Heg. 958. He J.C.1551 magazine carefully guarded. But thefe traitors, dispersed over the town, foon raised an infurrection among their comrades. As the Turkish batteries kept up a very deftructive fire, the Calabrians abandoned their walls, drawing after them · feveral Moors, and ran to declare to Valier, that they would not expofe themselves to certain death to defend a place which it was impoffible to fave. The grand marihal, grieved to the very heart, ordered the council to be affembled. complained bitterly against the difcouragement and want of difcipline; and gave to understand, that all the knights were not exempt from the blame which he threw on the Calabrians. He endeavoured, by a pathetic difcourse, to reanimate their loft valour, and asked advice from all the members of the council on the ftate of the place and how to act. Commander Depoiffieu, of the nation of France, who spoke first, declared, that the breach was too steep for there being any reason to fear the affault, and that the dignity of the Order, and of the knights to whom Tripoli was intrusted, demanded that this truft, for which they were accountable to all Christendom, fhould be furrendered, only when it was no longer poffible to defend it. Commander Herrera, a Spaniard, exclaimed, that Depoiffieu fpoke like a Frenchman the friend of the Turks, who had nothing to fear, either for his life or liberty, in cafe the town should be taken by affault, as the king of France C. 1551 Heg. 958. France had an ambaffador in the enemy's fleet; but that the fubjects of Charles V. the irreconcileable enemies of the Infidels, had no quarter to expect from them, and that he was for faying the liberty and lives of feveral brave men, whilft it was yet in their power; that they could not be expected to preserve a place which no prince in Christendom attempted to fuccour. Thofe, who spoke after Herrera, defired to have the breach inspected. Meanwhile, chevalier Copier was dif patched to the rebels, to reproach them gently with their revolt and cowardice. He affured them, that, on the exact report which fhould be made to the council of the state of the breach, the future proceedings would depend: the mutineers declared they would not separate 'till after this infpection, and that they would not truft to any one but a Spaniard for a report of the state of the place. It was neceffary to confent. A foldier, They incalled Guevar, was fent with two knights to exa- breaches. mine the works. The report made by this niard abfolutely contradicted that of the other commiffioners, who affirmed, that the affault could not fucceed, if the breach were ever pitulate. fo little defended. Guevar cried to the mutineers, that a few fhot more from the cannon would entirely deftroy the wall, and that it was impoffible to prevent the enemy from being in the place before the day was over. Glamours of the Calabrians having raised spect the The garri Spa- fon and fome two knights The up all. oblige the grand mar fhal to ca the Heg. 958. J.C. 1551 the people, they threatened to open the gates and call the enemy from the top of the ramparts. The council, affrighted, feeing that it was impoffible to refift both within and without, ordered a fervant at arms to hoift a white flag. The batteries immediately ceafed firing, and two Turks advancing to the foot of the breach, found two Spanish knights there; for the mutineers, more masters in the place than the governor, would fhaw feems not permit a Frenchman to make the capitulaThe ba- tion. These two deputies were conducted to the difficult on bafhaw, who, by way of preliminary, demanded, the articles that the Order fhould indemnify the grand lation. feignior for the expense of the war. The of capitu knights having answered that that clause was not in their power, they were about to be fent back; when the corfair Dragut reprefented to the bafhaw, how dangerous it was to reduce to despair fuch brave men as the knights of Malta, particularly when there was reafon to fear their being fuccoured; he added likewise, with a Carthaginian subtilty, that Sinan would have it in his power to interpret the treaty as he pleased when the janiffaries should have gotten poffeffion of the town. The idea of this perfidy pleafed the baHe at laft fhaw. The deputies were recalled, and Sinan accepts it. fwore by the head of his master, to preserve the liberty of all the knights, of all the garrison, and of all the inhabitants of Tripoli; to prevent the pillaging of the town, and (on being paid) to pro vide Heg. 958. marshal wide veffels for all those who should want them, J.C. 1551. to retire either to Malta or any Italian port. The bashaw told the deputies, that he wished to He draws fee the governor, to confult with him about the valer to number of transport veffels, and the fafety of the his camp, voyage from Tripoli to Malta. He fent a hof him prifo tage to Tripoli for the fecurity of the governor. It was contrary to the laws of war, and still more against the rules of prudence, for a governor to go out of his place in any other manner than at the head of his garrifon. Marshal Valier was unwilling to commit this fault, which had every appearance of being attended with the most disagreeable consequences. But the eagerness of ́ the Spaniards, and the clamours of the garrifon and à mutinous populace, convinced him that he was no longer of any confequence in Tripoli. It was even decided, that, in order to fhew a greater confidence to the bashaw, marshal Valier hould carry him back his hoftage. This refpec-` table old man, feeing that he had against him even those who were most interested in supporting his authority, yielded to circumftances. He was about to leave the place alone with the hoftage, whom they obliged him to carry back, when chevalier Montfort, his friend, requested his permiffion to accompany him to the Turkish camp. The hoftage, who had had time to difcover part of what paffed in Tripoli, informed Sinan of it before the governor was introduced to G him. VOL. II. and retaine ner there. J.C. 1551. him. This discovery made the bafhaw more barbarous and unjuft than ever. He haughtily demanded of the marfhal, if he had brought the money to indemnify the fultan for the expences. of the prefent war. Valier having replied, that he abided by the capitulation which the bafhaw had figned, and fworn to by the head of his master: "It would be very pretty indeed, "cried Sinan, if Muffulmen were obliged to "keep their words with dogs like you." He then reproached the two knights with the veffels of their Order having continued, without intermiffion, to take prizes from the subjects of the grand feignior, ever fince they were established at Malta, though, by the capitulation of Rhodes, they had engaged, never to carry arms against the Ottomans. The grand marshal having exprefsly denied there being any fuch claufe in the capitulation of Rhodes, and having offered to fend to Malta for it, where the original was kept, to prove the truth of what he advanced, Sinan was fo enraged, that he ordered him to be difarmed and loaded with chains. Valier then turning to chevalier Montfort, faid: "Brother, if "you return to Tripoli, tell commander Copier, "and all my brethren, from me, to no longer "count me in the number of the living; that as to the reft, they will do what their honor and "duty require of them." Montfort returned in fact, with orders from the bafhaw to threaten the knights |