Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/454

422 attention of Europe was speedily drawn to the vast armament collecting in the port and arsenal of Constantinople. The uncertainty as to its destination filled the maritime provinces of the Mediterranean with alarm, and on every side precautions were taken for defence in case of need.

La Valette, who, in accordance with the practice of his predecessors, always maintained spies in Constantinople, was not long in discovering that Malta was the real point of attack. He at once despatched emissaries to the powers of Europe to crave assistance, but with the exception of the Pope, who contributed 10,000 crowns, and Philip, who sent a small body of troops, these appeals were unavailing, and he soon found that it was to his own Order alone that he would have to trust for the defence of the island; still, undeterred by the lukewarmness of those who should have been earnest in the cause, he promptly set himself to meet the storm as best he might. The front of Senglea on the land side was greatly strengthened, terrepleins were added to the ramparts, and the ditches of the Bourg were completed. La Valette also constructed a small battery for three guns beneath the fort of St. Angelo, nearly on a level with the water’s edge, to flank the front of fort St. MichaeL This battery, during the siege then impending, proved a work of the utmost importance at a very critical moment. A huge chain was fixed so as to close the entrance to the port of the galleys, one extremity of which was secured to the platform of rock below St. Angelo and the other to the point at Senglea.

So anxious was La Valette to hurry these works and to insure their completion before the arrival of the enemy, that he and his knights laboured themselves constantly at them. It is recorded that the Grand-Master, although at the time seventy years of age, joined with the other officials of the Order in taking his place among the long file of labourers who were carrying materials to the ramparts. By the suggestion of the viceroy of Sicily, who at that moment visited the island, a ravelin was also constructed at fort St. Elmo on the side nearest to the Marsa Muscetto.

Meanwhile, La Valette had summoned his confreres from all their European commanderies; and the call was obeyed with the utmost enthusiasm. They poured into Malta from all quarters;