CHAP. V.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

171

1708

1709

valour of the knights was due that Oran prolonged itsheroic defence for four whole months; since it wasstill resisting on the 31 October, 1707. Brave

1707

Spaniards! But the same to the same notvainly promising, hut really sending excellent troopsto Malta to aid in its defence in case the Turkattack it; with this proviso that if he attack any otherspot in Christendom, then the Knights of Malta willimmediately hasten to defend it with the force ofGenoa and Tuscany and others added to thePapal. 1 Likewise a similar letter on a maritimevictory off Tripoli in Africa. 2 Next appearsa commission of Stanislaus, King of Poland, regard-ing some property of the order in a memorial datedBarthe, 29th of January, 1711, and confidedto the generous Jacob George Gordon goingto Malta. 3 We have now to transport ourselves toGermany, where a chapter general of the wholeGerman Language, with its grand bailiff and grandcrosses, commanders, knights, met at Wesel to sub-scribe a protest against any act of the congress ofUtrecht confirming the confiscation of any part ofthe order’s property, after the flagrant injustice ofhaving refused to listen to their rightful claims. 4

1711

1 Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Num. ccclxxxiii.

2

id.,

id.,

Id.

ccclxxxiv.

3

id.,

id.,

Id.

ccclxxxv.

4

id.,

id.,

Id.

ccclxxxvi-