120 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book Iv.

knight and servant-at-arms, not generally to thepriors, but also to each individual separately, tohasten to join his language at Malta. And aNeapolitan nobleman—Signor Carlo Spinelli, Princeof Cariati and Duke of Semmara—on learning thegrand master’s urgency, and that the order wasusing every exertion to be ready to face theTurkish invasion, to provide him with that nerve ofwar, money—heroic generosity—sent a gentlemanto Malta most affectionately to beg Valetta’s accept-ance of one hundred thousand crowns; or rather asecurity on his whole estates for that sum, for themerchants to cash in any way the order wished;and the agent presented to him the appropriatedeed legally, with all the due formalities, with theduke’s seal and signature—piece which Bosio givesin full, dated 17th December, 1567. And as franklyas it was offered, was it accepted by the grandmaster and council; and they had the fact regis-tered regularly on their books, without makinguse of it however. And hearing it was the Moslem’sintention to stop first at Gozo, Yaletta went thitheron February 8th, 1568, and remained there sixdays. 1

Yet soon ceased every doubt respecting the Ma-hometan fleet, whose intention was not to make any1 Bosio: par. iii., lib. xxxviii. 808.