CHAP. III.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

89

to use extreme diligence, and instantly succourMalta at all events, and at what cost soever;wherefore he wrote to the grand master, that bythe last of August he would be at Malta with tenor twelve thousand foot ; 1 that in a day or twohe meant to despatch Doria with four thousandbrave Tuscan soldiers; that his royal master hadmade only one exception in his royal graces, byexpressly forbidding him to land in person, as hewarmly would have desired, to testify not onlyhis cordial affection for the order, but still morefor Yaletta himself. The wings of fame and thehonoured cry of our defence of Malta had gone forththrough the world, and a crowd of volunteers forthat noble adventure had met from all parts atMessina; the baronage of Germany, and the countsand practised warriors of France, Spain, Italy,even the remotest spots of Christendom.

Nor suppose that one moment’s quiet is allowedto Borgo. No! Just as at St. Elmo. The batteriesand every sort of fighting day and night; all alongthe posts and bastions; landsides, seasides the sameincessant conflict never knows the shortest, not truce,but momentary pause. The soldiers necessarilyrelieved each other for nutriment and brief repose.But scarcely with us the knights. How often had

1 Bosio : par. iii. 616.