Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/660

624 well-beloved and faithful subject, Sir John Narbrough, knight, commanding our fleets in those seas, that if the city of Algiers should be constrained to agree to a treaty of just peace and submission by the force of our arms, assisted by divine help, he should use every effort in his power so that the liberty of the said John Robert & Stael be obtained. Your eminence is already well aware of the fidelity and zeal of our above- mentioned admiral, and we have no doubt that he would willingly and strenuously observe our orders on that head. It remains for us to heartily recommend your eminence, and the whole of your military Order, to the safeguard of the most high and most good God.

“Given from our palace at Whitehall, the 2nd day of November, in the year of our Lord 1678. Your eminence’s good cousin and friend, ”

The fleet of England at this period rendered the most vital assistance in aiding to cheek the depredations of the African corsairs. It was then establishing the first rudiments of that supremacy in the Mediterranean which has since become so indisputable. Neither Charles nor Cottoner could have dreamt that the island fortress, whose guns showed such reluctance to pay due honour to the flag of England, should some day be one of the most valued possessions of that country.

The conclusion of the siege of Candia had left the Turks at liberty to pursue their aggressions elsewhere, and as the knights had during that war rendered much help to the Tenetian Cottoner now began to dread lest his island should he the nest point of attack. He therefore lost no time in taking measures for its farther security, and with this object invoked the aid of a celebrated Italian engineer, named Valperga. With his assistance, and under his direction, a stupendous work was projected and commenced, which was to sweep round in rear of the two peninsulas of the Bourg and Senglea, so as to enclose them and a large extent of ground behind them in one vast enceinte. This line, which forms a complete semi-circle, is little short of three miles in length, and includes nine bastions, with two demi-bastions at the extremities. Great opposition was raised to the undertaking, owing to the enormous expenditure its prosecution would necessarily involve