CHAP. III.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

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real attack either on Malta or any Christian state;but clearly only to disturb all Christendom.

To this period the interference belongs whichrenders the town of Yaletta so unsightly, with stairsas necessary as numerous from its standing on suchdifferent levels; but the idea was to have the wholecity on one level, and the rock was to be cut farmore down in a platform large enough to containall the streets and houses; but that menace of aTurkish invasion caused the work to be left halfundone—content with having the grand master’spalace, St. John’s, and the Languages, and the chiefcommander’s house on a level, and the other habi-tations were built as they could; which probablyat first was intended for only a temporary expe-dient ; but the building once broken off, was nevertaken up again. And indeed a radical change andreturn to the primitive design became very difficult,from the foundations; if not quite impossible, andevery year got worse and worse. Had the originalplan been adhered to, and the rock cut down as faras was intended, the town would have been muchmore commodious and beautiful, and the batteriesmuch stronger—however strong they be atpresent. In July, 1568, Yaletta, very jealousof his new city, had several precautions taken.Also he wrote the Pope a sharp remonstrance at so

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