Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/744

 706 A history of the A’n’hts of Malta. they shall wear surcoats and other military decorations of a red colour, on which there shall be a cross of white colour, sewn on in accordance with that on your standard; in order that by the uniformity of signs, the unanimity of your spirits may be clearly apparent, and that thus, in consequence, the safety of your persons may be insured. Therefore, let it be lawful for no man to infringe upon this statute of our concession. For if any one shall presume upon such an attempt, let him know that he will fall under the indignation of Almighty God, and of his blessed apostles Peter and PauL—Given at Anagnia, on the third day of the ides of August, in the fifth year of our Pontificate. APPENDIX VII. Letter of Peter d’Aubtisson to the emperor of Germany, conlainlip a narratire of the first sie,qe of Rhodes. (Translated from tl.e ori,qinal Latin.) Most invincible and serene prince; it appears to us in no way incongruous that we should describe to your Imperial Majesty the incidents which have occurred in the siege of the town of Rhodes; by the Turks in its attack, and by ourselves in its defence; now that the tay of battle has had a prosperous ending, to the honour of the Christian name; and we do not doubt but that your Imperial Majesty will derive no little pleasure from our victory. The Turks having encamped around the city sought diligently for points of attack; they then endeavoured to shake and destroy the ramparts on all sides with their cannon, and soon shewed plainly what their intentions were, and for that purpose surrounded the city with guns and mortars, and with them overthrew nine of its towers and a bastion, and struck and destroyed the magisterial palace. It seemed, however, most convenient to them to assault and press the city upon three sides principally: the attack of the tower on the mole of St. Nicholas appearing the most advantageous for con- eluding the affair; by means of which they deemed that the city wouid the most readily fall into their power. This tower is a stronghold, at the extremity of the mole, which juts out into the sea in a northerly direction as far as the harbour extends, and is visible to approaching mariners, who may either keep close to it or easily avoid it. On the westward is situated the chapel of St. Anthony, at a distance of barely 200 paces, with the sea between. The advantages of the place having been therefore perceived, the Turkish array strove by every means in their power to get it into their possession. They brought three huge brass bombards to batter down the tower, whose size and power were incredibly great, and which threw balls of stone of nine palms, and they placed them in the chapel of St. Anthony. ronderftil to relate, and most calamitous to behold, this renowned fort,