clviii

APPENDIX.

majestas tua ..... plenissimus• . . . dicti Pontificis erga nos meamque

religionem animum ineffabilemque delectionem non est utin his longius progrediamur. Tuam igitur oramus atqueobsecramus majestatem ut nobis quo maxime potest favoregratia et authoritate subveniat, resque nostras in ejusrcgnis et dominio sitas tueatur et protcgat, ut quidemhactenus studiosissime fecit, talemquepostremo et praolibatoordini exhibeat preces plurimum voluisse propediem dig-noscamus. Vale Rex serenissime ac protector nosterobseryandissime. Romee, die XXVI. mensis Dicembris,1523.

Serenissimo ac potentissimo

Regi Angliaj humilis servitor

ac Francise, Fidei Defensori Mag. Hospitalis Ierusalemac Protectori nostro Obseqinro P. Villers L’Isle Adam*

Num. CCIX.

Ex Cod. Dipl. Geros., vol.i.p. 343. vol.n.p. 4C1.

Gran-Maestri.

25 Folco de Villaret . + 1319

26 Villanova . . . . + 1346

27 Gozone . . . . + 1353

28 Cornillan . . . . + 1355

* Besides this letter, he had already written to Henry YIII,,on the 6th of December, 1523, from Rome, about his applicationto the Emperor to obtain the island of Malta. (Yitcllius, B. V.131.) Which proves that the first idea of Malta came from theGrand Master, and not from Charles Y. Likewise, September22nd, 1523, letter merely complimentary, and of official form.—Cotton MSS., Yitellius, B. Y. 114.