Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/642

606 The Lord-prior of Roccelia, alluded to in this report as in command of the seven Maltese galleys, was Gregory Caraffa, grand-prior of La Rocella, a member of the Italian langue. There still exists in the auberge of Italy in Valetta, a tablet commemorative of the action. It runs as follows:—

“D. O. M.

“''Divog: Joanni Barns Ierosolymitanæ Militiæ Patrono ob gloriosam a Venetis de Turcica classe ad Dardanorum ora reportatam victoriam consilio opera et fœlici ausu fris DGregorii Carafa Roccellæ Prioris, et septem Melitentium triremium ducis. Qui primus in hostes invectus, ita cos deterruit ac profligarit ut ipsam etiam Imperatoriam nisi ejus ratis scopula hæsisset in suam potestaieil redegi88et. Vicit (amen, et captis ex adversarii8 prceter tre8 nia octo trirernibue allis minori bu8, innumerisq tormentt8 a’neie, turn sexaginta supra trecen (08 Turns in 8er&utem redactf8 et ex C’hristiunu bismille ac sex cenh8 libertati donati8 ad 3U08 triu,nphaults UI morem res’ersu8, vkit vicetq. Serentssirncs Reipublicce et IeroSol!/ enhance Religtoni8 bencmerentis8imu8 ac suce families decus irnrnortale. In tanks rn memoriam ten erabilis lingua Itallea uno multplici nornine donat dicat coneecrat Anno Domi MDCLVI.”

No action of greater importance than this had occurred since the memorable day of Lepanto. The Maltese galleys, although not numerous, appear to have done their duty nobly on the occasion, as the eleven vessels captured by them and borne off in triumph to Malta amply prove.

Whilst these maritime successes were attesting to the naval superiority of the Order, and increasing the renown in which