104 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [hook IV.

could not but prefer saving his fleet and army aftersuch mighty efforts; when remained but provisionsfor twenty-five days and neither artillery nor am-munition for the siege of St. Angelo, even if theyhad taken Borgo and St. Michael’s; so it was con-cluded to expend an extreme effort in storming theramparts once more Avith utmost vigour; and then,whether successful or not, at all events go home;for that in the one case they would return withglory, though they did not take St. Angelo; andin the other they Avould have done all that mancan do, his best; and so neither have merited, norshould undergo punishment. Again did seA r eralof the Janissaries openly assure Mustapha it wascertain Allah chose they should not take Malta. 1

Nor were the Christians deficient in preparingfor resistance, not only Avith courage, but withpride that Malta should have sufficed without suc-cour from Toledo or any one else; relying onthemselves alone.

Andrea Doria, arriving from his cruise, learnedwith surprise and vexation that succour was not asyet landed. So at length on the 7th of Septemberit Avas disembarked in the island of Malta at thatpart called Tremeca, over against Gozo. Yet wasit neither tAvelve nor ten thousand men, but what1 Bosio: par. iii., lib. xxxii. 688