Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/697

Rh and penetrated within the enceinte. It was by the merest chance they did not continue their resistance, and if they had, it is impossible to say what effect this one obstacle would have had in the position in which we then were.”

The capitulation, in virtue of which the island of Malta passed for ever from under the dominion of the Order of St. John, was signed on the 12th June. It was couched in the following terms:—

“Art. 1. The knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem shall give up the city and forts of Malta to the French army, at the same time renouncing in favour of the French republic all rights of property and sovereignty over that island, as also over those of Gozo and Comino.

“Art. 2. The French republic shall employ all its credit at the congress of Rastadt to procure a principality for the Grand-Master equivalent to the one he gives up, and the same republic engages to pay him in the meantime an annual pension of 300,000 French livres, besides two annates of the pension by way of indemnification for his personal property. He shall also be treated with the usual militsry honours during the remainder of his stay in Malta.

“Art. 3. The French knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, actually resident in Malta, if acknowledged as such by the commander-in-chief, shall be permitted to return to their native country, and their residence in Malta shall be considered in the same light as if they inhabited France. The French republic will likewise use its influence with the Cisalpine, Ligurian, Roman, and Helvetian republics, that this third article may remain in force for the knights of those several nations.

“Art. 4. The French republic shall assign an annual pension of 700 French livres to those whose age exceeds sixty years. It shall also endeavour to induce the Cisalpine, Ligurian, Roman, and Helvetian republics to grant the same pension to the knights of their respective countries.

“Art. 5. The French republic shall use its influence with the different powers that the knights of each nation may be permitted to exercise their rights over the property of the Order of Malta situated in their dominions.