TH E l LLUSTRlOUil O RDER O F H OEBPI’PA LEM

A N D K N I G H T S O F

T . O H N O F E R L E M S J J US A .

P ET ER G ERA RD T H E F O UND E R , ,

A N D T H E TH RE E GRE AT G R A N D MASTE RS OF T H E I L L U S N J E T R I U S O R D E R O S T . O O O F J H F R U S A L E M .

r a n d In s el ec tin g th e thre e g m asters of th e Hospitalers , who . for their ability to organize and c om m and in battle . to assau lt or defend a fortre ss or city , or rule and govern so mix ed a body of m en of so m any langu ages as c onstit u te d The Illustrious Knights of S t . J ohn , of Palestine , Rhodes , and M alta , from their organi za A 9 A D D . 1 7 8 . . tion 1 1 0 0 . to , and p articularly th e thre e to whom in ou r j ud gment the honor belongs for m uc h of the glory whic h a t a t ac hes to th e Order of the Kni ghts of M alt . we c annot be far “ du wrong w hen we nam e Raym ond Puy , Phi lip Villi ers de L Isl e

Adam , and John de la Vale tte . It is not our inten tion to enter into any discussion of the m erits of the t wo gre at ord ers of k nighthood whic h had th eir origin in , and

i L n m did suc h valiant fi gh tin g for the possess on of th e Holy a d , u c h as w e belie ve the Order of th e Hospit al ers . The I llustrious Kni ghts of St . J ohn of J erusale m , better k nown as the Kni ghts of Malta

i n t o h av e bee n th e older and gre ater , as it c erta ly was the longer in exist enc e . Th e foundation for t he Order of M alta was laid by the m er m N 0 c h an ts o f A ma l fi , K i n gdo of aples , 1 4 8 . When engaged in trade wit h the c ountries borde ring the east ern shores of th e M e di t e r ramean they visited Cairo , Egypt . and obtained permission from

s r - C aliph M o n sta e billah , t o erec t a hospital in J erusalem for the u se of th e poor and sick pilgrims goin g up to that city . The E gyp ti ans bein g then in possessi on of th e Holy City and being kindly di sp osed . the governor on presentation of the order of th e c aliph . gav e th ese m erchan ts a pie c e of ground a sh ort distanc e south and e ast “abou t a stone ’ s th row from the door of th e churc h of the The I l lu str i o u s Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s

" H oly Sepulchre , upon whic h to erect their buildings , wit h p er mission to bring monks and an Abbott from their own cou ntry to ” lt reside therein . Th ey first bui a c hapel . whic h was dedic ated to

the blessed Virgi n , and then two hospit als for the . we ary and dis

. r s tressed pilgrims . m ale and fem ale which they dedic ated e pe c

J . ti ve l . y to St ohn th e Alm oner , and St M ary M agdalene , placin g

m onks in c harge of one and nuns in charge of the other . M oney and supplies were gathered in Italy for the support of this splen 65 did charity , and i t was be coming widely k nown whe n in 1 0 the barbarous hord es of Tartary called Turc om ans , swept down and E over Palestine . c apturing J erusalem and destroying the g pt i a n garrison .

The hospitals of St . J ohn th e Alm on er and St . M ary Magd a lene were not exempt from the plunder and desec ration whic h fol

o r lowed . There is little nothing k nown of the brav e monk s and pious nuns who continued in charge of th ese hospit al s from 1 0 0 5 until th e brave Godfre y de Bouillon and his undaunted Crusade rs C “ storm ed and c aptured the Holy ity Friday . July 1 5, 1 0 99 . at th e hour of thre e in the afternoon . exactly the same d ay and hour at which Christ expired for the salvation of the hum an rac e . The capture of Jerusalem was the termination of a disastrous c am

a i n p g , for of a body of men of all arm s numbering 70 0 0 0 0 at its c omm enc ement , but rem ained , bein g foot and horse with which to c omm ence the siege . The ranks on th e m arch had been depleted from various c auses . the princip al ones of w hic h I t were desertion . sic k ness , and de ath . is a matt er of re c ord that when th e siege of J erusalem began June the garrison c on ta i n e d m men at arms and citizens be aring ar s . Durin g the siege of six weeks such Christi ans as rem ained in th e city were imprisoned that they might not giv e aid or inform ation t o the b e besiegers . Among those imprison ed was the Re c tor or A dmi n i s J trator of the Hospital of St . ohn . a Frenchm an named Peter G er v f ard and nati e o the isl and of M artigu es in Provenc e . How inhum an all m en were in those days i s app arent in th e acts of the Crusaders . who prov ed themselv es as bloodthi rsty as s the barbarian . for no sooner h ad they captured t he city killin g , f all ound in arms . than they deliberately murd ered defenseless W men , om en . and c hildren . and it is a well att ested fact th at on f O the Tem ple area and in and about the Mosque o mar pe o ple were slaughtered . It is on that Tem ple area where th e ( fr u ’ sa d e r s f horses were said to have waded up to their etlocks in hu m an blood . Greater extremes w ere nev er k nown than in those days ; barbarous murder and inhum an “s l aughter one day to be fol . l lowed with exc essive piety the next , for it is re ated that surfeited C H URC H O F T H E H O L ! S EP UL C H RE .

J E R US A L E M , 1 8 9 2 .

n o J n J r a 3 a d n i t S t. o K gh s f oh f e us le m . with blood these same Crusaders haste ne d barefoot and unarm ed th e to do pe nanc e , after whic h v offered up th anksgivin g for their v ic tory at th e Holy S epul chre . H avin g c aptured t he city , it now be c am e n e c essary to form a governm ent , and they c ast abou t th em for a le ader , the lot fallin g upon Godfrey de Bouillon , whom th ey sought to m ak e king . That sturdy w arrior wou ld not hav e it so .

H e w as willin g to le ad and c omm and , bu t wh en they desired to crow n him with a c rown of gold in the c hurc h of th e Holy S e pu l “ c hre h e said to his follow ers No ! ! o u sh all nev e r se e so ma gn i fi - c ent a crown upon m y head in the plac e where th e Saviour of th e ” w orld was crow ned with on e of thorns . That brav e Crusade r not w only re fused the cro n , but he as resolut ely d eclined to be c alled

“ ' ‘ kin g and w as content to acc ept the title of Protector or De

" fend er of th e Holy Sepulchre . ’ U pon Godfrey s first visit to the House of th e Hospitalers , he

a dmi n str a found th at pious m an , Peter Gerard , at th e he ad of its tion : and as his assistant for th e fem ale hospital , a Rom an lady of

C r u s nobl e birth . n am ed A gnes . H e also found so m any wounded a d ers bein g c ared for by th e H ospitalers that he bec am e interest ed in them and impressed with the importance of their v alu able ser a f vic es , he imm ediately gav e th em large sh are o his own est ates , as will be see n from the followin g c opy of his will or deed .

' ‘ ' - o r e de B o u i llo n to the H o s i ta l o b t. J o hn Dee d of P i O p e r ty of G df y p f ,

In th e n am e of th e Holy Trinity who c annot be divided , I , o df r e b r e i n ma ke G y , y th e grace of God , and of His g , it kn own to all h t present and to c o me , t a for the remission of my sins , I l aid on my S u h e art and shoulders th e sign of the aviour cr cified for us . I arrived at last at th e pl ac e where the feet of the v ery High Jesus Christ rested , and as I h ad in p enanc e visited the H oly Sepulchre of the

Lord and all t he h oly spots c onn ec ted with it , I cam e at last to th e Churc h of the Blessed Hospital w hi ch was founded in honor of God o L o r d a n d and o f His blessed M oth e r and St . J ohn , precurs r of th e , se ein g in this the grac e of the Holy Ghost which cannot be told , f im p art ed to th e sick and w eakly poor su ferin g , abundantly and hu mbly in p enanc e ; I beq ueath to the said House of t he Hospi tal and to all the broth ers , a house founded on my estates and under my c are in the cold ( M o n tb o i se in Brabant ) m ountain , free from all re nt and exp e nses , and to h av e it forever . This gift of m y don ation w as done in h onor of the i nc arn ation of our Lord and in c omm em oration of th e tak ing of J erusalem d M L XXXXI X , in the sixth ep och in the first in iction , and for the b e salv ation of mys elf , my father , my m ot her , and al l those gone

e . for m e , m y rel ations , and all friends li ving and dead This c omm endable ac t indu ced m any oth ers to follow his exam s ple . A t the sam e time a large nu mber of th e Crusader , impressed with th e pi ety of th e H ospitalers , and tired of bloodshed and strife , d j oined t he ord er . am on g wh om was a noblem an nam e Raym ond 4 The I llu s tr io u s Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s

t f D a u hi n . I du Puy . of the provinc e o p y was under Gerard th at

th e Hospitalers , male and female , or brothers and sisters as

k , . they were c alled , too a vow to ren ounc e th e world we ar a p lain t k o n p o m s blac robe , which was a white c ross of eight plac ed on o r the left side near the he art , and the three solemn v ows of th e a l w a v s O y . der , Ch astity , bedienc e , and Povert These vows were

tak en in the Holy Sepulchre . The fam e of the fraternity of the Hospitalers h avin g spre ad

throughout th e continent by return in g Crusaders and Pilgrims . r . Pope Pascal II . , at the request of Peter Gerard the Adm inistrato

of the Hospital of St . J ohn , confirm ed this new institution to his m venerable son Gerard . founder and m aster of the hospital at J er

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f f . salem , and to his law ul successors orev ermore in a Bull bearin g 1 1 3 date March 1 5 . 1 . whic h we have se en in the arm ory of th e

Knights in th e C ity of Valetta . M alta . of whic h the followin g is a translation from the original latin .

' B u ll o P o e P a s cha l I I Jll a r e h. 1 5 f p . , o f Paschal . bishop and servant of suc h as are t he servants

God , to his venerable son Gerard , founder and m aster of the Hos pital at J erus alem , and to his lawful succ essors fore verm ore . The requests of a devout desire ought to meet with a c orre s n ff r e po di n g fulfillm ent . Inasm uch as of thy a ection th ou hast d quested , with re gard to the Hospital which th ou hast founde in the city of Jerusalem , in proximity to the Churc h of the blessed

John the Baptist , that it should be supported by the authority of the apostolic see , and fostered by the patronage of the blessed : d w apostle Peter We , there fore , much please ith the pious e arn e st n e ss of thy hospitality , do receiv e the petition with our fratern al r favour , and do ordain and establish , by the authority of this o u present de cree , that that house of God , your Hospital , shall now be placed , and shall forever rem ain , under th e protection of the

b . apostolic see . and u nder that of the lessed Peter f e All thin gs whatsoever , there ore , whic h by thy perse v rin g care and solicitude have been coll ected for the be nefit of the said

Hospital , for th e support and m aintenan ce of pilgrim s . or for r e lieving th e necessities of the poor . whether in the c hurch es of

Jerusalem , or in those of parishes within the limits of other c ities : and whatsoever things may have be en off ered already by the faith f f ‘ ff ul , or or the future may through God s grace be so o ered , o r colle cted by other lawful m eans ; and whatsoev er thin gs h ave be en . u or shall be granted to thee , or to thy s c cessors , or to the brethre n who are occupied in the c are and support of pilgrim s , by th e v e n e r a b l e breth ren the bishops of th e dioc ese of J erusalem ; w e hereby e decree shall be retained by you in peace and undim inished . M or over , as to the tithes of your rev enues , whi ch ye colle ct ev ery where at your own charge , and by your own toil . we do hereby fi x and de o wn c ree , that they shall be retained by your Hospital , all opposi tion on the part of the bishops and their clergy n o t w i th st a n di n tr a . We also decree as valid all donations which hav e be en m ade t o your Hospital by pious princ es . either of their tribute m oney s o r ml n i t t n o J e r u a 3) J e m . K gh s o f S . oh f s l

ot her im posts . We ord ain , furtherm ore , tha t at thy death no

m an sh all be ap pointed in thy place , as chief and m aste r , by any n und erh a d subtlety , or by violen ce ; but him only w ho sh all , by th e

inspiration of God , hav e been duly e lected by the professed breth

re n of the I nstituti on . Furth erm ore , all dignities or possessions

which your Hospital at present h olds , either on this side of the

- w h w at er , to wit in Asi a , or in Europe , as also those hich ereaft er ’ by God s bounty it m ay obtain ; we c onfirm them to the e and to thy r suc c essors , who sh all be de voting them selv es with a pious e al to t h e c ares of hospit ality , and through you to th e said Hospital in a n p erpetuity . We furth er decre e th at it shall be unlawful for y m an ff whatsoev er r ashly to disturb your Hospital , or to c arry o any of its o ff property , or i f c arried to ret ain possession of it , or to diminish

ou ght from its rev e nues , or to harass it with audaci ous annoyanc es .

But l et all its property remain intac t , for the sole use and enj oy m en t of those for whose m ainten anc e and support it has be en

grant ed . As to the hospitals or poor houses in the Western

. i di u s H i s a l u m provinc es , at Burgum of S t n , Lisan Barum , p ,

Tarentum , and Me ssana , whic h are distinguished by the title of

H ospitals of J erusale m , we de cre e th at they sh all fore ver rem ain ,

as t hey are this day , under th e subj e ction and disposal of thysel f u and thy suc c essors . If , there fore , at a fut re time , any person ,

wh eth er ec clesiastical or se cular , knowin g this p aragraph of our

constitution , sh all atte mpt to oppose its provisions , and if , aft er

havin g receiv ed a se cond or third w arning , h e shall not m ak e a v suitable satisfaction and restitution , let him be depri ed of all his

di gnities and h onors , and le t him k now that he stands ex posed to the j udgment of God for the iniq uity h e h as perpetrated ; and let him be deprived of th e Sacram ents of the Body and Blood of

C hrist , and of th e be nefi ts of th e redemption o f Our Lord , and at

th e last j ud gm en t le t him meet with th e se v erest v enge anc e . But

to all who de al justly and ri ghtly with th e sam e , on them be the pe ac e of Our Lord Jesus Christ , so th at not only here below they m ay re ceiv e the re wards of a good action , but also be fore th e

Jud ge of all m ankind , th ey m ay enj oy the blessin g of pe ac e eter n al . H L I . P A S C A , Bishop of the Catholic Church ,

R H A l b o e . I . I C A R D , Bishop of , hav e signed 1 L I X . C A T U S , Bishop of the Catholi c Church . n m L A N D U L P H U B e n e v e t u . I . S , Bish op of

H ave read and sign ed .

B e n v n t u m Gi ve n at e e , by th e h and of John , Cardin al of the 1 5th Rom an Church , and Librarian , on th e day of the c al endar of o t h M arc h , in the indiction of the inc arn ation of our Lord , in the 1 1 1 3 y e ar , and in t he 1 3t h ye ar of th e Pontifi c ate of our Lord Pop e

Pasch al II . It thus appears th at th eir property should be fre e from all

— tith es or toll that all donations , tributes , or other gifts , should “ be. th eirs , and that in all v acancies of c hie f and m aste r the brethren should ele c t with out interferenc e by any one . It is r e c orded th at th e pious Peter , founder and m aster , erected anoth er hospit al or tem ple j ust south of the H oly Se pulc hre , whi ch he dedi t e d c a . . n to St Joh n the Baptist , and se veral other buildi gs in whic h 6 The I ll u s tr io u s Or de r o f H osp ita le r s

f the poor , weary , and sick pilgrims were c ared or , the H ospitalers

givin g them every c are , ev en to th e washin g of their feet . Th ese new buildings and hospital bein g j ust west of and attac hed to th eir first ch apel (which was dedic ated to the Holy Virgin J and hospi f d u tals , were plac ed under ch arge o Brother Raymond Puy , and it

. was here that the new order , or branch of the old order was founded “ " which bec ame known as the Hospitalers , or Knights of S t . John . The members of this new branch took upon themselv es an other

v ow in addition to those of Chastity , Obedienc e , and Poverty .

whic h w as to defend the Holy Sepulchre and fi ght the i n fid e l s . The following is a c opy of th e rules issued by frater Raym ond

d u Puy to the brethren of the hospital under his ch arge . about th e year 1 1 0 0 when he was but a warden of the hospital :

r o t J o hn the B a tis t R u le s of the H o spi ta le r s a n d K o cights of the O rde f S . p

s m u e b F e R u me n d du . P u 71 0 0 the n a w a de n o f J e ru a le , i ss d y ra t r g/ y, , r

a o f the H o spita l a t J e r u s le m.

In the n am e of the Lord , Am en . I , Raimond , serv ant of th e

poor of J esus Christ , and warden of the hospital of J erusalem O with the council of the chapter of th e rder , m ak e these re gula

tions , to be observed i n the house of the Hospital of St . Joh n Bap

t i st of Jerus a lem . I enj oin t hen all the brothers that en ga ge in i n n C a th o l i k the servic e of the poor , and the de fe ce of th e c faith ,

to m aintain and observe , with the grace of God , the thre e thi ngs

th at they hav e promised , viz : Chastity , obedienc e , i . e . , th at they will perform exactly every thing that shall be e nj oined th em by

their master . and to pass their liv es without possessin g any thing in property : for God will require from them an acc ount of th es e

three thin gs at the day of j udgment .

E xe r i e o he u hr — c s f t K n ightho o d f o r J e s s C ist Cu sto m. O w Our rder has , ever sinc e its first found ation , be en endo ed .

augm ented , and enriched by the liberality , assistance , and favor of c a th o l i c k the holy apostolic al see of k ings and princes , and of de u v ont Christians , with lands , possessions , j risdictions , grac es , priv i l s e ge , and exemptions ; that the Knights should m ak e their pro f e ssi o n in it , mi ght adorn their Knighthood with a true ch arity . f the m other and solid found ation o al l v irtues ; with hospitali ty .

and a sincere attachm ent to the faith , and , being em ploy ed in t hese

various fun ctions , might only see k to distin guish themselves by a

course of virtue . Soldiers of J esus Christ are designed only t o

fight for his glory , to maintain his worship , and the c a t h o l i c k ‘ l o v e r e ve r e n c e f faith , to , , and preserv e j us tice ; to avour , supp ort . h and de fend suc as are oppressed , without neglectin g t he duti es

of holy hospitality . th e Thus Knights Hospital ers , acquitting th emselves truly of

both these sorts of duties , are t o we ar on their c l o a th s a cross w ith

ei ght points , to pu t th em in mind of be arin g always in t heir he art

th e cross of Jesus Christ , adorned with th e ei ght virtues that a t i t f tend ; and that , a ter a bountiful distribution of alms , th ey tak e

the sword in hand to attac k and demolish the M ah om et ans . and suc h as de viate from th e faith . P ET ER G E RA RD.

M 0 9 9 T 0 1 1 1 8 . F O U N D E R A ND M A S T E R o r T H E H O S P I T A L A T J E R US A L E , 1 R ! M N u A O D d P U! .

1 1 N M I R A W A R D E N O F T H E H O S P I T A L , 0 0 , A D P R E E G R N D M A S T E R O F T H E K N I G H T S 1 O F S T . J O H N , 1 1 8 T O 1 1 6 0 . a n d n i t t J n r m 7 K h s o . o e g f S oh f J us a le .

Whe n onc e they hav e dev oted them selv es to th ese holy e x e r i cises , they are adm onished , nvited , and anim ated by th e e x ample w of the M ac c abe es , those holy soldiers and m artyrs , who often , ith ‘ v ery sm all forc es , d efe at ed formidable armies , by God s assistance . They ou ght lik ewise to apply t hemse lves continual ly to an exac t observ ation of wh at the y promised to God wh e n they m ade the h t re e v ows of ch astity , obedien ce , and pov erty , ap p ointed by th e : rule and to the p ractic e of all othe r m oral and divine virtues , so

that bein g e n fl a me d by c h arity , th ey m ay h av e n o dre ad on their h spirits at taking th e sword in h and , and ex posi ng th emselv es , wit

prud enc e . tem perance , and fortitud e , to all sorts of dangers , for

the honor of Christ our S av iour , and his holy cross , and for the de

o f . fenc e j ustic e , widows , and orphans There is no greater ch arity ‘ i e c an be she wed , th an by sacrificin g one s life for our friends , . . , C a t h l i c ks for th e o . This is their duty , their voc ation , th e m ann er

of life that they h av e e mbrac ed , their j ustifi c ation , and their sanc

ti fi c a ti n . o , th at w hen they end th e pilgrim age of this m ortal life

th ey m ay e nj oy th at e te rn al re w ard for whic h God c re ated th em .

Suc h as sh all be c onvicted of havin g prev aricated in th eir duty . f of havin g dec li ned , fled , or deserted the oc c asions o fered th em

the reof , and of fi ghtin g for the interests of Christianity , shall , for

a terror to evil doers and for the praise of such as do w ell , be se v e r e l d y pu nish e , ac c ordin g to th e st atutes and customs of th e O " rd er . The y w ere also k nown to hav e tak en an ac tiv e p art in public

d u ff 1 1 1 8 . a airs . Peter Gerard die d in Raymond Pu y bein g im me

di a te l v and unanim ously ele c ted his suc cessor .

P RA ! M O ND DU U! .

Th e ele ction of Raym ond du Puy was in stric t ac c ordance with t he republic an principle so dis tinctly recognized in Pop e P asc al ’ s

bull of 1 1 1 3 . securin g in perpetuity to the H ospit alers the right of

electing their m aster . Ray mond h avin g m ade known . as we have

seen , w hile in ch arge of the branc h of the Hospitalers his desire to

add anoth er vow t o those take n by all the brethren , and they h av

ing acc e pted , embrac ed an e arly opportunity of m akin g his wishes

ge nerally known , and w as ple ased to find his proposition me t with l ge neral approv a . In fact , it was the m ore agree able to his breth ren for besides h avin g be e n c om p anions in arms with Raym ond u nd er Godfrey de Bouillon , they kn ew h is brav ery and ability to

c om m and : also , th at th eir servi ces were sorely needed by the then kin g of Jerusalem , Baldwin II . Having fi rst m ade known his desire to th e Patri ar ch of Jerusal em and re c eived his blessin g , the m as k te r , Raymond , with his arm ed bret hren , appe ared before th e in g and m ad e offer of their se rvic es . Kin g Baldwin II was n ot onl y surprised but d eli ght ed . and gl adly acc epted their offer . 8 The I llu s tr io u s Or de r o f H osp ita le r s

vo w H o s i t As before stated , this w as assum ed by m any of th e p 1 1 alers pri or to 1 8 , but no further rec ord h as be en found of th at fact than the rules above given ; henc e , we c an only date the gen

u eral change from the election of Raymond d Puy , at which tim e the entire Fraternity assu m ed the new v o w and thus be c am e

Knights Hospitalers and soldiers of Jesus Christ . To that pious r man , Peter Gerard , mus t ever be the credit of founding the Orde u of Hospitalers : and to R aymond d Puy , no less pi ous , t hou gh a soldier , the high honor of its organization into a military order , which for centuries stood the bulwark of Christi anity and sav ed

Europ e from being overrun by the Sarace n . R du The premier grand m aster , aymond Puy , was of an illus t r i o u s D a u hi n family , then and to this day prominent in p y , and w el l O known for his piety and bravery . ne of his first acts , as h as bee n seen , was to assemble the Hospitalers , inform th em of his w ish es , and organize them into a chapter or c onv ent , e ach assuming th e new obli gation to tak e up arm s in de fe nce of th e holy plac es , and l N e w at all tim es against the I n fid e s . rules were drawn u p for their governm ent , afterwards submitted to and approved by th e 1 291 pope , the original of w hich w as lost in th e sie ge of Acre . , when that city was c aptured by the Saracens . Fortunately , w e have the substanc e of those later rules and vows in the statutes of O the rder , whic h h ave been preserved . The first w as a division of th e brethren into thre e cl asses . The first cl ass were to be ar arm s , and to be composed of those of noble birth who h ad se e n servic e in " ” the army , and were called Knights of Justic e . The se cond class were priests and ch aplains , whose duties were in th e churc h and attendanc e upon the sick . Whil e th e third class were those who

n e were not of oble families or the c hurch , to be c alled fr res . or serving brot hers . While all were of one broth erhood , and wore the sam e c oat of arms , the thre e c lasses w ere distinguished by dif f r n t e e . c olors I n the field the blac k habit gave w ay to a vest , on w hich was th e coat of arms , consistin g of a whit e cross of eigh t d points on a red field , the sam e as upon the standard of the Or er . h 1 30 I n the sam e statutes , and a u ll of Pope Bonifac e , 0 , w e learn som ethin g of th e ru les and vows of the new Order , to whic h D O th e ames of the rder of St . John , who lik ewise h ad to be of n obl e birth , and subscribe to as well as the Knights . In these rules th e grand maste r names h ims elf , as in th e original paper given above

"

f . and repeats his charges to the brothers o the Hospital I . Ray m ond , servant of the poor in Christ J esus , and guardian of th e f Hospital of Jerusalem , hav e ram ed the following re gul ations , t o

. n be observed in the Hospital of S t Joh th e Baptist of Jerusalem . a e I desire , therefore . th t e v ry broth er who shall engage him se lf in

1 0 The I llu s tr io us Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s

: by l anguages w as found nec essary . and the following we re enrolled

n . . Provenc e . Auvergne , Fra c e , I taly Arragon Germ any and E ng

land . Som e historians claim that this division of t he Kni ghts int o 0 languages did not occur until about the ye ar 1 33 . but the wei ght of authority is that the classific ati on took plac e in the reorganiza

tion under M aster Raymond du Puy . and we incline t o the lat te r

vie w . It does se em to h av e be en more nec essary to organize by language s when the m embership was unknown to ea ch oth er and t h e h a d spoke di ff erent languages , than after v be en band ed to

gether for more than two c enturies . and learned e ac h others l an

guage . The first priory of the order was introduc ed into E ngland e a r l v

D u R , 1 1 0 1 . in th e twel fth century . obert k e of Norm andy , e ld est son k w C E n of William I , be tter no n as William t he onqu eror , Kin g of g

l and , was in the first crusades , riding at the h ead of his knights 0 9 9 and entering Jerusalem in July , 1 . with the gallant Godfrey d e E Bouill on and the accomplished Tancred . It is recorded i n nglish history that the c row n afterwards tendered Godfrey de B o ui l lon

had be en offered Robert of Norm andy . and that h e refused it . pre

r l s ff . f e r r i n g his dukedom . This gal ant Cru ader died at C ardi C astle ' 1 35 1 . his brother s prisoner . J e ~ God frey de B ouillon , although often c all ed the first kin g of w r u sa l e m. a s we have seen ould not permit him sel f to be c rown ed nor would he acc ept that title but did acc ept the title of Protec tor “ h 1 1 0 or D e fender of the Holy Sepulc re . d ied in 0 . But before his death he was so impressed with the valuable servic e s of t he Hos

i ta l e r s p under Pe ter Gerard that he endowed th em . as be fore stat ed , a l l s with his own m anor and its dependencie . Thi s led others to d o R so , and m any of the Crusaders to j oin them . among wh om w as a v

du . m ond Puy , who upon being assigned to the c harge of the n e w l k “ C hospi tal , added th e vow t o t he thre e a ready ! ta en of h arity .

O . bedienc e and Poverty , th at of taking up arms in defe nc e of th e

n holy plac es and th e Christi an religion . I this sam e ye ar of th e

f du 1 1 1 8 d e election as master o Raymond Puy , , Hugh Pa ve ns .

' A l d e ma r e o fi r e . G y de St , and seven other Fren chmen , all c onnec ted

so c i e t with the Hospital ers . formed a v for the purpose of esc ort

and guard t o the Pilgrims going up to J erusalem . This sm all

body of nine brave Hospitalers were supported for sev eral v e a r s f d from the unds of t he Hospital , their arms , clothin g . a n pro D s . e vision being obtained from the sam e ourc e siring to be alon e . k t hey too up their qu arters in a sm all house near th e Temple . a n d subsequently having apartments g i ven them in the roy al p alac e they afterwards bec am e known as Knights of the Tem p le o r

. ve a r s Knights Templars Several after . or more prop erly s pe ak a n d Kn i hts o S t J ohn o J e r a e m 1 1 g f . f us l .

1 1 28 . in g , in Baldwin , the sec ond ki ng of Jerusalem , findin g his

n t hrone insec ure , sought to get u p a oth er crusade and thus get r e - i n f o r c e me n ts P a e n s , and so se n t H ugh de y to Rom e to inte res t

Pope H onorius II . I t w a s durin g this ti m e while in Rom e that Hugh de P a y e n s and his comp anions sec ured th e favor of th e pope an d his p erm is si on to form a n ew military order entirely indep endent of the ch ar ~ i t l a b e duti es of the Hospital ers . This f avor bein g grant ed i t was d e creed by th e council that e ach m ember of th e new ord er should h ave one esq uire or servin g brother and thre e s addle h orses . And i t w as furth er ordered th at , to distinguish t hem from the Hospi t al ers their h abit should be wh ite with a red c ross over the heart . From this the two orders bec am e k no wn in history as “ Whit e ” “ ” C ross Kni gh ts and Red Cross Knigh ts . We h ave m ade this brie f digression from the history of the Hospit al ers in support of ou r stat em ent t hat th e Hospital ers w ere t he older order , knowing th at our readers desire the f ac ts c on n e c t e d with th e e arly organization of th ese two ill ustrious orders of k ni ghthood . w In 1 1 1 9 , th e Turcom ans swept do n into Edessa and besieged : A ntioc h . Kin g Baldwin II m arc h ed to the relief of the besie ged but be fore h e re ac hed th at city th e Barbari ans had won a victory . and . bein g el ated , determin ed to m eet the Christi an forc es . wh en a R d esp erate battle ensu ed . King Baldwin was vict orious . ay l m ond du Puy at the he ad of his Hospit a e rs . ch argin g their he aviest batt alions and bre akin g th eir ranks , drove t hem to fli ght . Other f battl es followed in and around Asc alon . Jaf a , Tyre , and m any pl ac es in P alestine during the next t wo or thre e ye ars , i n all of w hic h th e Hospitalers bore an honorable and prominen t part . Pope 1 1 30 I nnoc ent II at a later date , . sp e aking of t he order , says Th e Hospit alers m ak e n o diffi c ulty to exp ose d aily their ow n li ves to defend those of th eir bre th ren ' th ey are th e fi r me st support of th e Christi an c hurc h in the e ast , and are fi ghting e very day with

n fid l s distinguished c ourage against the I e . M oreover . we d ecl are to you th at w e h ave tak en th e house of th e Hospitaler s

’ of St . John and th e whole order into St . Pet er s and our ow n pro

t e c ti o n .

King A lph onso I of Nav arre and Arra g on , having by will in

1 1 31 made th e Hospital ers , Kights Templ ars , and Canons or Kni ghts of t he H oly Sep ulc hre his heirs upon his death , gave so m uc h

du trouble th at Raymond Puy , th e M aster of th e Hospitalers , was giv e n c harge of th e se ttl em ent of th e dispu tes . I n c om p any with a body of Hospital ers , Tem plars , and Can ons of th e Holy Sepu lchre , di fii c u l ti e s he m ade a visi t to Spain and ha ppily se ttl ed all . retu rn 1 2 The I llus tr io u s Or de r O f H osp ita le r s

J h e ing to erusalem in 1 1 4 1 , whe re the historian says was re c ei v ed “ ” with re al j oy and hearty respect . 0 99 From the c apture of Jerusalem in 1 . unti l i ts fin al ev acuation

in 1 24 3. there w as constant war in and about J erusalem and throu gh

E . out Palestine ; the city had been besie ged and dess a h ad fallen Amon g th e memorable engagements during the - m astership of Ray mond du Puy in which he took a distin guish ed p art , w as th e sei ge

- 4 of Asc alon in 1 1 53 . in which King B aldwin III in person c om

m a n de d .

The siege hav i n g lasted for fiv e m onths , with const ant assaults on the part of the Christians and as frequent s allies by th e E gy p tians : a stron g fleet having arriv ed with reinforc em ents and pro visions for the garrison and h aving suc c essful ly landed , it was th e general opi nion of the leaders that their forc es be wit hdrawn . To this Raymond du Puy obj e cted , urging th at it w ould dis courage the soldiers and again result in the investm ent of J erusal em .

After sev eral councils were h eld . the kin g ac cepted th e advic e of the commander of the Hospital ers and pros ecuted the siege with more vigor , which finally result ed in the c apture of Asc alon and 4 1 2 1 1 5 . its ev acuation Au gust , 1 1 60 It is recorded that in the ye ar , the m aster of th e Hosp it al R du of St . John , now the Hospitalers , aymond Puy , at th e ad van c ed r e age of 8 0 ye ars , covered with wounds and worn out with y e ars . tired to the home of the Hospitalers of St . John in J erusalem , where , in quiet retirem ent , in th e exercise of piety , surrounded by his followers , and in the arms of his brethre n , he died . It is

u a lso written of him that his character wo ld h ave bec om e a saint , that h e was a true soldier , a ge ntlem an , and a Christi an . T hu s died the premier grand m aster of the Ill ustrious Kni ghts of St .

J ohn of J erusalem , the gre atest comm ander in Pal e stine and th e

th e mi l i t a r founder of gre atest v order known to history .

’ P H IL IP VIL L IERS D E L IS L E A DA M .

T H E FORT ! - S E C ON D G RAN D MAST E R A N D D E F E N D E R

OF RH OD E S .

F f R du rom the de ath o the premier grand m aster , aym ond Puy ,

f . J f 1 1 6 m aster o the Hospital of St ohn , o Jerusalem , in 0 , un til t h e election of the forty - second m aster of the Hospital P hi l i pVi l l i e r s de ’ L I sl e 22 1 521 e Ad am , as grand m aster Janu ary , , a p eri od of 361 y ars h ad elapsed and the Hospital ers still rem ain ed a re c ognized body of

T T NNE . S IS ER S . A

I O P I L K I G o r G R A N D P R O R E S S H S T A N H T S S T . J O H N , 1 3 0 0 . a n d n i t o t J n o K h s S . oh J e r a m 1 3 g f f us le .

C hristi an knights , whose servic es w e re e age rly sou ght by all th e

pow e rs of Europ e . The four c enturi es w hi ch h ad passed sinc e th e e sta blishm ent of th e order as a mi lit ary body w ere fraught with

gre at ev e nts in w hich th ey bore no minor p art . We c annot follow

th e fortune s of th e H ospi talers durin g th at p eriod , as we are not

w ritin g th e hist ory of the orde r . but we m ay glanc e at som e of th e

s al ient points in its c are er . It will be s ee n th at we spe ak of Raym ond du Puy as th e pre

’ L sl - mier grand m aste r , and I e Ad am as the forty second grand “ ” m ast er , by w hich title all other m asters of the Hospi tal ers or

Kni ghts of St . John w ill here after be n am ed . We do so because

all the histori ans of th at pe riod do , and for the additional reason that in their reorganization wh en under Raym ond du Puy we b e liev e th ey gave th at titl e to their " m ast er " so as to distin guish him from th e m any subordina te m ast ers or c omm anders of lan

gua ges and detach m ents of Knights . Whil e som e historians b e lie ve this title to h av e been th e cre ation of th e Knights at a l ater

dat e , w e find it in a bull of Pope Clem ent IV , of Nov ember 1 8 1 267 , and belie v e i t to have be en rec ogni zed by t he pop es . though

fi . p erhaps not of cially , in th e previ ou s c entury E h ngaged in a c onti nue d w arfare in t he Holy L and , from t eir organization as soldiers of Jesus Christ at th e beginni n g of t he 1 291 twelfth c entury , w e find these Hospitalers in besie ged in the city

- of A c re , th eir l ast stron ghold , in the H oly Land the l and in whic h

t hey had won so m uc h renown . In the two c enturies t hen closing , and w i n the c ountry from hic h th ey w ere about to dep art , n e ver m ore

to re g a in a perm anent hom e , the Order of Hospit alers , and thei r

— sister , w e m ay alm ost say twin sist er th e Order of th e Tem ple . h ad so bl ended in history as one th at they c annot well be se parated : ' d Tis true th at at tim es dissentions arose , q u arrels ensue . and th e : o rde rs battled against e ac h other but when the Sarac en . th e c om

J e r u sa m on foe of e ac h app e ared , th ese two orders were united . D h' lem , Asc alon , Tyre , Antioch , am ascus , Edess a , J a a . Hattin , D Tiberi a , Trip oli , ami etta , G aza , M argat , and Acre , together with

a hu ndred oth er battle s and sie ges , m ade illustrious by their com

m on eff orts , attest this fac t . 5 1 291 Th e si e ge of Ac re w as c om m enced April , , by Sulta n E K haled , a son of Mansour , Sultan of gypt , who had be en poison ed

w hile on the m arc h to th at city . I t is said by Arabi an historians . th at th e besie gin g forc es c onsisted of foot and h orse :

whil e to op pose the m were but a few hundred H ospit alers , Knights

u w Tem pl ars , and Te tonic Knights , to hich we re added , unde r 20 0 50 0 Henry II , Kin g Cyprus , horse and foot , togeth er with su ch of

th e c iti zens of A c re as c ould be forc ed t o bear arms . Th e ci ty o f The I llu s tr io us O r de r o f H osp ita le r s

Acre was at that tim e a plac e of or more pe ople . but u nder

— no control each body of Knights , class , or nationality of c itizens

oc cupying their own quarters or parts of th e city . In t he pres enc e of the common enemy th ey all be c am e united under Wil liam de u m Be auj eu . grand m aster of the Templars , the Hospitalers bein g

der the comm and of their grand m aster , John d e Villiers . These t w o brav e comm anders and their Knights fou gh t side by side for

se veral weeks , until after their desertion by Ki ng Henry II of

Cyprus , and the death of d e Be auj eu , grand m aster of the Te mp

lars , M atthew de Clermont , grand m arsh al of the Hospitalers . and

the gre ater number of the brav e m embers of e ach order , includin g

the Teutonic Knights , when the few rem aining m e mbers of these

orders were withdrawn by John de Villi ers , grand m aster of H os

i t a l e r s p , and found re fuge on th e island of Cyprus . Th e m ost daring of the attac king columns in this siege w ere

the fam ed Mam eluk es , the finest body of c aval ry e ver k nown in E gypt , an organized force which continu ed down to the tim e of N ' 21 1 7 98 apoleon s invasion and battle of the Pyramids July . , 1 where they were utterly routed . and finally destroyed Marc h , 1 8 1 1 . by Mohammed Ali Pash a . Khediv e of Egypt . O f the garrison , thre e hundred Templars went down to death

in the tower of the Tem ple , and hundreds in other parts of the

fight . The Hospitalers and Teu tonic Knights suff ered equally

with their companions , while of the citizens , not less than v peris hed or were m ad e sla es to the Egyptians . From the island of Cyprus the Knights Templar and the Teu

tonic Knights retired to th eir comm anderies in Europe , but not so

with the Knights of St . John for they remained so as to be ne ar

the Hol y Land . H avin g obt ained permission from th e kin g of Cyprus to occ u py the city of L i mi sso the Hospit alers i mm edi ate ly b set a out reorganizing , and summ oning to their aid all av ail able E members in urope . A general c hapter was c alled in which th e

grand m aster addressed the Knights saying , For more than an age past we h av e been obli ged to fi ght as m any battles as we h av e

’ defended plac es . St . John d A c r e is a l ate witness of our last ff " ‘ , k f e orts and alm ost all our nights lie buried in i ts ruins . l i s or you to supply their plac es : 'tis from your valor th at w e expect our return into the Holy Land , and you carry in your h ands th e liv es ,

, the fortu nes and the liberty of your brethren , not of the Orde r O nly , but of the vast number of Christ ians that are groanin g in the “ I n fide l s ch ains of the . The occupation of Cyprus was for but a few ye ars from . 1 31 0 until , but during this period t hey re cruited in num bers fitted ,

. s out se veral galleys c apturing m any v e sels . and were bec omin g

1 6 The I llus tr io u s Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s

Rhodes . Their fortun es were varied , and they h ad p assed from

battalions of m ailed and m ounted warriors to se a k in gs , tre adin g the decks of their armed galleys and ships with the proud be arin g of t h e N old orsem en . The white cross of th e old H ospitalers floated from

th e masthead of vessels in eve ry part of the Medite rranea n , and

b . O was look ed upon with terror v the infid el ne new l an gu age , th e

Spanish . had been added . and c omm ande rs of divisi ons , c ast les , or

important fortific ations , and admirals of its fl e ets , were raised t o

the rank of Grand Cross Knights . Th e number of t hese Gran d

Crosses was never num erous . and i t was an honor only th e brav e st

and most experienced comm anders ever attain ed . Th e re ci pi ent s

of this g rade wore a ring known as th e g rand c ross ring , m ad e o f

r 1 n be aten gold . The seal or back of g was a three fourths inch .

- oval , gold chased rim , within which was a golden c rown and a

- white enam eled eight pointed star or cross . We hav e one in our pos a session , very ancient one w e secured when in Malt a , a pictu re of G which is to be seen in rand Commandery proc eedings of Illinois , 1 8 92 . We know of no other exc ept in th e A rm ory of the K ni ghts E in M alta , the property of the nglish gov ernment .

I t may not be new to our re aders . but it is of interest to kn ow that th e nam e of their island hom e . Rhodes . was deriv ed from th e number of wild roses to be found all over the island . H avin g rise n to the dignity of a m aritim e power . the Knights freque ntly m ade

. B e r o u t landin g s at Smyrna y . and oth er cities of Asia Minor and

. k i n fide l s f Phenicia attac ing the and barbarians wh ere ver ou nd . k y m a ing prizes of their v essels and richl lad en m erc hantm en . A t t he same tim e esc ort w as giv en to the m any ships from E urope upon which thousands of Christians were c onstantly m aking pilgrim ages

th e . s 1 52 to Holy Land A t a critic al period in th eir hi t ory , 1 , whe n

Solyman . Sultan of Turkey , was gatherin g a n army t o attac k

‘ Rhodes , the grand master died , and Philip Villiers de L I sl e Adam . F : o l grand prior of ranc e was elec t ed th e n v other n am e bei n g considered was that of Sir Th om as Docray grand prior of En land g . h f a Knig t distinguished or his genius and skill i n diplom acy . Know ing that Rhodes was threatened with a sie ge L Isl e Adam im m e di a t e l v ordered all Kni ghts from th eir c om m anderies t hrough out E a n d f urope h astened supplies munitions o w ar t o Rhode s , and proc eeded th ere in person . He had but re ached th at c ity h avin g . n arrowl y esc aped disaster by fire and storm as w ell as c apture b y l the Turkish f eet . when he rec ei ved t he following dipl om atic l ette r f from th e com m ander of th e inv adin g orces bearin g th e fol lowing m ighty titl es :

a n d Kn i hts o t J n o J e r a e g f S . oh f us l m . 1 7

“ Sult an Solym an , by the grac e of God king of kings , sov ereign

of sove reigns , m ost hi gh e m p eror of B i za n ti u m and T r e l i zo n d ; S m ost m i ghty kin g of Pe rsia , Arabi a , yria , and Egypt ; su

pre me lord of Europe and Asia , princ e of M e cc a and Aleppo ;

possessor of Jerusalem , and lord of the universal s e a . To ’ Philip Villiers de Isle Adam , grand m aster of the Isle of Rh odes— Gree tin g : “ I c on gratu late the e on thy n ew di gnity , and thy arrival in thy dom inions . I wish th at thou m ay est reign there happily and with m ore glory th an thy prede c e ssors . I t shall be in thy powe r to h av e a share in our good will . Enj oy , then , our friendship , and ‘ n as our fri end , be not t he l a st to co gratulate us on the conqu ests m w w e hav e j ust ade in Hungary , where e h av e reduc ed the i m port a nt fortress of Belgrad e , after h avin g destroyed all that durst re sist us with our dre adful sw ord . A dieu . ’ Grand M aster L I sl e Adam w as not t o be de c eived by this crafty le tt e r , for whil e th e Su ltan w as app arently holdin g out t he hand of pe ac e , his ve sse ls we re i nsulting t hose w hic h sailed under th e banne r of t h e Order , and so returned him t he fol lowin g in reply :

’

. L I l Fr Philip Villie rs de s e Ad am , grand m ast er of Rhod es . To

Solym an , Sultan of the Turks :

I underst and v ery we ll t he m e anin g of thy letter , whic h thy am bassador has brou ght me : thy proposals of pe ac e be tween us are u r t l i as a gre e able to m e as the y will be disple asing to C o g . That u c orsair , at m y passage from France , did all he could to s rprise m e , but not succ e eding in his proj ec t , and not caring to go out h of t ese se as without h avin g done us some dam age , he en tered ff th e rive r of Lycia , and attem pted to c arry o tw o m erc hant ships belongin g to our ports . H e had lik ewise att acked a bark belon g in g t o s om e Candiots , but the gall eys of th e Ord er whic h I sent ou t “ o n of the port of Rh odes , forc e d him to let go his hold . and mak e as fast as h e c ould , for fear of fallin g into our power . Adieu .

Othe r let ters followe d , m esse ngers were c aptured , and hostages he ld whil e prep aration s for l andin g by the Turks and defenc e by mu th e K ni ghts of Rhode s we re be ing c arried on . Provisions and E u r o e a n d l n iti o n s of war we re brou ght from Cyprus , p other p aces , and all th e Kni ghts i n Christendom ord ered in for the de fenc e , while the island w as m ad e d esol ate that the Turks mi ght obt ain no

su l i s th e i . pp e , p easantry first bein g brought with n the garrison The

- - f o r ts . c a s tl e s K ni ghts and m en a t arm s were distributed about th e , ( ‘ and batt eri es . and t he reserve s pl aced unde r th e four Grand ross ’ e n e r a l s n a me l d A ma r a l Kni gh ts w ho w ere k nown as c aptains or g , y . , th e E n : of C astile : John Buc k , a knight of lan gu age of ngla d ‘ M o r u t de ( luys , grand prior of Franc e , and de g . grand prior of

Na v arr e .

To t he se w ere added four other com m anders . two French and

a n i sh e a c h e . t wo S p , with on e hundred and fi fty m en as r serv es An i m port ant additi on t o th e garrison was an en gine e r from th e Isl e 1 8 The I llus tr io us Or de r o f H o spi ta le r s

M a r ti n i s Candia nam ed Ga brie l g o , who j oined the Kni ghts at thi

time , was acc epted , and for his skill and well k nown a bility w as 60 0 made a Grand Cross . The entire garrison at this tim e w as but

4 0 0 - a t - d Knights , , 5 m en arms and a few hun red of the Rhodian citi ’ ’ a dd L I sl e zens . To to Adam s anxi ety , bec ause of Pope Adrian VI having seized th e property of the I tali an Knights in I t aly th ese

Knights le ft Rhodes for Candia . but bein g afterw ard assu red tha t

a siege w as imminent they returned and fou ght brav ely to the end . Solym an having accordin g to his custom fi rst sent in a declara

o ff o f o 26 1 522 tion of w ar , appeared the harbor Rhodes Ju ne , , with

n a fleet of four hundred sail a d one hundred or m ore large galley s ,

landing an army of m en - a t - arms and pioneers wit h

which to dig trenches and run his min es . T h e 0 0 Turkish tr ps we re imm ediately landed , tre nch es op ened , i m nes run , and batteries planted . The gu ns of those days w ere

- shotted with stone balls , m any of th ese sam e stone c ann on balls

used at Rhodes , and but a few ye ars late r at M alta , we hav e se en

in the armory of the Knights of St . John at Malta . A fter seve ral

days intrenching and skirmishin g , assaults were d eli v ered sim u l

n u sl N t a e o y against the tow er of St . ichol as th e posts of the Ger E m an Knights , the nglish , and Italian , but all in v ain : th ey w e re not to be c arried while so m an y bra ve Knights lived to d efend D them . ays passed into weeks and weeks into m onths , provisi ons w bec oming sc arc e and po der sc arc er . and stil l the Hospitale rs

held out . The city had been fired by trait orou s hands , inform ation

had be en conv eyed to the Turk s by a spy wit hin th e w alls . and th e

' K n i h t d m r senior Grand Cross g , A a a l had been proven a trait or and — f executed the only c ase of the kind in the history o t he Order . Still L ’ Isle Adam and the few wounded and m aim ed Knights wh o survived held the fast crumblin g battlem ents of the inne r w alls and re fused to surrende r .

The garrison h ad bec om e we ak ened , though m any Kni ghts had ! t come to th e de fenc e . e hum an stren gth could not endu re th e prolonged sie ge and daily assaults . For each Knight who had fal len one hundred Turks h ad hi t th e dust or more were killed or

), t h e died during the siege but ranks were fast thinning , and th e men - a t - arm s w ere as few in proportion as their knightly c om m and

'

. L I sl e , ers Grand Master Adam in this em ergency , t ook counse l with his Knights and the citizens , and on the 20 th d ay of Dec em ber , 1 522 , after a bloody and protracted engagement , in which hims e lf and the surviving Knights sought de ath in every bre ac h rath er than R survive the loss of h odes , agreed to its surrender . In th e generous terms of c apitulation off ered by Soly m an t he

Magnific ent , it was stipulated that the inhabit ants shou ld not be a n d n i J n r 1 9 t o t o J e a e . K gh s f S . oh f us l m

u c ompe lle d to de live r u p their childre n to bec ome T rkish soldi e rs ,

n th at the c hurch es should not be profa ed , and th e pe ople be p er mi tte d th e enj oym e nt of th e Christian re li gion . Vesse ls suffi cie nt t o transport the grand m ast er , th e re m ainin g Knights , and suc h c itize ns as c h ose to acc om pany him , we re to be provided to tak e the m to Candia . and twe lv e days be given i n whic h t o e mbark . ffi D Su c e i t to say , th at on th e night of e c ember 31 , 1 522, the g rand m aste r , the few survivin g Knights , and about of the inh abitants , m e n , wom en , and children , em barked : and on the ne w 1 1 2 " ” y e ar , J anu ary , 5 3, after blowing th e re treat upon the bugle we h ave se e n in M alt a , th ey set sail from the Island of Rhode s , over v i c to r i whic h the bann er of the Knights of St . John h ad floated u sl o y for m ore than tw o hundred y ears . To the shame of Europe t wo it m ust be said th at this band of w arriors . who for m ore t han hundred ye ars h ad polic ed th e se as of the Mediterran ean and u p he ld th e ban ne r of th e cross , we re unsupported for a lon g and

we ary si x m onths of sie ge , and at l ast com pelled to surre nder and

se ek a ne w hom e . Je rusalem , A cre . and n ow Rhodes , their se veral

d e spe rate st ands , with a th ous and battles linin g the p athw ay of 1 t heir gloriou s hist ory for 0 , these four c enturies , were not to be

f orgotte n . The y serve d as be ac on lights t o inspire and guide the m u m t o th eir new hom e , the gat ew ay to th e fields and se as of their

surp asse d glory . M alt a . Unfortun ately the stren gth of the English Knights is not of

r ec ord , but as t hey held one of the princ ipal bastions during t he

sie ge of Rhod e s they m ust h av e be en st ron g in nu mbers . Th e fol lowing are know n to h av e bee n there and with two or three e x c e p tions we re am ong the de ad : o John Buc k , Grand Cross ; Ni cholas H ussey . c mm ander of the

n a o n E nglish bastion : William O sc , c omm ander of the English

qu arter; Thom as S heffi eld , c omm ander of the palace postern ‘ : N ic hol as Farf an , on grand m aster s staff Henry Mansel , William e W ston , John Ranson , Wil liam West , John Baron , Th om as Pem

e f l z n e e be rton . Georg A s e . J ohn Lotu , Fra cis Bu t , Gil es Ros l , e e e U e M o n tse l l i G org Em r , M ic h ael Rou x , Nic h olas sel , Otho d , and

Nic holas Robe rts .

A fte r a fe w days bad we ath er . the v essels m ade a landin g on

t wo , t he Isle of Candia . wh ere , rem ainin g for m on ths to recove r e e e c loth e th p ople , and rec eiv e th e sc attered Knights from th out

lyin g island s of Rhodes , with the pe asantry now numberi ng m ore fin a l l t h an the y again set sail for Sicily . v arriving at th e

e s e . w a s port of Messina . wh re they w ent int o c amp for om e tim It e e not , howe v r , un til after m any trials and disappointm nts and th e ’ L I sl e l apse of se ve ral ye ars t hat Grand M aste r Adam saw a hom e 2 0 The I llu s tr iou s Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s provided where the Grand Conv ent c ould be again est ablish ed and th e Knigh ts find a perm anent hom e .

E , M arch 24 , 1 530 , Charl es V , mperor of G erm any signed and “ delivered to the Knights a de ed conveyin g in p erpetuity to th e m ost reverend th e Grand M aster and the Order of St . John , all the

c s , c astles , pla e , and isles of Tripoli , Ma lta , and Gozo with all the ir ” territories and j urisdictions . It w as further spe cified that this

’ was in c onsideration of the p articular a fi e c ti o n which h e h ad a l

' v v a y s borne to the Order , and th e important servic es whic h it h ad done for many ages for the Christian world . and th at it w as bind

” ing upon his heirs and successors . It w as this sam e em pe ror

f f . . who , when he first heard of the m is ortunes o t h e Knights s aid “ Th ere has been nothin g so well lost in the world as Rh od es .

Imm ediately upon receipt of this deed . whic h c an y et be se en

' ” L I sl e in the Knights Armory , Valetta , M alta Grand M ast er

Adam forw arded the s ame to Pope Clem ent VII for his approval , which i t rec eived , and a bull w as issued rec ognizing the sam e ,

2 1 530 . g April 5, Believing the deed will be of interest we ive the sam e in full .

’ - D e e d o f the I sl a n ds o f Ill all a a n d G o r e a n d. T 1 ipo li to the H o sp ita l of b t m e mf b ha r l e s IlI a r ch ) l . J o hn . of J o a , y C I

D e L The brother , Philip Villiers Isle Adam , humble m ast er of the Sacred House of the Hospital of St . John of J erusalem , guard ian of the poor in Jesus Christ , and of our c onv entual hom e , to ou r venerable brethren in Christ m ost dear to us , brother Hugh de

Lo o n s . p , draper of our conv ent and c omm ander of our galleys and ff M a n o sc a to John Boniface , baili of our bailiwic k of and rec eiv er general of our Order : He alth in the Lord and diligen c e in ac tion . mu n i fi e n Since his most cath olic m aj esty has , of his c c e , granted O the privile ge to our rder whose tenor is as follows , nam ely :

We , Charles V, by the c lemency of the divine fav or alw ays . E R : J Augustus , mperor of the om ans oanna , his moth er . and th e sam e Charles being , by the grac e of God . m onarchs of Castile . S i c i l i e s N Aragon , of both , Jerusalem . Leon . av arre , Granad a . To G a l l i c i a i d ledo , Valentia , . Maj orc a , Se ville . Sard nia , Cor ov a .

Corsica . Murci a , Algarve , Algeria , Gibraltar , the C a n a r v Islands : also of the islands and continent of India , of th e Oce ans ; a rchduk e s f : k o Austria du es of Burgundy and Brabant : counts of Barc e lon a . : Flanders , and Tyrol lords of Bisc ay and Molina ; dukes of A thens and N e o p a tr i a : counts of R o u si l l o n and Catalonia : m arquis of La

M an cha and Ghent .

Where as , for the restoration and establishment of th e convent O l rder , and religion of the Hospita of St . J ohn of J erusalem : a n d in order that the very reverend . and venerable , and w ell be lov ed ' b a i li fi s the grand m aster , the priors , , pre c eptors , a n d kni ghts of the said Order , who , being expelled from the Island of Rhod es by f the Turks ( who , a ter a most protracted and violent sie ge , hav e occupied that isl and ) . h ave already w a n dered for sev eral ye ars should obtain at length a fixed residenc e . and there should once

22 The I llustr iou s Or de r o f H osp ita le r s

b e therefore , we dec ree , that afte r the de ath of our re verend and V a u l tk i r k - loved c ouncillor , Balthasar d e , our imperial vic e ch an c e l l o r , lately nominated by u s t o that dioc ese , as also in th e c ase of eve ry subse qu ent vac ancy oc currin g hereafter , the grand mas te r and the c onvent of the Order shall nominate to the Vic eroy of m Sicily . thre e persons of the Order , of w ho one at le ast shall be k 1 n do m and must be a subj e ct of ours or of our succ e ssors 1 n th e g , and who shall all be fit and prop er p ersons for the e x e r c 1 se of th at pastoral dignity . Of whic h three persons thus nominate d , w e , a nd our succe ssors in the kingdom , will present , and shal l be bound to present th e one whom we or they m ay j udge to be t he m ost wort hy for the post . The m aster shall be bound to grant the dignity of the grand cross to whosoever m ay be nominated to the said bishopric , and sh all give him admission into the counci l of th e Orde r , toge th e r ff with the priors and baili s . Also , since th e admiral of th e Orde r is bound t o be of th e langu age and n ation of Italy , and it is d e em ed a b advisable th at , for him who is to exercise his au thority , whe n sence or other impedim ents oc cur , if a suitable perso n c an be : found in the sam e lan guage and nation , it sh all be giv en to him i t is therefore reason able . that under a similar parity of sui table o f ness , that person sh ould the rather be elec ted to ex erc ise th at fi c e , who may be judged th e m ost eligible from am ongst th at tion and language . who shall exercise his offic e and be de e m ed t d pe c e of none . Furthermore let statutes and firm decree s be m ade of e very i n thing contained the thre e prec eding articl es , acc ordin g to t he d style and m anner used in the said Or er , with the approbation and authority of our sacred Lord and of the apostolic se e ; and let the O rand m aste r of th e rder who now is , or here afte r m ay be , be go u n d to swe ar solem nly to the faithful observation of th e said statutes , and to preserve them in perpetuity inviolate . Furth er more . if the Order should suc ceed in reconquering the isl and of a n y Rhodes , and for that re ason . or from other c ause , sh al l dep art from these islands and their loc al feudatories , and shall establi sh their home and conve nt elsewhere , it shall not be lawful for the m to transfer the possession of th ese islands to any ot her person without the expressed sanction of their feud al lord ; bu t if they e shall presum so to alienate them without our s anc tion and lic ense . they shall , in that c ase , rev ert to us and to our succ essors in full sov ereignty . Further . whate ver artillery or engines of w ar n ow exist wi thin the c astle and city of Tripoli , as sh all be spe cifi ed in a proper inventory , th ey m ay retain the sam e for thre e y e ars for e : e the prot ction of the town and citadel th e obli gation , howev r , rem ainin g v alid to restore the said artillery and m ac hin e s afte r

. e the lapse of three years unless at that tim e our grac ma v, owin g to the nec essities of the c ase . see fit to prolong the ti me f i n ord er th at the town and citad el ma v hav e its defenc e m ore sa f e l v pro v i de d for .

, e t e m o r And further wh ate ver rewards or gratuiti s , p a r v or perm anent , m ay have been granted t o c ert ain persons in the se te r r i to r 1 e s , w hich h av e been giv en them , eithe r on acc ou nt of th eir

, e e ey m erits or from som e other obligation . in what v r st ate th ma v now stand , they shall not be taken away from them without proper rec ompense , but sh all rem ain in ful l forc e until th e grand m aste r a n d n i t t J o n J e r e 23 K h s o o a . g f S . h f us l m and convent shall se e fi t to provid e th e m else where with equa l and

Similar prop erty . A nd i n th e v alu ation of this re c om p ense all di f a n d fe re nc e of opin ion w hi ch might arise , all annoyance a nd ex pense of le gal proc e edings shall be obviated thus : When it sh all se e m fit t o the grand m aster and con vent to grant to any one such : re c om pense , two j udges shall be nomin ated one , i n our n am e , by th e Vic eroy of Sici ly for th e tim e bein g : the other by th e grand m aster and conv ent , w ho , sum m arily and pre cisely , sh all d efi ne the c onc ession of pri vile ges to be transferred , with the argum ents w on both sid es , ithout any other form or proc ess of l aw and if any re c om pe nse is t o be giv en , t hey sh all d e cre e how mu ch it should be by righ t . Bu t if the tw o j udges should , by ch anc e , be of ff di erent and opp osin g opinions , by the c onse nt of both p arties , let u di a t hird j ud ge be n am ed , and whilst th e question is being a dj c a t e d or i nq uired into , and the rec om pense fix ed , the possessors shall rem ain in th e enj oym ent of th eir rights , and sh all receiv e th e produc e of th eir privi le ges , un til compensation shall hav e bee n n n m ade t o them . U der whic h conditio s , as c ontained and described abov e , and i n no other m anner , c onceding to the aforesaid grand m ast er and c onv e nt , one and all of th e said arti cles in feudal ten u r e , as h ave been described , as can best and m ost fully an d most u sefully be stat ed and written for th eir c onv eni enc e and benefit , f and good , sound , and f avorable und erstandin g ; we o er and trans O fer th e s am e to the rule of the grand m aster , convent , and rder , in useful and firm dom inion irrev oc ably ; in full right , to h av e and t o hold . t o gov ern , to exercise i n full j urisdiction . and to retain in p e ac e and p erp etuity .

A nd on ac c ount of this conc ession , and otherwise , acc ording as it c an best be m ade av ailable and held by l aw , we giv e , concede , and bestow t o th e said grand m aster , con v ent , and Order , all rights and all prop erty , re al and personal of ev ery desc ription whateve r , whic h appertain t o us , and which c an and ought to belong to us in t hose islands , which we grant to them by feudal tenure , under th e r e c i t e d a n d s aid c onditi ons as ha ve bee n , in other m atters accordin g o r t o the circum stanc es of th e c ase ; which rights and privile ges , in d er th at they m ay b e perp etu al and c apabl e of bein g e xercised and m aintained , and th at all and e very right m ay be enj oyed and freely e xe rcised by la w and wh ate v er else we ourselves m ay perform in any m anner , either now or here after , placing the said grand m as e t er , conv e nt , and Order in e very respect in our p lac w e constitute d th em tru e lords , du e and authorized agents and a ministrators in th eir own m atters , no rights and n o privil e ges , whic h we hav e con c eded to th e m as abov e , beyond what we h av e already rec eiv ed , s hall be retain ed or rec eiv ed by us or by our council . Committin g , from this tim e forth , t o the c harge of the said grand m aster , c on vent , and Order of St . John of Jerusal em , with th e sam e authority f e as we h av e h e re tofore exercised , al l an d every on e , m ale and o r m ale , wh o m ay now be dwel lin g , here after about to dw el l , in the

, said islands , c ities , lands , places , and c astles , or in their territories under wh atsoe ver laws or conditions they m ay h av e resid ed th ere , t hat they sh ould re ceiv e and c onsider the said grand m aster as th eir tru e and fe ud al lord , and the rightful possessor of the afore

. s aid te rritories , and shall perform and obey his be hests as good a n d faithful v assals sh ould al ways obey their lord . Th ey shall also m ak e and offer fidelity and hom a ge to the said 24 The I ll u s tr io u s Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s

w grand m aster and convent . ith all the oaths usual in similar c ases ; we al so ourselv es , from the m om ent t hat they t ake t hose oaths b and tender that hom age , a solve and fre e them from all oaths an d homage which they m ay h ave already m ade and tak en to us , or to any of our predecessors , or to any oth er persons in our n am e , and by which they have bee n heretofore bound . M ore over , to t he illustrious Philip , Prince of th e Asturi as , etc . , our w ell beloved

- fir st born son , and desc endant , who , after our prosperous and n f l engthened reign , we ominate and appoint , under the support o i mme di our patern al benediction , to be , by th e grac e of God , our a te heir and legitim ate su ccessor , in al l our kingdoms and domin io ns to all th e most illustrious lords our belov ed c oun cillors , and to our faithful Vic eroy and c aptain - general in our Kin gdom of t h e

S i c i l i e s - Two , to the chief j ustic e , or whosoever m ay be ac tin g in a n d his pl ac e . to th e judges m agistrates of our c ourts , to th e ma g “ ‘ ” " ” t r t s r tu l a n i s a e of th e po o and the se crets , to the tre asurer and conservator of our roya l patrimonies , to the p atrons of our ex chequer . to the captains of our fortresses . to our prefects and o r t u l a n o t e s guards . portulans . and p , secre ta , and to all and e very f one else of the o ficials , and of subj e cts in our said Kingdom of S i c i l i e s the Two , and esp ecially of the said islands , and of th e n o w city and c astle of Tripoli , as well as h ereafter , by the sam e d authority we order and direct , u nder pain of our in i gn ation and anger . and under a penalty of ten tho u sand crowns , to be other wise levied upon their property , and paid into our treasury , that n they hold , and support . and observe , and shall c ause to be l violably held and observed by others , these our conc essions and grants , one and all , as contained above .

Also , our aforesaid Vic eroy himsel f , or by m e ans of a c om mis si o n e r or commissione rs whom he m ay c hoose to nominat e in our name for that purpose , shall c ause to be handed over and trans ferred , in actu al and tan gible possession , as v ac ant and free , all as is aforesaid , which we h ave c onc eded to the sai d grand m aster and c onv ent , to himself , or to a procurator nam ed in his p lac e . to w hom in every way , in order that , on their side they c om plete and carry out the stipul ation and agreement with the said grand m as ter and c onvent , we confer power , and c ommit our plenary auth or : a n d f ity a ter possession sh all have been duly handed o ver , th ey o w r n shall support the said grand m aster and c onvent in th at p e . a d shall protect them powerfully against every one ; nor shall they c ease to be paid rents , import or export duties . or any oth er taxe s or ri g hts by either of the aforesaid , to whom we hav e granted this d feu al tenure . ff We , also , in order to giv e e ect to this deed , in c ase i t should f be nec essary , supply all de ects , nullities , faults , or omissions . if any sh all c hance to be included , or shall arise , or be in any m an

, , h ner alleged from which in the p lenitude of our royal aut ority , we grant a disp ensation . For whic h purpose we hav e ordered th e present deed to be drawn out and furnished with our offi cial se al ff for the a airs of Sicily attached to it . Given at Castellum Fran 23d f f cum , on th e day o the month of M arc h . in the year o our Lord 1 530 i n ; that of our reign as Em peror the tenth ye ar : as Kin g of

- , , . , : Castile Granada etc the twenty se venth of Navarre , the six te e n th ; f , S i c i l i e s a a n d o Aragon both , Jerus lem , else where , th e fif te e n t h : and of all our realms the fifte enth . ’ P H IL IP VIL L IE RS d e L IS L E A DAM .

D E F E N D E R o r R H O D E S .

J O 1 5 2 1 T 0 1 5 3 4 . D M A S T E R K N I G H T S o r S T . H N , F O R T ! - S E C O N D G R A N

a n d n i t t J n o J e r us a le m . ! r) K gh s o f S . oh f

D i i l w h o iffi c ulties arisin g with th e Vic eroy of S c y , c laim ed duties on al l c orn shipped from th at cou ntry to M alta , and th at h e would not ac c ept m oney which mi ght be c oin ed by the Knights , in pay m ent of th e sam e , furth er n e gotiations be c am e ne c essary between th e Knights and Em p eror Charl es V , whi ch fin ally resulted in those c onc essions bein g m ade to th e Order . I t was therefore agre ed that all c orn should be du ty free , and th e Knights h av e the privile ge of th eir own c oin age . Th ese m a tters satisfac torily adj usted , galleys and t ransports w ere se cured to t ak e th e Rhodian p eople who had f aithfully rem ained with th e Order , and buildin g m ateri al t o Malt a , t he grand m ast er and t he Knights ac c om panyin g them . The land i ng w as m ade in wh at is no w kn own as the grand h arbor , Oct ober 26 1 L ' l . 530 , and I s e Adam was onc e m ore sovereign over th e land and p eopl e w here Grand Convent w as est ablished . There was at t his tim e in addition to th e Knights and th eir p eople from the

Rhodi an isles , a n ativ e popul ation of to wh o hailed th e c omin g of t he Kni ghts of St John wi th j oy . belie vin g it was for t h e best int erests of th eir island . d S e ve re as w as th e loss of J erusal em , and th e with raw al from ll A c re , th e loss of Rh od es w as sti gre ater . and ye t i t linked th e n am e of th e Hospital ers , th e Knights of St . John , with that of th e 6 m ost m em orable sie ge of th e 1 th c entury . A nd th e m em ories of t he daring of th e Kni ghts of Rhodes , now bec om e the Knights of t M alt a , are insep arably conn ec ed i n the history of the c enturi es c r u s inc e th eir organi zation , with th e brav est deeds known to the

. k s ades . Sc arc e th re e ye ars , an d they ye ars of l abor to m a e th e a t I sle of M alt a h abitabl e , amid h ardships and trials , and the age ’ L I sl e o f sev en ty y e ars , Grand M aster Adam passed to th e holier 21 1 534 f l and on hi g h . August , . w as the d ate of the de ath o this grand old H ospit al er . whose name will e ver be associated with t h e gre at si e ge of Rh odes . When w e consider t he splendor of his

. ac hie v em e n ts . his undau nted bravery and his nobleness of c harac

. t er , do you wond er th at we cl ass that e min ently pious old w arrior ' i n se a r Ph i lip Villi ers d e L I s l e Ada m . wh ose n am e and fam e are p ably c onn ec t ed with t he Ord e r o f St . John and th e si ege of Rhodes . t h e sec ond of th e three gre at grand masters of the Illustrious Ord er h R ! t o h n of J e r u s a l e 1 n . t e Knights of hodes and Knights of M alta o f S . J The re m ai ns of Grand M as ter L ’ i sle Adam were first buried in the l it tl e c h ape l at t he fortress of S t . A ngelo , and afterwards remov ed

' to St J ohn s c hurc h , where they now rest beside th ose of Grand .

n d M aster La Vale t te . a such w as the love of the Kni ghts for their gra nd m aste r th at in c om m e moration of th at love th ey h a d e n

‘ grav en up on th e m onu m ent in St . J ohn s churc h which was ere cted t o h i s m em ory : H ere lies Virtu e Victorious over Fortune . 0 ! [ O The I llus tr io us Or de r of H osp ita le r s

J O H N DE L A VA L ET T E .

T H E FORT ! - S E VE N T H GRAN D MAST E R A ND D E FE ND E R

OF MAL T A .

‘ L I sl e 1 534 From the de ath of Grand Master Ada m , in , un til the election of a Knight of Prov enc e , J ohn de la Vale tte , as grand

e 21 1 557 . . mast r , Au gust . . th e fortu n es of the Knights of St John

Rhodes , and M alta , h ad be en varied . Four othe r grand m asters had bee n el ected , served th e Order faithfully . and died . M alta had be en attacked se veral times and the Turks repulsed . Tripoli .

Tunis . Algiers , and other posts on th e Afric an c oast h ad be en w on O E and lost again . The rder in ngland had be e n att ac k ed . m any

Knights executed . estates c onfisc ated , and c om m ande rie s sup pressed durin g the rei gn of Hen ry VIII , so th at the langu a ge was E almost extinc t . To the honor of the nglish Knights be it said

o b that all w h c ould esc ape did so , a andonin g their possessi ons a n d retirin g to Malta . where they took an honorable position in the E gre at sie ge . The post of the n glish Knights durin g th e sie ge of

65 . 1 5 . was on the sea front of St An gel o , the m ain point of attac k u w after St . Elmo fe ll . and c onseq ently the post of h on or . No t i t h standing all t hese trials and misfortunes . the Order wa s ste adily incre asing in numbers , strengthenin g the position on M alt a . and regaining its suprem acy on t he M edite rrane an .

Knight John de l a Valette was sixty - thre e ye ars of a ge when elected grand m aster , of noble birth , and had ent ered t he Orde r wh en but a youth . His servic es at the siege of Rhode s , i n defence

‘ of Tripoli , and in comm and of the Order s fle et , h ad w on him st ep C by step the rank of c omm ander , a Grand ross , and th at of lien w tenant to Grand Master La Sangle , upon hose de at h h e suc c e e de d to the c ommand of th e Order . His de votion to duty for m ore than forty ye ars was unparalleled . for i n that tim e h e had ne ver been absent from his c on vent exc ept wh en sailing in se arc h of the Turk and Infidel . ( " Philip II havin g suc c e ed ed harles V . and being enga ged in a war with the M oors . the Knights furnish ed a large c ontin gent of fi , f f e ghting m en and were ev er ound in the or front of battle . Ex pe di ti o n s again st Tripoli and other fortresses w e re u nde rtak en

e s , e e e e wit h gen ral ucc ess and many c aptur s m ad at s a , th reby e n ric hing the Order a n d enabling them to push forw ard the defenc e s

. 1 563 e e of M alta About this tim e , , in addition to t h c aptur s in l A giers and on th e M edit erranean . the K ni ghts h ad succ e eded .

2 8 The I llus tr io u s Or de r o f H osp ita le r s

E and St . lmo , whi ch c omm anded the Grand H arbor ; th e ancie n t

. c apital c ity , Citt a Vec chia , and the outlying island of G ozo

Fifty Knights and five hundred m en - a t - arms we re assigned to

St . Angelo , where , from its comm anding posi tion , Grand M aste r E . , La Valett e took u p his qu arters . The little st ar fort , St lm o on the opposit e sid e of the Grand Harbor and at its ou ter point . which was only garrisoned by sixty m en , had been e nlarged and stren gth en ed , so that an additional forc e of sixty Knights and one hu ndred soldi ers were pl ace d in it . Citta Ve c c hia and the isl e of Gozo w e re properly garrisoned . and a p atrol forc e of two hundred isl anders and six hundred m en - a t - arms were plac ed at diff erent points around the coast . The Kni ghts of th e s ev eral l anguages , soldiers , and citi zens were tolled o ff in d etachm ents and stationed in batteries u pon r e Point La S angle . in bastions , and othe r defenc e s , and strong serv es kep t ne ar S t . A ngelo , while gal leys wit h th e se am en we re i n th e harbor t o de fend th e e ntranc e . M 1 8 1 56 o ff On the m ornin g of a v . 5 . the Turkish fl e et appe ared t e the island . and its c om ing w as si gnall ed to th e Knights by h guns of St . An ge lo . St . Elm o , and Citta Vec c hia . A stron g Lev ant

n wind blowin g , the fl ee t sailed around th e point . a c horing at night in th e Bay of M arsa Siroc c o . at the e ast e nd of the island . w he re a l anding was m ade and a pic k et post surprised . One Knight w as d k ille , another c aptured , sev erely tortured . and then m urdered ,

- a t - the m en arms being driv en aw ay .

The Turk ish fle et c onsisted of one hundred and fi f ty - nin e v es sels . with galleys and transports upon whic h we re of its best troops . of whom were J anissaries , the flowe r of the Turk ish army . These J anissari es were alw ays c onsc ri pted from Chris m tian families . the abl est and best of who were plac ed in the arm y . e f ne ver permitt d to m arry . and thus bec am e a form idable orc e . n Ha vi g land ed all their troops . and th e fle e t under th e r e n o w n e d D o Corsair rag t not yet having arriv ed , rec onnoitering p ar ties were thrown forward , m eeting with m uc h opposition by d e t a c h me n ts of th e Knights , in whic h sev eral se vere c onfli cts took p lac e .

The grand m ast er . re alizin g that no m atte r how gre at t he loss d e su l to r of the Turks in these v ac ti ons . th e loss of a Knight w as i gre ater t o him th an many m en to the nv aders , and so withdrew

. 4 all his forc es wi thin th e fortifi c ations M ay 2 , St . E lm o was in vest ed and the siege be gan i n earnest . A batte ry of ten guns

e . E was plac ed in position in th re ar or l and sid e . of St . lm o . These

, - guns were of he avy c alibre throwing eighty pound solid shot , and e t w o s to them were add d lighter guns of ixty p ounds , and on e 1 0 0 heavier of pounds . The Turks were not only k nown in those a n d Kn i hts o S t J n o J e r a e 29 . oh g f f us l m .

d ays to hav e the he av ie st artill e ry of any nation , but the best gun

- ne rs . M any of the c annon balls were m ade of s tone , and are to be h S see n to t is day in the arm ory of th e Kni gh ts of t . J ohn in V a

le tt a , th e city sinc e built up on the roc ky promontory c all ed Mount S c e b e r r a s , where the se batt eries w ere the n plac ed . In placin g

these guns in position th e Turks lost m any m e n , for the reason

th at th e prom ont ory , bein g of solid roc k , n o trenc hes c ould be f a c i n e s l l m ade . G abions and , with e arth to fi , h ad to be brought a

lon g dist anc e and c arri ed to the front by th e men , who w ere c on

st a n tl . y subj ect t o the fire from St A nge lo . The bette r to shel te r

the m e n from th e fire of S t . A ngelo , the Turks h ad plac ed their

e e S c e b r r batteri es on th outer , or opp osit e , slop of Mount e a s , whic h w as a gre at m istak e for they w ere thus unabl e to prev ent

Grand Maste r L a Val e tte from throwin g fre sh troops into St .

El m o . This prolonged the si ege , as eve ry night the de ad and a n d w ounded w ere re m ove d , their places take n by other Knights

- a t - Dr a u t and m en arms . g , th e c orsair , arri ving with thirteen

l arge g alleys and reinforc e m ents of m en , took charge of the si ege , and bein g dissa tisfi ed with t he position im mediately plant ed a n

othe r and larger b attery u pon th e t op of the ridge , so as t o c om

m and both St . Elm o and St . An gelo , upon e ac h of whic h h e k ept

up an inc essant fire . Just across ! uarantin e H arbor is a low poin t of l and upon

wh ic h oth er batte ries we re plac ed which raked S t . Elm o and gave

- fi r e t he Tu rks a trem endous c ross upon the Knights . A nother

e . corsair , wit h six guns and addition al m n c oming and findin g the Dr a u t e mbrasures of a rave lin un gu arded , g orde red an attac k

Jun e 4 by th e J anissaries a nd a lodgem ent was m ad e . Had i t n ot be en for som e of the Sp anish Kni ghts who w ere n ear the draw

brid ge at th e tim e of the assault , and withdre w th e brid ge . St .

El m o w ould h a ve fall en in th at att ac k .

A s it w as . a simultan e ous attack w as m ad e by a st ormin g p arty and the w alls we re sc aled : but the undaunted Knights stood e firm , hurlin g th e Janissaries h e adlong from th w alls and pou rin g

boilin g pitc h and wildfire upon the struggling m ass in th e ditches . Above the roar of the artill e ry and th e v olleys of sm all arm s c ould be h eard th e sh rie ks and ye lls of the c om bat ants in all the lan e e J e gua ges . Th fi erc c ry of th e anissa ry was answe r d by th e

battl e y ell of th e Knight of St . J ohn . and th e sh rie k of the Turk

- - by the m an a t arms . E i n A d ense sm ok e h un g low over St . lmo . and only as the c ry c re ased o r die d aw ay c ould the an xious spec tators on th e walls of

St A n gelo j ud ge how the bat tl e w as goin g . Now and the n th e . a n d e sm ok e wou ld l ift , and w hile here th re c ould be se en the 3 0 The I ll u s tr io u s Or de r of H o sp ita le r s

c rescent up on the battlem ent , ye t ove r all c ould be se en the ban ne r o f th e c ross floatin g proud defianc e to its foes .

D ark ness at last clothed frie nd and foe with its m antle . T he

Turks had be en repulsed , but w ith the advantage of h aving th e rav elin . Two thousand m en h ad p aid the cost of th e assault , but

u that was a sm all number for s ch a forc e , and c ould mu c h be tte r

- a t be sp ared th an the tw enty K nights of St . J ohn and eighty m en a rms who had so heroic ally fallen th at d ay in d efenc e of S t . Elmo . A gain w ere the de ad and wounded rem ov ed by L a Val ette and r e i n f r c m n ts o e e sent to the beleaguered garrison , but in turn t o be brought back as were those wh o had prec eded th em . M any w ere t he touching scenes and in cide nts of th at lon g

- - s . ie ge of four w eeks , wit h its daily hand to h and encount ers On e y oung Castilian Knight , shot t hrough the body , refused assist an c e D ' from his brother Knights , saying , on t trouble y ourselv es about m e : I am a dead m an : your c are will be bett er employed in the d e f " f en ce o our survi vin g brethren . He then crawled away i nt o the little chapel down under the fort , where we recited th e cre ed and

n solemnly re ewed our v ows to this illustrious Ord er in 1 8 92, com m ended his soul to God and died be fore the alt ar , where his body was found the next m orning . D a y after day t he garrison was attacked . and on the l o th of J u ne another general assault w as delivered . in which ov e r

Turks fell and se vente e n Kni ghts , togeth er with thre e hundred

- a t - m en arm s . Hoops wrapped with c otton or w ool dipped i n brandy r o o i l. were fired and dropped upon th e sc aling p arti es , settin g them on fire and bu rning th em to death . One brav e Kni ght fe ll k p ierced with a ball j ust as he had c aptured a Tur ish stand ard , and for th at brave act he had an honored buri al am on g th e Grand

C rosses .

But hum an strength c ould not hold out much lon ger . Th e l garrison being untenab e , the Knights asked to be wi thdrawn , but G rand Master La Valette , knowing th at it must be h eld to the last a fi e c t e d moment . to belie ve th at t he K n ights ask ed to be reli e ve d and wrote them they migh t retu rn on the boats w hic h c arri ed th e y : relievin g part , saying Return my brethren , to t he c on vent ; w : you il l be more in safety there and as for m e , I sh all th en be less in pain about the preservation of fort St . E lm o , th ou gh it be of

suc h importanc e that th e preservation of the isl and . and all our O y rder , depends entire l on it . ff This o er the garrison fi rmly re fused . resolving to di e to a m an rather than h ave it said th ey were c owards , an d so in formed t h e , grand master be gging of him permission to rem ain . The g a d rand m aster h ving ma e his point , and k n owin g full w ell th at J O H N l L ET T de a VA E .

D E F E ND E R o r M A L T A .

- G D M K N I G H T . F O R T ! S E VE N T H R A N A S T E R S o r S T J O H N , 1 5 5 7 T o 1 5 6 8 .

a n d K n i hts o t J o n o J r a e 3 1 e . g f S . h f us l m

h e c ould rely upon th e faithful p erform ance of th eir duty , re adi ly g av e his c onsen t . A ll t his tim e L a V ale tte w as sending urge nt re quests to th e ‘ S fii r v ic eroy of ic ily to h asten re inforce m ents , but that o c e was too fe arful to do so , and th e Knights of St . John w ere left t o th eir ow n resourc es . P arape t up on p arap et was bein g raised , plat form u pon p latform built , and artillery hoiste d up wit h whi c h to c om m and e ac h oth ers works , and still the de adly work w ent on . a n A dditi on a l b att eries we re p lac e d , and in such positions up on oth er p oint across Grand Harbor as to cu t o ff all c omm unic ation 21 be tw e en th e be sie ged in St . E lm o and th e grand m ast er . June , anoth er d espe rate assault w as de liv ered , the w hol e Turkish army Dr a u t being e n ga ged or in th e tre n ches . The c orsair , g , having be en m ort ally w ounded , m ad e th e pirates and J anissaries more d esperat e . S ev e ral tim es th e Turks advanc ed to the assault , and as oft e n w ere t h ey re pul sed , until night c oming on , put an end to th e t h e sl augh ter . It w as we ll t h at night put an end to c arn age , E f or hu m an c ou rage c ould h av e endured no lon ger , and St . lm o f m ust h av e f all en . All ef orts on th e p art of Grand Master La

V ale tt e t o render aid to th e garrison failed , for the shores were li ned wit h artillery and mu sk e te ers . Th e entire fleet bloc k aded f th e p ort , and galleys sw arm ed in all t he harbor . N o e fort possible w a s sp ared t o reac h th e garrison , but without av ail . Their fate w a s se aled , and nobly as ev er a hum an bein g w ent down to death , 22d o c c u t h ose bra v e Kni ghts of St . J ohn did . Th e day of the was pied i n d e su l t o r v fi rin g , and th e night was w e ll spent in d ressing

’ e ac h oth e r s w ou nds . But sixty Knights rem ain ed , and a few m en

- a t arm s . At m idnight thos e Kni ghts assembled i n that little c h ap el be fore re ferred to , w here th e rem ainder of the night was sp ent in c onfessin g the ir sins , re ceivin g the sac ram ents of the c hurch : th e n k issin g t heir swords , th ey return ed to the bre ac hes , w here , l ash ed t o the w alls or se ated upon stones , for many w ere t oo s e verely wounded to stand , w ith swords , spears , or guns in D 23d . , h and , th ey aw aited the ass ault ayli ght dawned June and th e Turks rush ed to the ass aul t but to be driv en back . With

- f s word or m usk e t , battle ax e , or lanc e , they ought , and four tim es were th e i n fide l s repulsed ; but g ath ering stre ngth in numbers , and b e th e garrison bec omi ng less and less , at hi gh twelv e on the day fore th e anni versary o f th eir p atron s aint , but not until th e last

Knight of S t . John h ad falle n , did th e banner of the c ross giv e way

di e , for t h at of th e c resc e nt . N e ver did m en m ore nobly and nev e r in th e history of th e world has there be en suc h a defenc e as

r k , th at of St . E lm o . Th e c om m ande of the Tur ish army on sur “ : n . , v e yi g th e ruins , and thinkin g of St A ngel o exclaimed What “ 32 The I l lus tr i o u s Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s

will not the father cost us , when the son , who is so sm all , h as cost us the bravest of our soldiers ! " To add to the horrors of th e oc c a f sion , and by w ay o rev e nge , th e bodies of th e Kni ghts h ad th eir

a , hearts cu t out , the gash of a cross m de in their bodies and the h bodies thrown into the bay , t a t they m ight be c arried by th e tid e to the Town ( Bourg ) a n d St . An gelo . This act so aff ec ted the grand master that he had ev ery Turk ish prisoner behe aded , and shotting his guns with th ese h e ads fired them int o the camps of the i n fide l s .

There fell of t he Turkis h army in the siege of St . Elm o ove r

soldi ers and m any of their brav est c omm anders , and amon g

D r a u t . them the best of their nav al offi c ers , the c orsair , g The w pl ace where h e fell , and where his m ost effec ti ve batteries ere

D r a u t . plac ed , is stil l k now n as Point g Gre at as w a s the loss of c omm and e rs and m en to th e Turk is h army , it was less to them than th at which befell the Ord e r of St .

John , for of its noble Knights one hundred and thirty were known

- a t - to h ave been k illed , and fifteen hundred brav e m en arms or soldiers .

w a s t h e Severe as was this loss . the grand m aster satisfied th at rest of his comm and was as brav e and de te rm ined as th ose w ho h ad n fallen . He imm ediately se t about strengthe nin g his positio at

St . Ange lo and its imm ediat e works . c allin g in th e detach ed gar risons and four c om p anies from Citt a Vecc hia , resol vin g that no

u prisoners shou ld be t aken , n o q arter ask ed or giv en , and that it sh ould be war to the de ath .

n o w Mu stapha , the Turkish c omm ander . h aving ful l p ossession

r of M ount S c e b a r a s . began to surround St . An gel o and its garri 734 son , but before he did so reinforc em en ts num be ring m en

w fif t - n arri ved , am on g wh om ere y six gu ners . forty gentlem e n wh o

f o r t . c am e to j oin in the defenc e of Malta . and v or m ore Kni ghts w E Among th e num ber ere two from n gland . n am ed John Sm ith and

E dward St anley : good E nglish n am es . truly . This sm all reinforce

u 9 me nt . J ne 2 . w as a host i n itsel f and raised t he spirits of t he b e sie ged . Must apha . learnin g of it and its numbe rs bein g largely

n d ff magnified , sen t u er a flag of truc e a dem and for surrend er . o e r ing the sam e t erms as those granted at Rhodes . f The of er was indign antly rej ect ed . Grand M aste r La Va le tte and his Knights being d etermined to save th eir isl and hom e or be buried bene ath the ruins of its fortific ations . As St . Angelo and m t h e oth er batterie s c o ma nded wat ers of th e Grand H arbor . th e

‘ Turk s h ad recourse to the use of their ( h r i sti a n slav es t o drag boats over Mount S c e b a r r a s from the q u arantin e into t he u pper w th at ers of th e Grand H arbor , so as to attac k e se a front of th e

The I ll u s tr io us O r ale r o f H o spi ta le r s

I old warrior exclaim ed , A ll the Knights are alik e de ar to me ; ” consider them all as my children . And when sp ok en to of the

possibility of a defe at he said , No one shall ever liv e to se e . I w hi le am alive , a grand m aster tak en in ch ains to Const antinople , ” for I shall die with my c hildren and my brethren . A u gust 2 and 7 general assau lts were again delivered and with i the sam e results . In the latter the Mal tese wom en and c h ldren were to enga g ed c arryin g we apons , ammu nition , and food the soldie ry ;

pouring boiling oil upon the he ads of the Turks , A lgerine s , and

Janissaries as they m ounted the sc alin g ladders , or rolling st ones

u pon th em from the w alls as th ey struggled in the ditc hes below . All seemed nerved w ith the undaunted c ourage of th e n obl e

a n d grand mast er and his Knights , the univ ersal desire to defea t

br . w the foe die in th e bre ach Fireworks , boiling ater , or m e lt ed

pitch was in c onstant re adiness , and no one there w as m ore re ady

to mak e use of suc h th an the brave Maltes e w om en . E v erything

known to war and barbarity was used up on each side . Mine s and

counter mines were m ade , Turk m eeting Kni ght under th e e arth as h t ey ran their galleries , and bot h being blown up togethe r in th e

'

ex plosion of th e mine . The battle raged at all points on land and se a with the ch anc es

T u r ks w h e n M u st a h a fi n di n in favor of the . p , g himsel f attac k ed from

th e rear , sounded a retreat . This alone saved the d ay to th e

Knights of St . John , and it had be en brought about by a sm al l t force from Cit a Ve cc hia . The c omm andant of th at ancient city

in the inte rior of the island , an old and gallant Kni ght . n am ed

M u s u e t a , f u f q fancying rom the continuo s roar o artillery , the rat k ' tle of sm all arms and the dense sm o e hoveri ng ov er St . Mic hael s

that it h ad been fired and a general assault was being m ade , s ent h i s out small body of c av alry , each troo per takin g a foot soldie r

n on be hind him , t o m ake a div ersio . This they c ertainly did for , upon striking the enem y ’ s hospita l s they attack ed th e guards and

wounded , so that those who esc aped ran into their ow n lin es with the story that it was the advanc e of t he Sic ilian arm y and henc e the c ause for soundin g th e retre at . It was well that Grand Master La Valette did n ot rely u pon

, f i Philip II or his vic eroy in Sicily or aid , as , notw thstandin g all i . hi m a n d the r promises it was not th eir intention to send any . a n t i c i a ti n p g , u su ch resul ts while c on tinually ple ading for s c c or , h e w as as d eterm ined to defend M alta wit h his Knights t o th e bitt er

. , , end The Turkish gen eral Mustaph a and admiral , Piali , b e c o m ing de S pe i- ate with th eir rep eated failures and dreadin g t he dis o f ple asure Sultan Solyman , while k eepi ng up a continuous se ries f i of c on l c ts , determi ned u pon another gene ral assault to be c ontin a u 35 n d n i t t J n o J e r a e . K gh s o f S . oh f s l m

u ed both d ay and ni gh t un til th ey h ad w orn out the garrison . 1 8 1 9 20 Au gust , , and , assaults w ere de livered , eve ry p oint bein g ’ attack ed , bu t the m os t desp erate on S t . Mich ae l s and th e p ositions defe nd e d by th e C astili an and English Knights on th e se a fron t of

St . An ge lo . I n th e latter Grand M aste r La Vale tte w as severe ly w w ound ed but rem ain ed in th e orks . A l ette r sh ot into th e city which cont ained only th e w ord ” Thursday , g av e noti ce to th e grand m aster that the assault w as

to be re n e w ed th at day . Every prep aration w as m ade , troops

be in g drawn from S t . A n ge lo and other forts to tak e their pl ac e

w e r e o n o t alon g the ou ter defenc es . All t he Knights who m ortally w ound ed left t he hospi t als and t ook th eir s tations wherever m ost

. 23r d a d w ant ed On Thursd ay , the , the Turks under Mustap ha v a n c e d S to th e stormin g of t . Mic hae l , while the fle et u nder Pi ali

a ttac k ed th e w ater fron t . St . An gelo , th e C asti li an , and E nglish

posts we re sim ult an e ously att acked , t he e ngagem e nt bec omin g

gene ral . Fire w orks and b arre ls filed with explosiv es w ere hurled

into t he w orks bu t as quickly throw n bac k , exploding in th e ranks

of th e Turks , c arryin g de ath and d estru ction to the inventors .

Th e wom e n vi ed with th e soldie rs in th eir valor , ch oosing de ath

before c aptu re and dishon or . Ev ery m an , w om an , and child were

in th e de fe nc es , and th e battl e raged w ith fury . A gain the Turks

we re de fe at ed and th e Kni ghts vic torious . Septe m ber 1 st th e assaul t w as rene wed and a desperate strug

gle ensued . The Janiss ari es h ad be en promised a license to plunde r t h e c ity and do as they would by the i nhabitants . With sullen bra v ery did they rush t o t he attack but to be rep ulsed with terri bl e l oss . With th e d esp ondency of the Turks at their rep e ated d efe ats th e spirits of th e de fende rs arose until they al most c e ased

to h op e for reinforce m e nts , believin g i n th eir own ultim ate suc c ess . Think ing to create a div ersi on in his fav or and arouse a ne w S a c o l u mn pirit in his tr 0 0 ps , M ust aph a se nt against Citta Vec chia , bu t to m e et w ith d efe at .

S ept e mber 6t h th e long promised a ssistance arrived , consist

0 0 . ing of a body of Sp anish and Itali an tr ps , in all With t he m c am e 30 0 Kni ghts of St . John . Mustaph a , le arnin g of the landi ng of th ese rei nforc em e nts for the Knights , im m edi at ely withdrew from St . Elm o , l eavin g his guns , fell back from t he t re nc h es , aband on in g his h eavy arti llery , and retired to M arsa

. S irocc o , wh e re his t ransports were , and embark ed his troops On th e nigh t of th e 7 th such artill ery and stores as had n o t be en aban

. d omed w ere put on board , th e troops following the next day The m orning d a wned up on e m pty tre nc hes and abandon e d works , and w h e n Grand M ast er L a V a let te discove red the e ne my h ad en tirely 3 36 The I llus tr io us Or de r of H o sp ita le r s

gone , gre at was his j oy . All the inhabitants of the Bourg turne d ou t and under the directions of the Knights the ditches w ere fill ed and earthworks leveled , m en , women , and children workin g ni gh t and day to acc omplis h their destruction . As the galleys were sti l l E in th e outer h arbor , the guns of St . lm o were opened upon t he m and they driven o ff . A forc e w as thrown into the ruins of th at little star fort , St . Elm o , and at hi gh twelv e the banner of th e Ord er w as again plante d upon th e spot from which it h ad gon e down in suc h g lory just ten w eeks before . The fle et was j ust about to sail when Mustaph a was inform e d ’ by an esc aped slav e that the force l anded n e ar St . P aul s Bay did not exc e ed soldiers of ind ep enden t c omm ands ; then h e de t e r mi n e d to disembark his whole forc e and attac k th e m . This he did , and sorry was he for h i s folly ; for the soldiers , led by t h e

Knights who h ad accom panied them , atta ck ed and drov e th em with gre at slaughter to their ships ; and had it n ot be en for a stron g reserv e of Janissari es posted at the landing , few would h ave ever reached the v essels . The historians of th at p eriod n am e the loss of th e Turk s at me n , while from the arc hiv es of M alta we l earn th at of t he forc e of m e n wit h which Grand

M aster La Valette defended M alt a , in cludin g th e m embers of his O rder , sc arc ely six hundred were l eft capabl e of be arin g arms , and they m ostly c overed with wounds . Grand M aster La Vale tte di d well on that d ay when h e o r dered th e nam e of the Bourg ( city) to be ch an ged to Citta Vittori osa , or Victorious City , and well m ay the M altese , on Se pte mber 8 “ ” th of each y e ar , at the hour of high tw el ve , with th e roar of a l o r 1 o u s rtil lery and the p eal of bells , celebrat e the g c onclusi on of t tha m em orable sie ge . Gre at w as the rej oicin g throu ghout all Europe w h en the vic

. R tory of the Knights of St J ohn , hodes , and M alta w as m ade k nown .

Philip II , as if to m ak e am ends for his de lay and allay suspicion of his intrigues , sent congratulations and v alu abl e presents , includ ing a sword the hilt of whic h was of pure gold and se t with di a m onds , to Grand M aster La Valette .

Rom e illuminat ed , and th e guns of its castle , St . An ge lo , ’ s aluted . Pope Pius I V tendered a Cardinal s h at to Grand M aster t La Valette , whic h he graciously d eclin ed , believin g th e p osi ion of Gran d M aster of suc h a noble Orde r w as a gre ater ran k than that of Cardin al , and gen erously rec omm e nded that honor be c on ferred u pon another . A ctiv e preparations being m ade at Constantinople for an other attack upon M alta , th e grand m aster proc eeded im m ediate ly t o th e rebuild fortific ations and erec t new batteries . Supplies w ere

t J o n o J e r a e a n d n i t o S . 7 K g h s f h f us l m . 3

m w a s h aste ned and uc h tre asure se nt him from k ings , princ es , an d c om m and ers of th e Order , from th ei r pe rsonal est at es .

En gin ee rs we re se nt for , and th e m a gnific e nt and formidable w ork s w hi ch n ow c omm and all approaches w ere pl anned and th e

b r r a s work be gun . M ou nt S c e e w as sele c t ed for t he site of th e new

- city , w hi c h to day be ars th e n am e of V ale tt a , in h onor of th e grand m ast e r . Grand M aste r La Valett e laid its first c orn er stone , e 28 th 1 566 i n p rson , on th e d ay of March , , and upon th at ston e , i n additi on to th e gen eral st at em en t as to its purposes , w as this i h ” : J lI e li l a R e n a sce n s n sc ription M alt a spri gin g up again . Grand M aste r La Vale tt e ’ s attenti on w as now occupi ed by th e

' ne w in v asion w hi ch thre at e ned , and fearin g in the inc om plete st ate of th e fortific ations th at he w ould be c om pe lled to le ave the isl and , spi es we re em pl oyed to e nt er Const antinople and fire its grand arse n al , whic h the y did and thus d estroy ed al l th e n av al stores . Sult an Solyma n dyin g soon after pre v ented any renew al of t h e i nv asion . Two ye ars late r and while ou t hun ting th e grand m ast er r e

c e i v e d . a su n strok e , from whic h he died C allin g u pon Jesus and

M ary to re c e i ve him , his spirit d ep arted , le aving only th e m ortal re m ains of Joh n de la Valett e , w hich w e re buried by the side of th at oth er gre at grand m aster , the de fend er of Rh odes , Philip

’ Villiers d e L I sl e Ad am .

21 1 68 . His de ath t ook pla c e A ugust , 5

I n our j udgm ent Grand M aster La Vale tte , th e third gre at e e grand m as t r , surpassed all oth rs th e Orde r h ad before or aft er him . Pe te r Gerard , th e founder of th e H ospitalers of St . John ,

- d e se rves gre at prai se for his piety and self devotion to du ty . The e du pr mi er grand m aster , Raym ond Puy , c annot fail to be rem em be re d for his s ervic e s in org anizin g th e Hospit al ers into a milit ary

e e . ord r , and le adin g th em in t he e arly d ays of th Crusades To his r e d e c e sso r a n d credit be it sai d th at h e w as n o less pious th an his p , no l ess brav e t han th e darin g spirits he drew about him . Those wh o

v a s A sc a l o n T i b e r i a s A c r e a n d su cc e ede d him w ere b r a e , attested at , , , m an y oth e r si e ges and battl es , but it w as reserved for Grand M aste r L ” I sl e Ad am t o win other and greate r l aurels by his m ag n i fic e n t d e fen c e of Rhodes . At th at period , howev er , th e Knights w H ospit al e rs of S t . Joh n and Rhodes h ad becom e po erful and h ad st ron g defe nc es on th at be au tifu l isl and of th e upper M e di t e r

n I t w as only h owev er , by superior numbers , greate r re r a n e a . , ’ sourc es and lon g con tinu ed assaults th at L I sl e Ad am was ove r , pow ered a n d c om p elled to fall back to M alta . de V a l e tt e c a me Our third and gre ater grand m aster , John La , int o c om m and at a tim e when th e Kni gh ts w ere dish earten ed , on a 38 The I llu s tr iou s Or de r o f H o sp ita le r s

. barren isl and , without supplies and alm ost without friends His

grand conv ent unprotec ted and those m agnific ent forti fic ations ,

the pride of engine ers and the wonder of m ilitary m en , bu t crude c o mm a n d hi s and partially laid out . To his genius for , unwavering O u u n u e s devotion to his rder , his infl exible lov e of j stic e and his q

t he . ti o n e d bravery , Knights H ospit alers of St John , Rh odes , and

. M alta , owe the great victory they achieved over the Turks A vi ctory which has linked their nam es for all tim e with th e h ist ory O r of that island , and the n am e of La Valette with this splendid

der of Knighthood . Associated in th e ann als of the Order with the n am e of Grand

M aster La Valette is the nam e of his secretary , a brav e and c our O t e o u s E nglish Knight n am ed liv er Starkey , who w as p resent dur

ing th e entire siege . This Knight was know n to h av e bee n so close to the grand m aster whom he lov ed and served so well that at his

de ath they were not separat ed . He was buried by the side of La V . . a l e tt a t Valette in the Church of St John in , o which th e remains ’ l of Grand Master L Is e Adam were also rem oved . The history of this illustrious Ord er from the de at h of Grand M aster La Valette in 1 568 until the surrender of th e island in 1 798 E to the gre at Napoleon , is one of brilliant achiev e me nts . ver the i ts bu lwark of Christi anity , fl ag was honored on land or se a , and in

th e m ain victorious . In the great naval en gagem ent of Le panto D th ey bore an honorable part , as they did at ardane lles , C andia ,

Al giers , and other plac es . The siege of th e c apit al of C andi a

- lasted for twenty seven m onths , and am ong th e last forc es to

ev acuat e the plac e w ere the Knights of St . Joh n . At no tim e was the Order m ore honored or more prospe r ous

than in its l ast years . The fortifications had be en c om pleted and

were looked upon as the most impre gn able of an y in the world .

The city of Valetta had been well built , with its p alac es of th e — o r — grand m asters , and its auberges palac es , of the Knights eight

, f f in all one or each of the languages , se ven o which still rem ain ,

including the English auberge , n ow oc c upied by th e offi c ers of t he garrison , as are the other six . In 1 7 9" XV I Louis suppressed the Knights of M alt a in Franc e , and confisc ated t heir estates , as did Philip th e Fair the K ni ghts

1 31 3. 1 3 1 797 Te mp lars in July , , Grand M aster Emm anuel d e Roh an di ed , an excell ent j urist , who le ft a c ode of laws by whic h th e

M altese are still governed . He w as suc c eeded by Joseph de

Hompesch , a m an too weak for th at im por tant trust at such a

critical time , and , i f not an imbe cile , was a traitor to the Order . fi , 1 0 th 1 798 d Suf ce it to say th at on the day of June , , th e French eet , on its way to Egypt , put in to the s eve ral ports of th e island ,

4 0 The I llu s tr ious O r de r of H osp ita le r s

F RE E M A S O NR! A ND T H E H O S P ITA L E RS .

As to any c onnec tion the Knights of Malt a eve r had wit h Fre e b r i e fl e u a l i fi c a m asonry , we m ay y say that M asonry was n ve r a q

tion for Knighthood , but that a large number of the Knights w ere

m embers of th e fraternity is a well atte sted fac t . Not only did the Knights bec ome Fre em asons but a gre at m any of the Malte se

j oined the frate rnity , and so num e rous we re the m embers , and so XI I influe ntial the teac hings of the Order , that Pop e Clem e nt i n 1 4 7 0 , issued his bull denouncin g th e brethren and forbiddin g any

me etin g of the Craft . The grand m aste r w a s ordered to enforc e this bull which r e su l t e d in many Knights and citizens leavin g the isl and . The ye ar following seve ral Knights were su bj ec ted to se vere pu nish m ent

and perpetu al banishm ent for refusin g to obey the order .

All this , however , did not destroy Fre e masonry n or pre v ent the

Knights from bec oming m embers thereof , e ve n to grand m ast ers , R o as one of the m ost distinguish ed gra nd m asters , Emm anuel de

han , was known to be a membe r of the frate rnity .

When we consider how fe .w English Knights there were at this O period and th at the language h ad died out , we are of the pinion that French and other continental lodge s e xisted am on g the

Knights in the e arly part of th e eighte enth c entury , els e why the bull of 1 74 0 The furthe r fac t appe ars th at toward the last of th e

c entury , a dec ade before the surrender of H ompesc h , an En glish

lodge w as in existenc e . th e warrant of which w as found e arly in th e

present c entury .

Our portrait of the founder , the thre e grand m aste rs , and the

e . e grand prioress , sist r St Anne , are c opied from n gravings , m ade e e e by the best artists of Franc , arly in th last c entury , and from

original paintin gs . We h ave person al ly se e n those ori gin al p ai nt ’ ings , in the pal ac e of the grand masters , now the gov e rn or s

palace , in Vale tta , Malta . M any duplicat es are to be found in th e auberge s of the Knights es e and private palac , as w ll as in the great library . In th e latte r , are also th e plates of the en gravings of all the grand m asters so th at w e know th e sam e to be well authentic ated . The pictures of fortresses , cities , and islands are from ph otographs c oll ec ted in

our travels , and are of the date of ou r v isit in 1 8 92. We kn ow the m to be c orrect . 30 , 1 8 1 4 , e e May Malta c am e p erm anently und r English rul , and

‘ ove r th e gates of the c i tv as on e ente rs V a le tta m ay be se e n this a n d Kn i hts o S t J ohn o J e r a g f . f us le m . 4 1 in script ion : Th e love of the M altese and the voic e of Europ e have c on firm e d these isl ands t o the possession of Gre at and I n v i n ” cible Britain . e e e Th followin g be autiful tribut to th e Kni ghts , Hospi tal rs , a 1 565 and M lte se of , app ears in T he Jlf a lta S ta n da r d on the 8 th day 1 8 94 of S ep te mber , , t he anniv ersary of their gre at victory ov er th e

Turks , w hic h we de em a fitting close to our history of that gallant defens e :

T H E NA N F E E O F T H E 8 T H E TIO AL T S P TEM B ER.

B ! DR . G A U C I T R A M B L E T T .

Th e sun aros e j oyful and brilliant with ne w light , 0 my c oun try , u e t h e 8 from behind y o r arid hill s on th day of th of September , 1 565! Bold and h andsom e did y our daughters of dark hair and burnin g ey es show th em selves on that de ar day for j oy at the vi c

. 0 tory how hap pily did your bells ring , and how merry did your son gs sound on that evenin g along th e rocky ramparts O illustri “ ! ” f . ou s and brav e city o th e Bourg ( Vittoriosa) But thou , thou w ert e v en great , and as suc h didst thou appe ar to the gentle poet , wh o not fi ndin g a be tter simile , wish ed to compare you to the h andsom est and brav est girl that e ver w as born ; and therefore wit h im m ortal pathos and feelin g h e sung th e beauty of her form , h e r w of eyes burnin g i th w arlik e fire , and of the h air flowing on her shoulders , and of the sword s tained with Mussulm an blood . B ut alas ! Thy ramp arts rem ained bl ood - stained for a len gth of tim e ; n o l on ger were m oth ers se en responding to th e smiles of t heir dear children : th e c ruel Mussulm an sword had c arried aw ay m any ; a num ber died of th eir wounds ; oth ers perished from hard ships and su ffe rin g ; th e greater p art su c cumbed in the cruel com f ! bat . What rem ained o thy people . 0 famous city A h and ful of su rvi vin g brav e m en by a mirac le of God ; and w he n the sound of t a trum pet announced th e victory to the Maltese , blood ve ran warm through th e streets and m any wom e n and girls lay struc k d own on th e ground with dishev elled h air stain ed with blood . Imm ediately th e p eople from the n eighboring bourgs assembled through thy v all eys ; and their j oy was a sublim e one , ardent and swe e t as the kiss of first love . An extraordinary imm ense crowd whic h w ent on e very m om en t in creasin g w as se en in the streets of “ ” w th e Bourg , acc lam ations and shouts were h eard hic h w ent to th e sky with a c onfused sou nd of drums and trump ets ; finally b e hold a m ultitude of p e ople that surrou nd th e gre at c aptain La ’ Valle tte , wh o is proc e edin g to St . L awren c e s Churc h to return thanks to God for a signal vic tory . A nd amidst frantic applause and a thousand cries and a furious flourishing of fl ags , t hat ven c rable old m an wal ks slowly with te ars streaming down his c heek s “ ” i m of h appiness nev er fe lt before . Oh , city of th e Bourg , oh r e a tn e ss a n d perish a bl e monum ent of g of glory , what j oys and what gri efs dids t thou not h old within thyself I But th at thron g of pe ople doe s not c e ase and c ontinues on and on fl wm o ve r o . to swel l and to me et , lik e th e whirling w aters of an g river 4 2 The I llus tr io u s Or de r o f H osp ita le r s

A nove l ye t pitiful spec tac le presents it self to th e eyes of th ose w around . About fifty brav e m en , either ith their h ands or th eir

arms wounded , or with the he ad bandaged or the leg broke n , g W bruised and hag ard , are c arried along in trium ph ith th e sound

d . of trumpet and rum , amidst ac cl am ations and loud c ries

Honour , 0 h ! Maltese , the courage ous defe nders of th e Faith and of Liberty ! And that voic e and that c ry spre ads itself ev ery wh ere

and goes on incre asin g like th e rumbling of thunder . The c ountry people that had also c ollec ted to tak e part i n this

glorious event feel as if seized with horror , and rem ain as if

astounded at se eing those brave soldiers , scorc hed , pallid , w an , and so distorted in th e face that t hey look more lik e corpses th an l i v

ing persons .

The national flags fly unfurled from t he te rrac es , belfrys , and

windows ; the troubadour , l ay ing hold of his lute left aside for so

long in some corner of his room , burns and is inebriated with th e ” warmest poetry , and goes along th e square of the Bourg sin ging

the hymn of victory . Thus passed the day in extraordinary festivity a n d in im m ense j oy that no pen can describe ; the moon alone tint ed with a dark

c olour arose in sadness , and , as if seized wi th grie f , v eiled itself i n t x be hind the wandering c louds to c onc e al from the spe c tators , o i c a t e d w ith vic tory , the carnage and ruin of th at t errible , long , and desperate struggle .

Then bright the c astle banners shone

On e v ery tower on high , And all the minstrels sang aloud ’ For the Christians victory ;

And loud the warder blew his horn ,

On every turret high , s Le t the m as be sung and the be lls be run g , ” And the fe ast e at merrily .

e s e With knightly courtesy and in th bond of frat rnity ,

S S JOHN COR ON MIT H .