in a hurry to be caulked; even the greatkarack, not having time to weigh, left three anchorsin the port of Rhodes; and with others the same.So it was a miracle half the vessels were not lost.

1 Bosio : par. iii., lib. i. 1.—Bourbon: 29.