16 THE HISTORY OB' THE ORDER OF [book iv.

since it had gates towards the marine, they wereclosed, and parapets raised, where some hiredtroops were posted, under command of the officersof that house itself. The same regarding the prison.And the shipping in that much-frequented port re-ceived orders to raise their guns, so as in case ofneed to aid to defend it, if the enemy should tryto force its entrance. The platform flat with thesea at the foot of St. Angelo’s, opposite StMichael’s Spur, where is fastened the chain thatshuts the Creek of Senglea, was given in guard toa Spanish knight, who fortified it with the crew ofhis galley so well, and nine pieces of heavy artil-lery grazing the waves with their fire, and protect-ing the chain, that to touch it would have been alabour of vast fatigue and infinite danger. Thatchain had been made at Venice, and was threehundred paces long, and so thick, that nothing likeit had ever before been seen in Christendom, andv 7 as linked to a most enormous anchor, that hadbelonged to the great karack, stoutly imbeddedin the living rock, cut on purpose with muchtrouble and ingenuity; chain supported about threehands above the water, upon beams perforated byother as wide beams of the most durable oak, likea huge ladder in one continuous line, reposing ona quantity of empty casks, well smeared with