250 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book ill/

Messina, and a knight of the same family, Pignatello,Prior of Bari, all three went together to receivehim on the beach, and taking him by the hand em-braced him, and kissed him on both cheeks mostaffectionately; and, accompanied with a crowd ofmost noble and illustrious personages, conductedhim into the city. The Prior of Bari had comewith two thousand youths of the choicest in Naples,to go and assist Rhodes; not from any obligations,although he belonged to the order, but merely fromhis own elevation of mind and compassion. Forhe had been only commanded to victual the Rho-dian fleet, which he did with the utmost diligenceand care. And to announce him, had sent his ownnephew to Rhodes, and that Navarese knight, whowas so famous for making the best gunpowder—both had been remarkably popular and renderednumberless services during those unhappy struggles.But what could they effect in our desperate situa-tion, and with none of the European sovereigns toprotect us, except lay down life in the most heroicindividual efforts? They were both of them killedin the siege. Yet why should we now complainwhen it is idle? Yet is it certain those princeswished the Rhodians well, and Charles Y. gaveleave, through all his dominions (both the Sicilies,Spain, and Germany) for soldiers, arms, provisions