Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/271

Rh the enceinte, and probably for much of that required for the town itself. Many of the old guns used by the knights in the two sieges about to be recorded still stand in situ. Their vents are protected by old cuirasses taken from the armoury. They are, of course, practically useless, and were they to be fired, would certainly prove a greater source of danger to the gunners than to the enemy. The rampart was flanked by numerous square towers at intervals. In addition to these, there were five more important projecting points covered with outworks, which partook somewhat of the character of bastions. Commencing at the south-west or Jews’ quarter, there were respectively the towers of Italy, St. John, St. Mary, Spain, and St. George. The line from this latter post ran northward, till it reached the Grand-Master’s palace. Thence it turned at right angles eastward up to the foot of the mole of St. Nicholas. The sea-face constituting the inner line of the harbour was also protected by a rampart, but without any ditch. The town thus encircled partook very much of the form of a crescent. An inner line ran due east and west, cutting off the northern horn of this crescent. Within this retrenchment dwelt the aristocracy of Rhodes. Here were the various auberges of the langues, the Hospital of the Order, the conventual church of St. John, and the Grand-Master’s palace. This latter was enclosed in a further line of retrenchment, and with its gardens and grounds occupied a very large space at the north-west corner of the town, and constituted the citadel of the fortress. Everything which the science of the age could suggest, or the lavish expenditure of money could accomplish, had been done to develop its strength. It was entered by a separate gate, and dominated the whole of its surroundings.

The houses of the lower part were built of stone, and had flat roofs after the custom of most Eastern cities. At frequent intervals the streets, which were very narrow, were crossed overhead by broad arches. This was probably done to facilitate communication between the various points, and also, perhaps, to afford shelter from the fire of the enemy during a siege. Two gates led into the lower town from the land side, called respectively the gates of St. George and St. John. Before the second siege the latter was built up. As is the