116

THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book IV.

It was at this time that among several Frenchyouths, volunteers for the Turkish war, came Vig-nacourt to Malta, and shortly afterwards entered theorder; and in process of years was to become its chief.Nor was Toledo any longer tardy; but transmittedfive thousand Spanish an d three thousand German foot—to be commanded by Yaletta, “ with as full autho-rity as if he were my own person,” were the words ofthe King of Spain; which forces added to the knights,and their hired troops and some corps of Maltese,made in all eighteen thousand infantry and threehundred cavalry—a body quite sufficient to facewhatever Turkey could convey to Malta . 1

But the Moslem fleet, instead of attacking thatisland, sailed up the Adriatic, and entering theport of Venice in a friendly way to refresh, vomitedits ill-humour in a hostile demonstration on poorlittle Ragusa, and in cannonading some of theimperial towns along the coast of Dalmatia . 2

Meantime the grand master took delight in super-intending the construction of his new city—for theworking at which on all festivals (even Sundaysincluded) there was a Papal dispensation, so urgentdid it seem to all Christendom. The hod-bearers toassist the masons amounting to eight thousand; and

1 Bosio : par. iii., lib. xxxvi. 770.

2 Id. : id., id. xxxvii. 773.