148 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book iv.

thirst of glory, but for their compassion for uni-versal Christendom, and its interests. 1

But the fifty-seventh Grand Master, Lascaris, died

, „ „ on the 14th of August, in the next year,1657 „ . . & , ...

alter reigning twenty-one years, and living

ninety-seven, as his tombstone shows. 2 *

And next came Redin, Prior of Navarre, electedfifty-eighth grand master, who had been Viceroy ofSicily, and a great warrior, and even in his lastyears had offered either to be the Godfrey de Bug-lion of a new crusade, or take part in it as a privategentleman.

There is a bull of Alexander VII. praising Redinas he merited, and that he was right in standing bythe Venetians, wdio had the constancy and fortitudeof rejecting the peace offered by the Turks on suchconditions; an illustrious and generous refusal,whichdeserves all commendation, and is, in truth, heroicand worthy of the egregious and signal high-mindedness of the true glorious hospital. “ Thismarvellous example calls forth even our energies,”exclaimed the aged Pontiff, “ so that we are pre-paring eight or ten triremes, as strong and asproperly furnished with artillery as we possibly

1 Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Num. lii. Giunt.—Dato in Nostro

Ducali Palatio, 9 Decbr., 1656.

Seb . Paoli: Serie, 2.