14 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book iv.

and moreover ordered the good knight and cele-brated Melchior d’Eguaras to make Citta Yecchiahis head-quarters for all the cavalry, retiringthither, and harassing the foe’s rear, in case heshould march to besiege Borgo, or St. Elmo.Therefore those of Citta Yecchia were quitepleased, and ever performed their devoirs withfidelity and valour. 1 That same morning, as soonas it was broad day, the grand master, accom-panied by his council and his azonini reali, andengineers, went reviewing the walls of Borgo, pre-scribing various urgent repairs, strengtheningeverything with great assiduity, and assigningtheir posts to the different Languages, in the sameorder pretty much as in 1551. Every one mightknow where to go to prevent confusion, and allmight be ready to move at the slightest signal,with the accuracy of clockwork.

In what was naturally the most perilous placeon the only land-side of the triangle (for such isBorgo), and comprehends its whole front, wereto stand the three French Languages, Provence,Auvergne, France. But art had rendered it thestrongest now and most secure. The Italian Lan-guage, commanded by its head-admiral of theorder, a knight of seventy, yet eminently daring1 Bosio: par. iii., Kb. xxir. 516.