CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

289

in his bailiwick in Galabria, when knights camewith news of his election. He, after a thoughtfuland melancholy pause, protested he must in con-science abdicate as an honour totally superior tohis abilities; but when some hours later Sir C.Gesgalli brought doleful tidings from Africa, DelPonte changed his mind, and in the disasters of hisorder, bent his head in resignation, accepted, andinstantly set out for Malta, where he died,at seventy, in November of the next year,as his epitaph proves . 1

The knights near Tunis were forty, and whenthey presented themselves to Charles V., he saidsome words in praise of the order, and admiringtheir beautiful armour, and survests, and their sol-dierly appearance, and asking the name and nationof each, he stretched out his hand to his cousin, thePrince of Portugal, and shaking hands with himcordially, exclaimed in Spanish, “ These gentlemen,Sir, are your brothers, of whom, if we had many,then indeed very sure would be our victory ! ” Itcannot be denied that Charles Y. showed himselfa most valiant captain. Not that his valour, how-ever great, merited much encomium of itself alone;but why not speak of his, if we speak of his rival’s ?Only if on a par in even that respect, then was

1 Seb. Paoli : Serie, ii. 473.—Appendix, ccxii.

VOL. III.

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