Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/461

Rh trace of four points, to the seaward of which was a cavalier dominating the work, and on the western side a ravelin connected with the main work by a bridge. The usual garrison for this post, which, owing to its peculiar trace, was very contracted, consisted only of sixty men, who had hitherto been under the command of a knight named de Broglio. The Grand-Master, hi this crisis, augmented that number by two companies of foreign troops under the command of a Spaniard named La Cerda, as well as by sixty knights under the bailiff of Negropont, whose name was D’Eguaras. De Broglio, the original governor, was a man of great age, which rendered him unsuited for the post at such a critical time; still, La Valette felt it a very ungracious act to one who had been so distinguished to supersede him altogether. The bailiff of Negropont was therefore selected to aid him under the somewhat ambiguous title of captain of succours.

There yet remained the Città Notabile and the island of Gozo to protect. Opinions were much divided in the council as to the proper measures to be adopted in these cases. Some were for abandoning both points, and withdrawing their troops to increase the strength in the Bourg; others again, whilst anxious to abandon Gozo, deemed that it would, be prudent to retain possession of the Città Notabile, which might act as a diversion. Either a most seasonable delay would be caused should the Turks decide upon capturing it by siege, or in case they at once sat down before the Bourg, it would prove a constant annoyance in their rear. La Valette ultimately decided upon retaining both posts. Their garrisons were therefore reinforced and placed under the command of knights in whose determination he could confide, and who he felt sure would hold out to the very last.

The commander Romegas, then one of the most daring naval captains the Order possessed, undertook the defence of the port of the galleys. This harbour was the portion of water enclosed between the Bourg and Senglea, and here all the galleys were drawn up at anchor. The entrance to this port was closed by a massive chain, which stretched from point to point.

On the morning of the 18th May, 1565, a signal gun from