Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/518

484 siege, and for defence against future attacks, had determined to found a new city, which he had commenced on the 28th March, 1566. As a precisely similar tablet stood over the old Porta Reale, it seems probable that it had been moved there, when the gate was built, as being more conspicuous to public view than the original position, since none now exists on St. John’s bastion. When the Porta Reale was rebuilt in 1853, this tablet was replaced on the new structure as an interesting relic of the foundation of the city. The inscription is an extract from the records of the council, which bear the following entry:—

“Die xxii menii Martii MDLXVI ''Fr. Joan ne de Valletta, Sacræ Domus Hosp. Hier. .M. Magister, periculorum anno superiore a suis militibus populoque Meliteo in obsidione Turcica pepessorum memor, de condenda urbe nova eaque mœniis arcibus et propugnaculis munienda inito cum proceribus consilio die Jovis XXVIII, Martii, MDLXVI. Deum Omnipotentem Deiparamque Virginem numenque tutelare D. Jo. Baptistam Divosque cæteros multa precatus ut faustum fœlixcque religioni Christianæ fieret, ac Ordini suo quod inceptabat bene cederet prima urbis fundamenta in monte ab incolis Xeberas vocato jecit, earmque de suo nomine Vallettam, dato pro insignibus in parma miniata aurato leone, appellari voluit''.”

It may be interesting to add the names of the dignitaries of the Order who were present on the occasion when this important decree was registered. They were as follows:—

Reverendus Dominus Magnus Magister Frater. Admodum Reverendus Dominus Episoopus Melitensis Frater. Reverondus Prior Ecclesiw Doniinus Frater. Reverendus Maresciallus Doninus Frater. Reverendus Hospitalarius Dominus Frater. Reverendus Magnus Conservator Dominus Frater. Reverendus Admiralius Dominus Frater. Reverendus Prior Sancti .tEgidii Dominus Frater.