Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/758

 720 A IIistoy of the Kniçhls of Ala/ta. APPENDIX X. Translation from the original Latin of the Letter of the Grand-Master La Valette to the grand-prior of Germany, narrating the siege of Malta. Taken from “C&ii Augustini Curionis Saracenicce Historim libri tres, etc.” Francofurdi, 1596. Brother John la Valette, Ma.ster of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, to his venerable and dear brother in Christ, George of Hohenheun, called “Bombast,” the prior of our priory of Germany. Greeting, Although we doubt not that from the letters and verbal reports of many you have already heard of the coming of the Turkish fleet to invade and utterly destroy these islands and our Order, and the glorious victory we, by the Divine aid, have gained over it, yet we have thought that these things would give you still greater pleasure if they were brought to your knowledge by a letter from ourselves. For whereas we are firmly persuaded that in this our most happy and opportune success thou wilt render due thanks to Almighty God for the same, and that by reason of the high position that thou holdest in our Order, thou wilt reap the full reward of our good fortune, we are therefore minded to rejoice with thee with a common joy, and clearly to bear witness that we ascribe this most admirable and glorious victory to our Lord Je8us Christ, the King of kings, and the Author of all good things, and in order that this may be done worthily and willingly, we will narrate the whole matter in as few words as possible, and at no great length, for that would be to write a history of it. Sultan Solyman, the bitter enemy of the name of Christian, and of our Order especially, not satisfied with having already taken from us our noble island of Rhodes and the fortress of Tripoli, and with having plundered us of nearly all our worldly goods, dreaming only of utterly destroying, and above all extinguishing our Order by any means in his power, ordered a well-appointed and numerous fleet to be fitted out, which sailed from Byzantium on March 21st, and reached Malta on May 17th. The fleet was composed of three-banked and two-banked galleys, and about 250 vessels of other kinds. The number of fighting men on board was approximately 40,000; the land forces under Mustapha Bassa, the fleet under Pyali Bassa. After a few days spent in unloading stores, reconnoitring, pitehing tents, and making such other preparations as are usual, the attack commenced with a violent assault and bombardment of Fort St. Elmo, at the mouth of the harbour. Having continued this for many days without intermission, and having opened a great breach in the walls, they assailed --