52 TEE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book it.

and that nothing conduced more to this than allow-ing of his handling money, to pass the noisomehours at gambling, and buy wine and some addi-tional dishes to please the palate and restorebodily strength; for which he begged his highnessto make them have good living and good cash.And the grand master at once compljdng, the sol-diers got back into the best possible good humourand forgot their disasters.

As long as that furious cannonading of theTurks continued, he had the soldiers kept out ofall danger—only a rigid look out on the sentries.And thither were sent up the one hundred harque-bussiers of various nations from Citta Yecchiamaking it be their own request; and also someknights volunteers, who desired to follow Miranda’sfine example. And the grand master and councilhearing the wound of Bailiff Eguaras in the legwas getting worse, sent him word to come be healedat Borgo; for that it was not at all well thesupreme head of a fortress in such straits shouldlie under any impediment. T o which he repliedthat, though he certainly felt a little uncomfortable,he nevertheless was resolved not to quit the fort-ress! “But,” added the noble veteran, “if thegrand master have in his eye any one of greaterexperience and ability than mine for this weighty