The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

Of the great Maisters of S. John of Jersualem.

[ A] ❧ THE NAMES OF ALL THE GREAT MAISTERS OF THE ORDER of S. Iohn of Ierusalem, commonly called at this day great Maister of the Knights of Malta.

[ B] HAuing discoursed of the knights of Malta, and of their orders and go∣uernment, I hold it necessarie for the readers satisfaction to speake something of the first institution and b••ginning of this order, and of the seuerall names and titles which they haue carried, according to the places of their aboad; and withall (obseruing my authors method) to set downe the names of all the great Maisters successiuely in order as they haue gouerned, and the memorable exploits which they did during the time of their gouernments. The Sarazins being Maisters of Ierusalem, and of the holie Temple which they ruined. About the yeare 1048, certaine gentlemen and Italian merchants vsed to frequent the ports and maritime townes of Syria and Aegypt, who (for that they brought merchandise which was pleasing into those countries) were well entertained [ C] not onely by the gouernment of the towne, but by the Galife of Aegypt: these Christi∣ans going often to Ierusalem to visite the holie places, and hauing no place of retreat within the citie, they obtained leaue to build a Church, a Pallace, with certaine Mona∣steries for the lodging of Pilgrimes▪ but in the end they caused an Hospitall to be built for the receiuing of all sorts of Pilgrimes both sicke and whole, and in like manner a Church which was dedicated to S. Iohn Baptist. And these were entertained by the care and charge of those which had founded them, vnto the time that the Christian princes had conquered the citie from the Infidells, and that Godfrey of Bouillon was cho∣sen king, which was in the yeare 1099.

[ D] 1. Whenas the citie was taken, Gerrard was rector or gouernour of the hospitall of S. Iohn, who (during the Christians siege) was ill entreated by the Infidells, who kept him long in prison, for that they feared he had some secret intelligence with the Christians, who besieged it: but the Christians being Maisters, he was set at libertie, and gouerned the hospitall of S. Iohn carefully, persuading Christian kings and princes to endow it, the which they did bountifully; so as in France, Italie, Spaine, and other countries of Chri∣stendome, the hospitall of S. Iohn had in short time great possessions. In the yeare 1113, Pope Paschall the second receiued Gerrard, and the Knights of S. Iohn into the prote∣ction of the Apostolicke See, and gaue them great priuiledges, ordaining that after the decease of Gerrard they should proceed canonically to the election of another Rector [ E] and Gouernour, who from that time was called great Maister of the order of S. Iohn of Ierusalem, a name which hath continued fiue hundred yeres till this day, and the knights were called hospitaliers, or knights of the hospitall of S. Iohn of Ierusalem, afterwards they were called knights of Rhodes, and now knights of Malta. Gerrard died in the yeare 1118.

2. Raymond du Puy or Podio succeeded by election: in his time the order of the Tem∣plers began. He called a generall Chapter in Ierusalem with the aduice of the knights, where he made the statutes of the order, and instituted the rule and forme of life which the knights should vse: he was called great Maister of the order; and qualified himselfe by his titles, Seruant of the poore of Iesus Christ, and gardian of the hospital of Ierusalem. [ F] His rule was confirmed by Calixtus the second, and his successors, who ordained that the knights should liue according to the rule of S. Agustine. This great Maister seeing the re∣uenues of the hospitall to encrease dayly, and that he could not better imploy it than in making war against the Infidells, he offered himselfe with his religious men, and all their forces to the king of Ierusalem, carrying in their ensignes a Crosse Argent in a field

Gueles, by the order of Pope Innocent the second, in the yeare 1130. From that time the [ A] brethren and religious men were distinguished into three degrees, some were knights, others chaplaines, and the third seruants, whereas in the beginning there was no distin∣ction, but that some were priests and clerkes, and others lay-men. From that time there was no enterprise in Palestina against the Infidells, but the great Maister was present in person with his knights and religious men. They grew to be in great credit and reputa∣tion, and had the managing of great affaires. In the yeare 1153 Raymond the great Mai∣ster continued the siege of Ascalon, the which the Infidells had defended aboue fiftie yeares against the Christians, and in the end tooke it in the yeare 1154, for which worthie prise. Pope Anastatius the fourth, gaue great priuiledges to the order of the hospitall [ B] of S. Iohn, and freed them from the jurisdiction of the Ecelesiasticall Prelats of the East, the which bred great troubles betwixt the Bishops of that countrie, and the knights of this order, who were alwaies supported and fauoured by the See of Rome, and the Car∣••inalls. Some hold that Raymond was a Florentine, but the most certaine is, that he was a Frenchman borne in Dauphine of a noble familie, called du Puy. He died in the yeare 1160; being reputed a religious, wise, and valiant man.

3. Auger of Balben was chosen great Maister in the place of Raymond, in whose time there was nothing done worthie of memorie, but that Baldouin the third, king of Ierusa∣lem dyed, who was much lamented by the Christians, yea by the Infidells, who said that the Christians had great cause to complaine for his death, hauing lost a prince, who had not his equall in all the world. Auger hauing gouerned the order in peace about three [ C] yeares, died in the yeare 1163.

4. Arnold of Comps succeeded him: he was a man of great valour and councell, who soone after his election entred into Aegypt with Amolry the new king of Ierusalem, who made warre against the Calife of Aegypt, for that he refused to pay the yearely tribute, hauing bound himselfe to Baldo••in the third to pay it continually to the kings of Ierusa∣lem. This Arnold hauing gouerned foure yeares with great wisdome and valour, died in the yeare 1167, and there succeeded him

5. Gilbert of Assalyor Sailly, who was of a great courage, and so liberall, as he encli∣ned to prodigalitie, especially to souldiers; so as he exhausted all the treasure of the reli∣gion, [ D] and was forced to borrow money vpon interest, vpon condition that if he tooke from the Infidells the towne of Balbeis, sometimes called Pelusium, it should remaine to the order, the which he happily effected, the third of Nouember 1168, in which yeare he held a generall Chapter in Ierusalem, and seeing himselfe much indebted, and that he had charged the order with aboue one hundred thousand crownes debt, grieuing that all his enterprises succeeded not to his desires, he resolued to renounce the great Maistership, the which he did, in the yeare 1169.

6. Gastus or Castus was chosen great Maister by the resignation of the other, of whom there is nothing found memorable, his gouernment being so short; for he died in the same yeare of his election. [ E]

7. Ioubert, a very religious man, was his successour, who in the yeare 1176, ioined with Philip Earle of Flaunders, who was come into Syria to succour king Baldwin the fourth, against Saladin, who had a mightie armie defeated by the Christians being few in number, in the yeare 1177. In the end Saladin retired out of the countrie of Damas in the yeare 1179, whenas Ioubert Maister of the hospitalliers died, being very chari∣table and bountifull vnto the poore diseased: some write that grieuing to see the affaires of Christendome go manifestly to ruine in Syria, and the dishonourable and preiudi∣ciall truce which was made by the king of Ierusalem, and the Earle of Tripoli, with Saladin, it shortned his daies, hauing gouerned the order of S. Iohn ten yerares or there∣abouts. [ F]

8. In his place Roger of Molins a man of great valour and judgement, was chosen in the same yeare 1179. In his time there grew great dissention betwixt the prince of An∣tioc he and the Patriarch of that place, and Roger was chosen mediator of a peace and accord betwixt them, in the yeare 1181. Soone after, Roger with Heracleus Patriarch of

[ A] Ierusalem, and Arnold of Troge Maister of the Templers, were sent Embassadours by the king of Ierusalem into the West, to demaund succours of Christian princes; who were well receiued by the Pope, Emperour, Philip Augustus the French king, the kings of England, Sicile, and Hungarie, and then they returned into Syria, onely the maister of the Templers dyed vpon the way. In the yeare of our Redemption 1187, the Earle of Tripoli entring into league with Saladin, he gaue him passage, and relieued his armie with victualls, who besieging the towne of Ptolemaide, the knights of S. Iohn, and the Templers, put his armie to rout, and Roger the great Maister fighting valiantly, dyed, his horse falling vpon him, being brused with the weight of his armes, and troden on by the enemies horse, his bodie was found among the dead, and buried with much griefe: [ B] notwithstanding this losse, the knights woon the battaile, there being 15000 Sarazins slaine vpon the place, after whom

9. Garnier of Naples in Syria (which was the auncient towne of Sichem in Canaan) was chosen great Maister, in whose time a bloudie battell was giuen betwixt the Chri∣stians and Infidels, in which Guy of Lusignan king of Ierusalem was taken prisoner, with the chiefe in his realme, and the true Crosse which the Christians carried in battell, was taken by the Infidels, and almost all the knights of S. Iohn, and the Templers, were slaine, some in the battell, and others were beheaded in cold bloud, and Garnier the great Mai∣ster fighting valiantly, and being wounded mortally in many places of his bodie, escaped by the ••wiftnesse of his horse, and fled to Ascalon, where he died within ten dayes after, [ C] vpon the foureteenth day of the moneth of Iulie, hauing been great Maister two moneths and six daies.

10. Ermengard of Aps was chosen great Maister by the knights that were in Ierusalem, in the yeare of our Lord God 1187, the same yeare, vpon the second of October, the ci∣tie of Ierusalem was made subject to the power of Saladin, eightie eight yeares, two mo∣neths, and seuenteene daies, after it had beene taken from them by Godfrey of Bouillon, from whence all the Knights, Hospitaliers, and Templers, with all the Christians Latins, were chased, the Hospitaliers redeeming one thousand captiues with their owne money from the Barbarians. After the losse of Ierusalem, the Hospitaliers were alwaies in armes, assisting faithfully the Christian princes, which had crost themselues for the reco∣uerie [ D] of the Holie Land, and they did worthie exploits at the siege of Ptolemaide, the which after a long siege of three yeares was recouered by the Christians, in the yeare of our Saluation 1191, and in this towne the knights of S. Iohn made their residence, and ordinarie aboad, and the same yeare the Christians obtained a famous victorie against the Infidel and Saladin, wherein they were much assisted by the knights of S. Iohn, and the Templers. The yeare after, in Winter, in the yeare of Christ 1192, the great Maister of Aps died in the citie of Ptolemaide, and in his place was chosen

11. Geoffrey Duisson; in his time there was a truce made for fiue yeres betwixt the Chri∣stians and Saladin, whereupon many noblemen and gentlemen of diuers nations, which [ E] had gotten great possessions in those parts, returned into their countries, and gaue their goods to the religion of S. Iohn, the which did much augment the reuenues, and after the decease of Henrie Earle of Champagne, the Hospitaliers, and Templers, remayned gouernours of the realme of Ierusalem, or at the least of that small part which remayned to the Christians, who chose Amaulry of Lusignan (who had succeded in the realme of Cypres) king of Ierusalem, with the consent of the Patriarchs, Prelats, and Barons of the realme, in the yeare of Grace 1194, and soone after the great Maister died, to whom succeeded

12. Alphonso of Portugal, a knight of the order, issued from the house of Portugal, but it is not knowne for certaine what kings sonne he was; notwithstanding, he made ve∣rie [ F] worthy and commendable statutes, whereof some are inuiolably kept at this day; and for that he was of great courage, and too seuere, he purchased the hatred of most of the knights of S. Iohn, which made him renounce the Maistership, and to imbarke for Portu∣gal in the same yeare that he was chosen, which was in the yeare 1194, where he died, in the yeare of Christ 1207.

13. Geoffrey le Rat, who was grand Prior of France, was chosen great Maister by the [ A] renunciation of Alphonso; and Saladin died, to whom succeeded his sonne Noradin, lord of Al••ppo: In his time, Symon, earle of Montfort, was sent by king Philip Augustus with •••• armie into Syria, where finding great disorders, he made truce with the Infidells for ten yeares, in the yeare of our Redemption 1198: during the which, there was great dis∣sention betwixt the Hospitaliers and Templers, the first, complayning that the Templers had attempted vpon their jurisdiction, and contemned them which quarrell, after many ••kirmishes and furious incounters, was pacified and reconciled by the meanes of king Amaulry, the patriarchs of Antioch and Ierusalem, and other Christian Princes and Pre∣lats, who made them referre it to Pope Innocent the third, the which was the cause of great good, for next vnto God, the onely hope and support of the affaires of the Holie [ B] Land depended vpon the loue and concord of these two militarie orders. In the yeare 1••••6, the great Maister le Rat died, to whom succeeded

14 Guerin of Montagu, of the nation of Auuergne, who with the knights of his order relieued Liuon, king of Armenia, against the Barbarians, who had inuaded his realme, and for recompence, he gaue them the towne of Salef, with the castles of Camard and Cha∣steaneuf, and their dependances, and recommended himselfe, with his heire and realme, to the knights of the Hospitall of S. Iohn, which gift was confirmed by Pope Innocent the third, about the yeare of our Saluation 1209, whenas Iohn of Brienna and Marie his wife, herre to the realme, were crowned King of Hierusalem: The same Pope confirmed and augmented the statutes and priuiledges of the order of S. Iohn: Soone after, by the per∣suasion [ C] of Pope Honorius the third, the king of Hungarie, and the Archduke of Austria, crost themselues, and were recommended by him to the great Maister Guerin, and the knights of S. Iohn, to assist them in the recouerie of the Holie Land. Andrew king of Hun∣garie lodged in their palace, and intreated them to receiue him into the number of the brethren of their religion, giuing them fiue hundred markes of yearely rent, the which he assigned vpon the Salt-pits of his realme. In the yeare of our Redemption 1222, the great Maister Guerin pacified a great discord betwixt Isabel Queene of Cypres, and king Henrie her sonne, and the Lords and Barons of the realme of the one part: and the Arch∣bishops, Bishops, and Prelats of the realme of the other, in regard of their tenths and pos∣sessions. [ D] In the yeare of our Saluation 1230, the great Maister Guerin died in the citie of Ptolemaide, who for his wisdome and great valour was much esteemed by the Christian princes, and greatly lamented by the knights and religious of his order, in whose place was chosen

15. Bertrand of Texi: during his gouernement the Christian affaires depended wholly vpon the Hospitaliers and Templers, who although they had great quarrells among themselues; yet they agreed well, for that which concerned the good and aduancement of the Christians against the Infidells. In the yeare of our Lord God 1240, Bertrand died at Ptolemaide soone after the arriuall of Richard earle of Cornwell, brother to Henrie king of England into Palestina, with an armie of fortie thousand men, to whom succee∣ded [ E] by election

16. Gerin, whose surname is not knowne; he gaue to the earle of Cornwall a small portion of the bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, the which was kept in Ieru∣salem by the Maister of the Hospiaall of S. Iohn, the which he brought into England. The great Maister Gerin fighting valiantly against the Corasmins Infidells, was taken pri∣soner, and sent to the Souldan of Aegypt, where he ended his mortall life, in the yeare of our Lord God 1244, in whose place the knights of S. Iohn did chuse for their great Maister

17. Bertrand of Comps, who being in a furious battell which was giuen against the ••urcomans, who spoyled the countrie about Antioch, in the yeare of our Redemption [ F] 1••••8, receiued many deadly wounds whereof he died, in whose place, in the citie of Pto∣le••ai••e, was chosen

18. Peter of Villebride, in whose time S. Lewis the French king came into Syria, with many Princes and Prelats of France, and besieged Damiette, where, being assisted by the

[ A] hospitaliers and templers, the towne soone yeelded to the king. In the yeare 1250, the Souldan of Aegypt gaue battaile to the Christians, whereas king Lewis was taken priso∣ner with his brethren Charles and Alphonso, and the king of Cypres, with the great Mai∣ster of S. Iohn, and Templers, and the greatest part of their knights: wherupon there was an accord made betwixt the king S. Lewis and the Souldan, and the knights of S. Iohn lent S. Lewis money to pay his ransome. In the yeare 1251, the great Maister Villebride died in the citie of Ptolemaide, to whom succeeded by election

19. William of Chasteau-neuf or Castelnau, of the nation of Auuergne, who was a great obseruer of justice. In his time the Christians of the holy Land lost all hope to be relie∣ued [ B] by the Christians of Europe. He died in the yeare 1260, and there succeeded

20. Hugh Reuell, in whose time Pope Vrbain the fourth gaue vnto the knights of S. Iohn Mount Tabor, in the yeare 1261, and soone after they tooke the Castle of Lilion from the Sa••azins, & defeated two of their colonels, which made the Souldan of Aegypt resolue to ruine the knights of S. Iohn; so as in the yeare 1265, he tooke from them the Castle of Assur, at the which there were ninetie knights of the order slaine. This did much weaken the religion of S. Iohn, and in the yeare 1267 the hospitaliers and templers were defeated in battaile by the Sarrazins neere to the citie of Ptolemaide. In the yeare 1270, the Souldan tooke the Castle of Crac by assault from the hospitaliers, whereas all the knights were put to the sword. Some hold that the great Maister Reuell assisted the [ C] king S. Lewis in his voiage towards Tunis, where he died of the plague. In the yeare 1278, the great Maister ended his daies, hauing held fiue Chapters of the religion of S. Iohn, where there were goodlie statutes made for the gouernement and reformation of the order.

21. Nicholas Lorgue was chosen after him, who not to yeeld to his predecessor, knowing that nothing did more ruine commonweales and states, than discord and dissention, he laboured in such sort, as he reconciled the knights of S. Iohn, and the templers, and made them good friends. In the yeare 1282, the knights of S. Iohn obtained a famous victorie against the Sarrazins, who were come to besiege the Castle of Margat, which was their chiefe fort, the which moued the Souldan to besiege it, in the yeare 1285; but it was valiantly defended by the knights, who in the end yeelded it by composition, and [ D] retired to Polemaide with their ensignes displaied. In the yeare one thousand two hun∣dred eightie and eight, the great Maister Lorgue died of griefe, to see the Christians af∣faires so decline in the holie Land.

22. Iohn of Villiers of the nation of France was chosen great Maister. In his time the towns of Tripoli, Sydonia, Barut, and Tyre were taken from the Christians, and reduced vnder the power of the Souldan, with whom the Christians of Ptolemaide made a truce, and in the meane time the great Maisters of S. Iohn and of the Templers, came to Brundusium to sollicite Christian princes to vndertake the conquest of the holie Land. In the yeare 1291, the Souldan came and besieged Ptolemaide, the which was valiantly [ E] defended by the knights of the Hospitall and Temple, who made many sallies, and the great Maister being wounded did long withstand the assaults of the Barbarians, but in the end it was taken the eighteenth of May the same yeare, and with this losse the Chri∣stians were driuen out of the holie Land nineteene yeares, ten moneths, and three daies after that Godfrey of Bouillon had conquered it. The great Maister with the rest of the knights retired by sea into the Island of Cypres, where they were well entertained by the king, who gaue to them & the templers the towne of Limisson, which is a sea port to dwel in, whereas the great Maister called two generall Chapters, one in the yeare one thou∣sand two hundred ninetie and two, and the other was in the yeare following, where he made new statutes for the order: and in the yere 1294 he died at Limisson, and there [ F] succeeded him

23. Odo des Pins of the nation of Prouence. He incurred the hatred and disgrace of the knights of his order, who had an intent to depriue him by reason of his negligence and couetousnesse, but it was staied by Pope Boniface the eight to auoid scandall, and in the end he was cited to appeare personally at Rome to aunswere the complaints of the

hospitaliers, but he died vpon the way before the came into Italie in the yeare 1296. [ A]

24. The knights hearing of the death of their great Maister des Pins, chose William of Villaret at Limisson, the foure and twentieth of March 1296, to succeed him. He was al∣so of Prouence, and prior of Saint Gilles, where he was at the time of his election; but being aduertised thereof, he went presently into the realme of Cypres, and gouerned in this charge very wisely. In his time Vssum Cassan king of the Tartarians became a Chri∣stian, and recouered the citie of Ierusalem, in the yeare 1300, into the which he put the knights of the hospitall and temple in Garrison, but it was soone taken againe by the In∣fidels, and the knights returned into Cypres, whereas the great Maister past to a better life, in the yere 1308, hauing held fiue generall Chapters at Limisson, and seene the totall ruine of the knights of the temple. [ B]

25. Folquet of Villaret, of the same nation of Pouence, was chosen in his place, being a man of a quicke spirit, and of great courage. Seing himselfe aduanced to this soueraign dignitie, he resolued to put that in exeution which had beene often treated of in his predecessors time, but could not be effected, which was to retire out of the Island of Cy∣pres, and dwell in some other place, the which he brought happily to passe: for in the yeare of his election, being 1308, he made a voiage to Constantinople, and afterwards into France, whereas the Pope gaue him the Island of Rhodes, the which he conquered with his knights, in the yeare 1309, and seuen Islands neere vnto it, into which was trans∣ferred the aboad of the order of S. Iohn; so as they were afterwards called the knights of Rhodes. Presently after Ottoman, who was the first Emperor of the Turkes, came and [ C] besieged Rhodes with a mightie armie, the which was relieued by Amedee the fourth, Earle of Sauoy, and Ottoman was forced to raise the siege. The templers hauing beene supprest by a generall Councell held at Vienna in Dauphine, most of their possessions were giuen to the religion of S. Iohn by Pope Clement the fift. In the yeare 1314, the knights of Rhodes conquered the Island of Lango, and other Islands of the Archipela∣gus, and in the yere 1317, the great Maister Folquet pleasing himselfe in his victories and conquests became glorious and proud, which purchased him the hatred of the religion, and the knights of the order reuolted against him, and had seised vpon his person if he had not fled into a Castle, but not being able to take him, they deposed him of his digni∣tie, [ D] and chose in his place

26. Maurice of Pagnac, whereof Pope Iohn the two and twentieth, being aduertised, he was much troubled, deputing two prelats to go to Rhodes, and to informe themselues of the fact, and to cite the great Maisters of Villaret and Pagnac to appeare personally at Auignon, whereunto they obeyed, and the Pope in the meane time created Gerard des Pins lieutenant generall of the order of S. Iohn; in whose time Orcanes Emperour of the Turkes made preparation to besiege the Island of Rhodes, of whom the knights of Rhodes obtained a wonderfull victorie in the yeare 1321, where there were ten thousand Turkes cut in peeces. In the meane time Maurice of Pagnac died at Mountpelier, in the yeare one thousand three hundred twentie and two, and Folquet of Villaret was restored [ E] to his dignitie of great Maister, who seeing himselfe hateful to the knights, he renounced it in the yeare 1323, and liued as a priuat knight vntill the first of September 1327, when he died, and was interred at Montpelier.

27. The yere of his renunciation the knights of Rhodes presented vnto Pope Iohn, Elion of Villeneufe of the nation of Prouence, and prior of S. Gilles, to be their great Maister, whereat his holinesse, and all the Cardinalls, and Knights of Rhodes were much conten∣ted, for that he had the reputation to be honourable, vertuous, and honest. This great Maister held a generall Capter at Montpelier, in the yeare 1330, and going towards Rhodes, he fell very sicke at Marceilles, but he recouered his health in the yeare 1332, and came in the end to Rhodes, and the same yeare he held a generall Chapter, where [ F] there were good statutes made: vnder his gouernment the order not onely freed it selfe fi•••• debt, but also grew rich; so as many enuied it, and persuaded the Pope in the yere 1342, to diuide it into two militarie orders, the which tooke no effect. In the yeare 1343, there was a league made betwixt the seigneurie of Venice, the religion of S Iohn, and

[ A] the king of Cipres. The great Maister, in the yeare of our Lord God 1346, hauing pur∣chased the name of happie Gouernour, died at Rhodes, hauing in his life time inclosed the great Maisters palace with walls and towers, and diuided the nations, bayliwicks, and dignities of the order.

28. Presently after the death of Villeneufue, Deodate of Gozon, a knight also of Pro∣uence, was chosen great Maister. About foure yeares before he was aduaunced to this soueraigne dignitie, he had fought with a monstrous Dragon, which afflicted the Island of Rhodes, and had slaine it, for the which he was so much honoured, as his memorie wil be for euer commendable to posteritie. In the yeare 1347, he relieued the king of Arme∣nia against the Souldan of Aegypt: Pope Clement the sixt did so esteeme the knights of [ B] Rhodes, as in a manner all the forts which the holie See did hold in Italie were gouerned by them; and, in the yeare 1353, the sonne of Iohn Cantacuzen, emperour of Constanti∣nople, came to Rhodes to demaund succours of the great Maister, who hauing gouerned the religion of S. Iohn seuen yeares, six moneths, and ten daies, died, in the yeare 1353, and was buried in the Church of S. Iohn of Rhodes, hauing caused the peere there to be built, and the bourough of Rhodes to be walled about: He had held two generall Chap∣ters, one in the yeare 1346, and the other 1362.

29. Peter de Cornilian, Prior of S. Gilles, of the nation of Prouence, was chosen great Maister, the which he held but a yeare, eight moneths, and seuenteene daies; for falling sicke in the towne of Rhodes, he died, in the yeare 1355. He was a man of an exemplarie [ C] life, and so seuere, as he was called the Corrector of manners: He held a generall Chap∣ter at Rhodes, in the yeare of Christ 1354, where many good and profitable lawes were made.

30. After the great Maisters decease, according to their accustomed forme, Roger des Pius, of the nation of Prouence, was chosen great Maister. In his time the Pope persua∣ded the religion of S. Iohn to purchase the principalitie of Achaia of Iames of Sauoy, Prince of Piedmont; and there was a generall assemblie of the knights of Rhodes in the towne of Auignon, to treat of this purchase, and to reforme certaine abuses which were crept into this order. In the yeare of our Lord God one thousand three hundred sixtie fiue, the great Maister died, and was much lamented, especially of the poore, to whom he [ D] was verie charitable.

31. Raymond Berengier, of the same nation of Prouence, was chosen great Maister, ha∣uing beene before commaunder of castle Sarrazin: He presently sent his Embassadour to Auignon to the Pope, to yeeld him obedience and fealtie. In his time, the king of Cy∣pres, and the religion of S. Iohn, made a league together, and tooke the towne of Alex∣andria in Aegypt by force, the which they spoyled, and burnt; and in the yeare of our Re∣demption 1366, the Pope wrote to all Christian Princes, persuading them to succour the religion of S. Iohn, and the king of Cypres, giuing great indulgences to such as should relieue them. The Armenians being expelled their houses by the Satrazins, were chari∣tably [ E] receiued by them of the religion into the Island of Lango; and at the same time, the towne of Tripoli in Syria was taken and spoyled by the king of Cypres, and the knight of Rhodes. In the yeare of our Redemption 1371, the great maister was chosen Nuncio of the Apostolique See, to pacific the diuisions which were in the realme of Cy∣pres, whither he went in person, and supprest all dissentions by his authoritie and wis∣dome. In the yeare 1373, the great maister had a will to resigne his place, to the which end, he sent a diuine his kinsman to the Pope to demand leaue, the which Pope Gregorie the eleuenth would not graunt, but commaunded him to continue in that charge for the good of Christendome. Soone after, he died, hauing gouerned the order about eigh∣teene yeares and a halfe, during the which he had held two generall Chapters at Rhodes, [ F] where many good laws were made, according to the necessitie of the time.

32. Robert of Iuliac, or Iuli, great Prior of France, was chosen great Maister when he was in the gouernement of his Priorie, who hearing the news of his election went presently to Auignon to kisse the Popes feet, whereas he was verie well entertained, and much honoured, and there he held a generall assemblie of the order, and the Pope

gaue the gouernement of the towne of Smyrne to the order of S. Iohn, commaunding the [ A] great Maister to accept thereof vpon paine of excommunication, who, in the yere 1374, imbarked for Rhodes, where he arriued happily, and by his presence pacified all rumors and disorders which had growne by his absence. He died in 1376, to whom succeeded

33. Iohn Fernandes of Heredia, of the nation of Aragon, borne at Valencia, who had beene Prior of Cattalogne, and Chastelain of Embosta, and had beene twice married, who being a widower, tooke the habit, and was made knight of Rhodes in the time of the great Maister of Villeneufue; being a simple knight, with the leaue of the great Mai∣ster, he went to visit the holie Sepulchre. When he was great Maister, he went towards Rhodes, in the yeare 1377, and being required by the Generall of the Venetian armie to joyne with him, and to go into Morea, in the yeare 1378, they besieged the towne of Pa∣tras, [ B] and tooke it with the castle, and the great Maister fighting bodie to bodie with the gouernour of Patras, slew him, after which he was taken prisoner in an Ambuscadoe of Turkes, and knowne by them; so as to recouer his libertie, they restored to the Turkes, Patras, and other places which they had conquered, and yet they carried him away into Armenia, and detained him captiue three yeres: He was redeemed in the yere 1381, and returned to Rhodes; the yeare following, he held a generall Chapter, where it was resol∣ued, That the great Maister should go into France, who comming to Auignon, Pope Cle∣ment the seuenth was acknowledged by him, and the whole order of S. Iohn, for the true Vicar of Iesus Christ: wherupon, Pope Vrban the sixt, who liued then at Rome, depriued [ C] him of his dignitie of great Maister, and subrogated in his place Richard Caracciola, a Ne∣opolitan, in 1383; but the order would neuer acknowledge him for great Maister, who died at Rome, in the life time of Heredia. In the yeare 1395, Baiazet, emperour of the Turkes, made some preparations to besiege Rhodes; whereupon, Philibert of Naillac, prior of Aquitaine, was sent from the Conuent of Rhodes, to the great Maister, being at Auignon, with letters to demaund succours against Baiazet, from whence he returned to Rhodes in 1396, in which yeare the great Maister Heredia died, and was buried in Caspe.

34. News of the great Maisters decease being come to Rhodes, Philibert of Naillac, of the nation of France, and grand Prior of Aquitaine, was chosen great Maister, in the yere 1396. He was intreated by Sigismond, king of Hungarie, to succour him against Baiazet, [ D] the which he did in person, in the yeare 1397: and there was a battaile giuen at Nicopolis, whereas Baiazet had the victorie, from the which the king of Hungarie escaped, and reti∣red himselfe, with the great Maister, to Rhodes, whither the Emperour of Constanti∣nople sent his most pretious jewells to keepe, fearing least Baiazet should take Constan∣tinople, but he was hindered by Tamberlan, who defeated Baiazet, and tooke him cap∣tiue; and the siege of Constantinople being raised, the great Maister sent backe the Em∣perours jewells. After the defeat of Baiazet, the great Maister sailed with an armie into Caria, where he built an inexpugnable fort, which he called the castle of S. Peter. In the yeare 1399, there was warre betwixt the king of Cypres and the Geneuois, the which was pacified, and they reconciled by the authoritie and wisdome of the great Maister of [ E] Naillac, to whom the Souldan of Aegypt sent an Embassadour to demaund a peace. Du∣ring his time there were diuers generall assemblies held, and he died in the yeare 1421, in whose place was chosen.

35. Anthonie Fluuiano, or Riuiere, of the nation of Aragon. In his time there was a ge∣nerall Chapter held at Rhodes, in the yeare of Christ 1430, where there were Embassa∣dours deputed by the order of S. Iohn to assist at the Councell of Basil. In the yeare of our Lord 1434, the Souldan of Aegypt grown proud with the victorie which he had got∣ten at Cypres, brake the truce, and made great preparations with an intent to besiege Rhodes, but hearing that the great maister had made good prouisions to defend himselfe, he gaue ouer the enterprise, so as the order liued in peace. In the yeare 1437, the great [ F] Maister died, hauing gouerned the order with much wisdome about sixteene yeares and a halfe.

36. Nicholas of Lastic, of the nation of Auuergne, was chosen great Maister in his place, who at the time of his election was absent, and remayned in Auuergne, where

[ A] he was prior: before his going to Rhodes, he held an assemblie at Valencia, and came to Rhodes in December 1438. In the yeare of our redemption 1440, the Souldan of Aegypt comming neere vnto the Island of Castelrouge, which did belong vnto the re∣ligion, with an armie, and turning from thence towards Rhodes, he was chased by the armie of the knights, who had but eight galleys; and in the Souldans armie there were eighteene: in which fight there were but seuen hundred Sarazins slaine, and a great num∣ber hurt, which did so incense the Souldan, as he made a league with Amurath Emperor of the Turkes, with an intent to take Rhodes, and to chase away the knights: and in the yere one thousand foure hundred fortie foure, he came to besiege Rhodes, the which [ B] was valiantly defended by the knights, and in September the same yeare there was a ge∣nerall assemblie held at Rhodes, to supplie the necessitie of the order. The next yeare following, the great Maister made a peace with Amurath, and in the yeare one thousand foure hundred fortie and six, there was a peace concluded betwixt the religion and the Souldan. In the yeare one thousand foure hundred fiftie and one, a generall Chapter was held at Rhodes, where the gouernment of the treasure, and conuent was giuen to the great maister, who, in the yere 1452, after the death of Amurath, renewed the peace with Mahomet the second, his sonne. And the yeare following, hauing taken the citie of Constantinople, he grew proud of this happie successe, and sent word to the great mai∣ster, that he should pay him two thousand duckats tribute yearely, otherwise he meant not to entertaine the peace which he had sworne, to whom the great Maister made a [ C] couragious aunswere, that neither the religion, the Island of Rhodes, nor he were sub∣iect to any but to the Apostolike See, and that he would neuer pay him any tribute, being resolued rather to die, than in his time to suffer the religion to be subiect and trib••tarie, hauing beene alwaies free; whereupon he deputed Embassadours to the Pope and the Christian princes to haue succours from them against periured Mahomet: and in the yere 1454, the great Maister died, hauing valiantly gouerned the religion sixteene yeres, six moneths, and thirteene daies.

47. Iames of Milly, of the nation of Auuergne, whereof he was prior, succeeded him, being in his priorie at the time of his election, whereof his nephew George of Boisrond, brought him the first newes, whereupon he went presently to Rhodes, where he held a [ D] generall Chapter. In the yeare 1456, the Island of Rhodes was much afflicted with pesti∣lence and famine; so as it was halfe desart: for the repeopling whereof, there were ge∣nerall citations sent to all the knights to repaire thither within a certaine time. In the yeare 1457, Mahomet besieged the Island of Lango, and the Castle of the Island of Apes, but he was valiantly repulsed, and the knights woon a famous victorie: and the same yeare Charles the seuenth, the French king, gaue sixteene thousand crownes to the order. In the yere of our saluation 1460, there was a generall Chapter held at Rhodes, to the which there were many Priors, Bailifes, and Commaunders of the order, cited for the defence of the religion; and the yeare following, the great Maister died, hauing [ E] gouerned the order seuen yeares, two moneths, and sixteene daies, with great wise∣dome, in a very turbulent and troublesome time. He was much lamented, for that he was mild, affable, and courteous, and desirous to entertaine peace and vnitie among his religious.

38. Peter Reymond Zacosta, of the nation of Arragon, Chastellain of Emposta, was chosen great Maister, being then absent in Spaine, from whence he parted in the yeare one thousand foure hundred sixtie and two, and passing by Rome, he came to Rhodes, where he held a generall chapter, during the which, the eight tongue or nation of Ca∣stile and Portugal was erected in the order, there being but seuen nations, which were France, Auuergne, Prouence, Italie, Arragon, England, and Germanie. In the yeare of [ F] our redemption one thousand foure hundred sixtie and foure, the Venetians armie be∣sieged Rhodes, but the siege was soone raised, and the Venetians returned home againe, the warre being pacified by the wisdome of the great Maister, who caused the towre of Saint Nicholas to be built at the mouth of the port of Rhodes, in the same place, whereas in old time did stand that great Colosse of the Sunne, numbred among the

wonders of the world: towards which building Philip duke of Bourgandie gaue ten [ A] thousand crownes. In the yeare 1465, the great Turke sent Embassadors to Rhodes, to mediate a peace betwixt the knights and him, but it was refused by them of the order, who in the presence of the Embassadour denounced was against the Turke. The yeare following the Pope transferred the celebration of a generall Chapter to Rome, whither the great maister came in person, and died there in the yeare 1467, hauing gouerned fiue yeares, six moneths, and ten daies. He was buried in S. Peters Church.

39. Baptista Orsino prior of Rome, of the nation of Italie, succeeded him, and was ad∣uanced to this dignitie by the Pope, for that it was void in the court of Rome, but it was with the aduice and consent of all the religious of the order of S. Iohn which were then [ B] in Rome, and the great maister did presently take an oath in the Popes hands, and then went to Rhodes, where in the yere 1469, hauing had certaine intelligence that the great Turke prepared a mightie armie to besiege Rhodes or Negrepont, he sent for a great number of knights that were absent to come to the defence of the Island, and he made a league with the seigneurie of Venice against the Turke; but in the yeare 1470, Maho∣met tooke the towne of Negrepont by force, where he committed horrible cruelties, killing all the Latins in cold bloud, and proclaiming warre against them which were of the order, by the sound of a trumpet, vpon which occasion the great maister sent to de∣maund succours from the Pope, and the Rhodians began to fast to make vowes, prayers, and publicke processions to implore the aide of heauen, making all the preparations [ C] they could to defend themselues against the Turkish armie. And in the yeare 1471, the great maister held a generall Chapter at Rhodes, where there was some question against the procurators of the treasure, the which was ended by the Legate of Pope Sixtus the fourth, who came to Rhodes to that end. In the yere one thousand foure hundred seuen∣tie and six, the great maister died of a long and tedious sicknesse which had held him a whole yeare, hauing gouerned the order with great authoritie, grauitie, and wisedome, nine yeares, three moneths, and three daies.

40. Peter of Aubusson, prior of Auuergne, and of that nation, and captaine of the towne of Rhodes was chosen great maister, who sware solemnely, according to the cu∣stome, to keepe the statutes of the order, sending an Embassadour to Rome to aduertise [ D] the Pope of his election, and to yeeld vnto him due obedience. In the yeare one thou∣sand foure hundred seuentie and seuen, he went to visite all the Island of Rhodes, and made very great and extraordinarie prouisions for the defence therof against the Turkes armie, citing many priors, commaunders, and knights to assist at a generall Chapter, and the defence of the Island, and he renewed the peace with the Souldan of Aegypt. The same yeare king Lewis the eleuenth, obtained a Iubile in France of the Pope, in fauour of the knights of Rhodes, whereby they raised great summes of money, the which was wholly employed in the fortification of the Island. In the yeare of our saluation one thousand foure hundred seuentie and eight, the great maister held a generall Chapter, where the administration of the treasure was giuen him, and the religion of the holie [ E] Sepulchre of Ierusalem was vnited to that of S. Iohn. The yeare following, it was resol∣ued in Mahomets Councel, that Rhodes should be besieged, whereof, the great maister being aduertised, he sent presently aduice vnto the Pope, and demaunded succours, and in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and eightie, the great Turke came before the towne of Rhodes with a mightie armie: at this siege there were many sallies made, and the Turkes were stil repulsed, hauing in their armie one hundred thousand fighting men, and one hundred and sixtie saile: the great maister was relieued by Anthonie of Aubus∣son, vicount of Montelis, his brother, who was a great souldier, and was made generall of the armie of the besieged. The Turkes had in few daies discharged three thousand and seuen hundred cannon shot against the walles, and gaue a furious assault with 40000 [ F] men, who were valiantly repulsed, in which the great maister receiued fiue wounds, wher∣of one was held mortall; but in end the Turkes, after eightie and nine daies siege were forced to rise, and to returne with a great losse and shame, to Constantinople. In memorie of this victorie, there was a Church built at Rhodes, and it was dedicated to our Ladie

[ A] of victorie. After this siege, Mahomet the second resolued to come in person to Rhodes, and there was a generall assemblie made of knights, but the death of Mahomet disappoin∣ted this dessigne, and his children, Baiazet and Zizime, were in warre after their fathers decease, the which gaue some rests to the knights of Rhodes; yea Zizime fled to Rhodes to the great Maister for ayd, in the yeare of our Lord God 1482, where he was receiued with much honour, and so conducted into France. In the time of this great maister of Aubusson, the statutes of the order were reformed, and reduced into one volume, and a peace was concluded betwixt the knights of the order of S. Iohn, and the great Turke Ba∣iazet, the Pope hauing giuen the great maister power to treat. He was made a Cardinall [ B] Deacon by Pope Innocent the eighth, in the yeare 1488, who sent him a Cardinalls hat, and made him his Legat in Asia; and in the yere 1500, Pope Alexander the sixt made him Legat and Generall of the armie of the league against the Turke: Finally, he died at Rhodes, in the yeare 1503, full of honour and reputation, and was interred with a great funerall pompe: He had liued eightie yeares, three moneths, and foure daies, and gouer∣ned the order seuen and twentie yeres, and sixteene daies. In his time there were fiue ge∣nerall Chapters held at Rhodes, in which many commendable statutes were made.

41. There were 387 knights assembled at Rhodes when he died, who chose to succeed him Emery of Amboyse, brother to George of Amboyse, Cardinall and Legat in France, and Archbishop of Rouen. He was of the French nation, and great Prior in France, [ C] where he was at the time of his election. In the yeare 1504, he made a solemne entrie into Rhodes, where he was receiued with much joy, the kings of France and Spaine ha∣uing written letters of commendation to the Conuent in his fauour. Presently after his arriuall, he held a generall Chapter, where it was ordained, That there should be a sump∣tuous sepulchre made for the deceased Cardinal and great maister; and in the yeare 1510, he held another generall Chapter in which yeare the knights of Rhodes obtained a fa∣mous nanall victorie against the Souldan of Aegypt, by the conduct of Philip of Villiers of Lisle Adam, a French knight, who was afterwards great maister. In the yeare 1512, the great maister died, hauing gouerned nine yeares, foure moneths, and three daies, be∣ing aboue seuentie eight yeares old.

42. [ D] The knights of the order being assembled to the number of foure hundred and ten, chuse for their great maister Guy of Branchfort, Prior of Auuergne, nephew to the decea∣sed great maister of Aubusson, being resident at in his priorie the time of his election. In the yeare 1513, the great maister of Blanchfort imbarking himselfe at Nice in Pro∣uence to go to Rhodes, he was surprised with sicknesse vpon the way, whereof he died a yeare and two daies after his election.

43. Fabricio of Caretto, a Geneuois, of the nation of Italie, was chosen to succeed him in a generall assemblie held at Rhodes, where there were fiue hundred and fiftie knights, Caretto himselfe being present, hauing before beene Admirall of the order. The bodie of the deceased great maister of Blanchfort was brought to Rhodes, and honourably inter∣red [ E] in S. Iohns Church. In the yeare 1514, a generall Chapter was held at Rhodes, after which, Philip of Villiers of Lisle Adam, Seneshal to the great maister, was sent into France with soueraigne authoritie ouer all the priories of the realme, with the qualitie of Visi∣tor, Corrector, Lieutenant, and Embassadour to the great Maister and Conuent. In the yeare 1516, a peace was made betwixt them of the religion of S. Iohn, and Tomombey Souldan of Aegypt, successor to Campson Gauri, who a little before had beene slaine in battaile by Selym Emperour of the Turkes; but Tomombey was vnfortunat, for in the yere 1517, he was taken and hanged in one of the gates of the great Caire, by the commaun∣dement of Selym: Whereupon, the great maister fortified the Island of Rhodes, and sent Embassadours to the Pope, and Christian Princes, to aduertise them of Selyms victories, and to craue aid: but, in the yeare 1520, Selym died, and Sultan Solymon his sonne succe∣ded [ F] him; and the yere following, the great maister of Caretto ended his daies at Rhodes, hauing gouerned seuen yeares, and six and twentie daies, leauing great store of prouision and munition, whereof his successour had afterwards need.

44. Philip of Villiers, of Lisle Adam, grand Prior of France, where he was at the time [ A] of his election. During his absence, Gabriel of Pomereux, great Commaunder, was cho∣sen Lieutenant to the great Maister, whom he presently aduertised of the death of Caret∣to, and that he had succeeded him by election, entreating him to come presently to Rhodes, where he arriued soone after, and made a solemne entrie, swearing to obserue the statutes of the order. The same yeare of his election, Sultan Solyman resolued to besiege Rhodes, and to execute the last will of his father Selym, whereof the great Mai∣ster of Villiers being aduertised, he made all the preparations he could to defend him∣selfe against the Turkes enterprises, fortifying the towne of Rhodes with all speed, and sending an Embassadour to Pope Adrian the sixt, to congratulat his election, and to de∣maund [ B] succours, the which he could not obtaine, by reason of the warres which were be∣twixt king Francis the first, and the Emperour Charles the fift. In Iune, in the yeare of our Lord 1522, began that memorable siege of the towne of Rhodes, before which there was an armie of two hundred thousand Turkes, the which was afterwards increased to 300000: They defended themselues most valiantly, and there were braue exploits of warre done, especially by the great Maister, who was continually armed: The enemie was repulsed in many assaults, in one of which there were twentie thousand Turkes slaine vpon the place, and Solyman was resolued to raise the siege, but there were trayt••rs which stayed him, and those were punished; yet in the end, the great Maister hauing no succors, was forced to yeeld the towne by composition, the foure and twentieth of December, in [ C] the yeare of our Saluation 1522, the Turkes hauing lost aboue one hundred thousand men. Solyman would needs see the great Maister, whom when he saw, teares fell from his eyes for compassion. Vpon the first of Ianuarie, in the yeare of our Redemption 1523, the great Maister parted from Rhodes with fiftie saile, and bent his course towards Can∣die, after that the Island of Rhodes had beene in the power of the knights of the Hospi∣tall two hundred and thirteene yeares. After the losse of Rhodes, the great Maister and his knights had no certaine aboad, vntill that the Island of Malta was giuen them by the Emperour Charles the fift: for they retired first into Candie, from thence they came into Sicile and Italie, whereas the Pope did furnish them with the towne of Viterbe, in which they held a generall Chapter: Afterwards, they stayed some time at Cornette, and then [ D] at Villefranche, and at Nice, from whence the great Maister made a voyage into England, and from thence into France, and being at Lyon, he fell verie sicke, but after his recouerie, he went to Chambery to christen prince Philibert Emanuel sonne to Charles duke of Sa∣uoy, and so returned to Nice, from whence he parted with the armie of the religion, and all the Conuent, to go to Malta, where he arriued the six and twentieth of October, in the yeare of Christ 1530, and there he built a palace in the castle of S. Ange for him and his successours, where, hauing made a solemne entrie, he caused another palace to be built in the old citie of Malta; and finally, hauing gouerned the religion thirteene yeres, and seuen moneths, being seuentie yeares old, he died at Malta, the one and twentieth of August, in the yeare 1534, and was buried in a Chappell which he had caused to be built [ E] in the castle of S. Ange, and there succeeded by election.

45. Pierrin of Pont, borne at Ast, of the nation of Italie. Before the taking of Rhodes, he was gouernour of the Island of Lango, and after the losse thereof, he parted with all the knights of his gouernement, and came and joyned with the armie of the religion in the Island of Candie. He was made Seneshall to the great Maister, and Baylife of Lango, and was sent in embassage to the Lord of Lautrec: He was chosen Baylife of S. Eufemia in the Conuent of Nice, where remaining, he was chosen great Maister, after the decease of his predecessour, the which he much lamented, shewing little joy of his election: He embarked in the galleys of the religion, and came to Malta the tenth of Nouember, the same yeare 1534. In his time, the Emperour Charles the fift went in person to Tunes of [ F] Africke, where he was assisted by the galleys of the religion, the knights doing great ex∣ploits of armes, especially at the taking of Golette, which was held inexpugnable. This warre being ended, the great maister died, in the yeare 1535, being seuentie three yeares

[ A] old, hauing gouerned but fourteen moneths, and two and twentie daies, and was buried neere to his predecessor Villiers.

46. Dydier of S. Iaille of Tolon, prior of Tolousa, of the nation of Prouence, was cho∣sen great Maister: being in his priorie at the time of his election, and being aduertised thereof, the good old man lifting vp his hands to heauen, said, God, God, if it be neces∣sarie for thy people, I will not refuse this paine and toile; and soone after he began his iourney to go to Malta being very old, and comming to Montpelier, he sell exceeding sicke, whereof he died the six and twentieth of September 1536, and was buried with great honour in the Church of the Commaunderie of S. Gilles without the gates of [ B] Montpelier, being much lamented, for the great opinion they had of his justice, bountie, and valour. The religion being aduertised of his decease the eighteenth of October, pro∣ceeded presently to the election of

47. Iohn of Homedes, of the nation of Arragon, who was then in Spaine, from whence he parted, and came to Malta in Ianuarie 1538, where he was receiued with great ioy; but he was discontented, for that they had not sent the gallies, nor the carracke of the re∣ligion to conduct him, whereupon he caused the great carracke to be disarmed and bro∣ken, for the which there was some complaints made against him. He discoursed willing∣ly of the siege of Rhodes, to let the world know that he had lost an eye there. He made a parke for beasts, and a goodly garden in the Island of of S. Michaell, which ministred oc∣casion to murmure against him, saying that he was forgetfull of the gouernment of the [ C] commonweale; yea he was taxed of negligence and little care to prouide for the Island of Malta against the Turkes armie, for that he relied too much vpon the Castle of S. Ange. In his time the towne of Tripoli in Batbarie, was taken by the Turkes from them of the religion, whereat he was much amased. In the yere 1552, Leo Strozzi prior of Ca∣p••ua made an enterprise vpon the Island of Zoara, the which succeeded ill, for there were many knights slaine of all nations, especially, French, Auuergnacs, and Prouençals, wher∣of the great Maister being aduertised, he was much grieued, saying, that it was the grea∣test losse that came to the religion since the taking of Rhodes. He caused the forts of S. Elme, and S. Michaell to be built, and being eightie yeres old, he died in the yere 1558, ha∣uing gouerned sixteene yeares, ten moneths, and fifteene daies, and was interred in the [ D] chappell of the great Maisters.

48. Claude de la Sangle was chosen great Maister, at whose election there assisted about foure hundred knights and religious men which were then in Malta: he was of the nati∣on of France, and Embassadour at Rome for the religion, where he receiued news of his election, whereof he aduertised the Pope, and yeelded him personall obedience: soone after, diuers knights were sent expresly vnto him, to accompanie him to Malta, where he arriued in Ianuarie 1554. He gouerned the order very wisely by the aduice of fiue wor∣thie knights his houshold officers, the which were his Seneschall, Steward, Esquire, Re∣ceiuor, and Secretarie; so as the Estate of the order was very happie during his gouern∣ment, [ E] hauing obtained a priuiledge of Neutralitie from Henry the second, the French king, and the Emperour Charles the fift, who were in armes: he was very religious, and gouerned the reuenues of the order frugally, leauing a great treasure, being sixtie and three yeares old, he died of a Catharre in the yere 1557, hauing beene great Mai∣ster three yeares, eleuen moneths, and seuen daies, to whom succeeded

49. Iohn of Valette called Parisot of the nation of Prouence. This election was most pleasing to all the order of S. Iohn, for that he was generally beloued of all the nations, and desired as most worthy of that great charge and dignitie. In lesse than two yeares, he was generall of the gallies, bailife of Lango, great commaunder, prior of S. Gilles, and lieutenant to the great Maister, and in the end came to the great Maistership. He so loued [ F] his order, as after the time he tooke the habit, he would neuer returne into his countrie; so as hauing made his continuall residence in the conuent, he past through all the offices and degrees of honour of his profession, shewing himselfe in all his actions to be of a rare judgement, of perfect integritie, and great valour. Being aduanced to this soueraigne dig∣nitie, he resolued to build a new towne vpon the mountaine of S. Elme, knowing that all

the other forts were not able to withstand the batterie of a powerfull enemie, but this des∣seigne [ A] was deferred to an other time. He caused the castle of the Island of Goza to be fortified, and leauing the castle of S. Ange, he came to dwell in the bourough of Malta, the which he defended most valiantly against the siege of the Emperour Sultan Soliman, where he was grieuously wounded in the leg, in the yeare 1565; but the siege being raised to the shame and confusion of the Turkes, he fortified the Island of Malta, began to build the new citie, which was called by his surname Valette, whereof the first stone was solemnly laid by him vpon the eight and twentieth of March 1566, and by his care they continued still the building, yea vpon festiuall daies, for the which Pope Pi∣us the fift gaue a dispensation to the workemen, being to the number of eight thousand; [ B] yea he sent a commissarie to aduance the building, paying fiue thousand crownes mo∣nethly to the workemen, which charge he continued seuen moneths. In the yeare 1568, the great Maister died, the same day he had beene chosen, hauing gouerned the order eleuen whole yeares. He was much lamented by all his religious, and in like manner by the Pope, and all Christian kings and princes. In his time there were two generall Chapters held at Malta, where there were many new statutes made for the gouernment of the religion.

50. After the obsequies of the great Maister Valette, they proceeded to the election of a successor, which was Peter de Monte, of the nation of Italie, being then prior of Capo∣••a. Presently after his promotion, he caused the bodie of his predecessor to be brought [ C] into the new towne, and to be buried in the chappell of our Ladie of victorie, hauing de∣serued the name of the father of souldiers, the buckler and defendor of the Catholicke faith, and the scourge of Infidells. The new great Maister, before he came to this soue∣raigne degree, had shewed his wisdome and valour in many other honourable charges; for first of all he had beene patron of the admirall galley of the religion, then lieutenant to the generall of the galleis, chastellain or gouernour of the castle of S. Ange at Rome, he was admirall, then generall of the galleis, and embassadour for the order to Pope Pius the fourth, and Pope Pius the fift: comming from Rome to Malta, he was soone after chosen great Maister, where he caused the new citie to be finished, resoluing to transfer the conuent thither; for this good old man thought to winne as much glorie in causing [ D] the new towne of Valette to be inhabited, as his predecessor had done in causing it to be built; so as vpon Sundaie, the eighteenth of March 1571, the great maister made his so∣lemne entrie with the conuent and knights of the order. In his time the memorable na∣uall battaile of Lepante was fought, and a victorie gotten of the Turkes, in which the knights of the religion did braue exploits of warre. This great maister was very subiect to choller, and soone pacified; so as the knights were not very obedient vnto him, and grew carelesse to execute his commaunds: whereupon, he began to grow wearie, and to haue a will to resigne the place, writing to Pope Pius the fift, to that end, and beseeching him to suffer him to retire to mount Cassin there to end his daies, the which he could not obtaine, but soone after he died at Malta, in the yere one thousand fiue hundred seuentie [ E] and two and there succeeded him

51. Iohn l' Euesque of Cassiere, of the nation of Auuergne, who before his election had shewed his valour in many goodly charges; for at the enterprise of Zoara, he was en∣signe bearer to the religion, whose standard he defended valiantly, and carried it backe to Malta, hauing cast himselfe therewith into the sea, and recouering one of the gallies of the religion, after that he had fought long against the Infidells. He was afterwards cho∣sen captaine generall of the horse, commissarie of the fortifications, and marshall of the order, and in the end he came to the soueraigne degree of great maister, where he liued very religiously, there passing no day but he did assist at diuine seruice, and fed thirteene poore folkes with his owne hands: he caused the church dedicated to S. Iohn Baptist, in [ F] the new citie of Valette, to be built with his owne money, and endowed it with a thou∣sand crownes of yearely rent, and he caused a goodly sepulchre to be built for the bodies of the great maisters his predecessors. In the end of his daies, he fell into a great inconue∣niencie, for being hated by some discontented knights, he was by their practises suspen∣ded

[ A] from his charge, and a guard set vpon him in the castle of S. Ange, the sixt of Iulie 1581, the which he endured verie patiently and vertuously, and complayning to Pope Gregorie the thirteenth, and to Christian kings and princes, the Pope sent Gasper Visconte, Auditor of the Rota, and afterwards Archbishop of Milan, to Malta, to gouerne the reli∣gion in the absence of the great Maister, whom he sent for to Rome; but the knights had chosen Mathurin of Escut, called Romegus, a Frenchman, to be lieutenant to the great Maister, who excused himselfe, for that he had accepted this charge by force, and against his will. Visconte being come to Malta, the great maister embarked in the galleys of the religion, being accompanied by foure of the great Crosse, and two hundred knights, and [ B] entring into Rome, he was receiued with much honour, and lodged in the palace of the Cardinall of Est at Montecauallo; after which, he went to salute the Pope and Cardi∣nalls, and was visited reciprocally by them: In the end, either for griefe, or being wearie with so long a journey made in the extremitie of his age, being seuentie eight yeares old, he fell sicke, and died in the yeare of our Redemption 1581, hauing gouerned almost ten yeares. His bodie was layed in the Church of S. Lewis, where his obsequies were made, and his funerall oration pronounced by Anthonie Muret; his heart was interred there, and his bodie carried to Malta, and buried in the new sepulchre which he had made for the great maisters. After his death, the Pope declared the suspension of the said great maister to be void and vnjust, and ordained, that the decree should be inrolled in the Re∣gisters [ C] of the religion.

52. Hugh of Loubeux, Verdale of the nation of Prouence, was chosen great Maister, in the yeare of our Saluation 1582, who had joyned learning to armes from his youth: He was verie young when he was made a knight, and was at the enterprise of Zoara, where, hauing fought valiantly, he escaped, and afterwards past many honourable charges. He was deputed Embassadour to Pope Gregorie the thirteenth, whereof he discharged him¦selfe verie worthily, and was so pleasing vnto the knights, as they joyntly chose him great Maister, hauing news of the decease of Cassiera. He soone pacified the diuisions which were among the knights, and gouerned the order with much wisdome. Pope Six∣tus the fift made him a Cardinall Deacon, in the yeare of our Lord God 1587, and retur∣ning [ D] to Malta, he built a Conuent of Capucins, fortified the Island, reformed the sta∣tutes of the order, caused the historie to be written in Latine by Iames Bosius, and freed it of debt, which amounted to aboue two hundred thousand crownes; yet he was accused to Pope Clement the eighth, to haue gouerned the treasure ill: whereupon, he sent his nephew to Rome to purge himselfe of this imputation, but the matter being vndecided, the great maister and Cardinall Verdale died at Malta vpon the Ascention day, in the yere of our Redemption 1595, being sixtie foure yeares old, and hauing gouerned thirteene yeares, three moneths, and one and twentie daies, leauing in the publique treasure a great masse of money: He was buried in the Cathedral Church of S. Iohn, with great honour and funerall pompe.

[ E] 53. Martin Garzes, of the nation of Aragon, was chosen to succeed him: He was a knight of great bountie, and generally beloued and respected, who although he had pas∣sed the age of sixtie yeares, yet was he of a strong and vigorous complection. He soone pacified the disorder of the knights which had banded against his predecessour: He abo∣lished the imposts which had beene imposed, and forbad all the officers of the religion to giue any new forme to their gouernements, and that which was most pleasing vnto the knights, he did expresly prohibit any knight, yea the great maister himselfe, to haue any particular galley or vessell at Sea to make any enterprise to his owne profit: and in the end, hauing gouerned the religion fiue yeares, and nine moneths, he died at Malta, in the yeare of our Lord God 1601, and was buried in the sepulchre ordained for the [ F] great Maisters.

54. After the decease of the great Maister, the knights assembled to chuse a new, and on the tenth of Februarie, in the yeare of our Redemption 1601. Aloph of Vigna∣court, of the nation of France, was installed in this soueraigne dignitie: He came to Mal∣ta, in the yeare of our Saluation 1566, with many other French gentlemen, vpon a bruit

that the Island should soone be besieged by the Turkes armie, where he tooke the habit [ A] of the religion vnder the great Maister of Valette: After which, he had great charges wherein he shewed his bountie, valour, and wisdome; and amongst others, hauing been captaine of the towne of Valette, and soone after, great Hospitalier of the religion: his vertues and good fortune haue aduaunced him to this supreame dignitie, in which he now liues with much honour and reputation.