Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/499

Rh It is very difficult to account for the conduct of the viceroy at this juncture. It is a well-known fact that he was warmly attached to the Order, and especially so to LaValette himself. He had even intrusted his son to the knights through the perils of the siege. It cannot, therefore, be supposed that under such circumstances he would be indifferent to the fate of the island. Whether he feared, by too hasty an intervention, to compromise the safety of the Spanish fleet, or whether, as is very probable, he was acting under secret instructions from Philip himself, can never now be ascertained. It is, however, quite clear that, but for the indomitable nature of La Valette’s resistance, the succour by means of which the island was eventually relieved would have arrived only to find the Turkish flag waving over the castle of St. Angelo, and the sad scenes of St. Elmo re-enacted on a larger scale. The remonstrances of the ambassador induced the viceroy to summon a special council to deliberate on the steps to be taken. A proposition was actually made at the board, and supported by several voices, to leave Malta to its fate. Fortunately for the reputation of both Philip and his viceroy, other and nobler counsels prevailed, and an assurance was forwarded to La Valette that if he could hold the fortress until the end of August he should most positively be relieved by that time.

Meanwhile, the daily assaults continued without intermission, but on the 18th of August they assumed a more important. character than ordinary. Both points were, as usual, to be attacked, but the attempt upon the post of Castie was deferred for some time after that upon Senglea had been commenced, partly with the hope of inducing some of its defenders to withdraw to the assistance of their friends, and partly to enable Piali to spring a mine, which had, with incredible labour, been successfully driven through the rock beneath the bastion. Finding that the delay did not tempt any of the knights to leave their stations, Piali fired his mine, and a large extent of rampart was thrown down by the explosion. The solid nature of the rock upon which the works stood had led the garrison to consider any attempt at mining an absolute impossibility, and the idea of such a mode of attack never occurred to them. The panic caused by so unlooked-for an event was consequently extreme,