Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/642

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606

A History of

The Lord-prior of Roccelia, alluded to in this report as in command of the seven Maltese galleys, was Gregory Caraffa, grand-prior of La Rocella, a member of the Italian langue. There still exists in the auberge of Italy in Valetta, a tablet commemorative of the action. It runs as follows:—

“D. O. M.

“Divog: Joanni Barns Ierosolymitanæ Militiæ Patrono ob gloriosam a Venetis de Turcica classe ad Dardanorum ora reportatam victoriam consilio opera et fœlici ausu fris DGregorii Carafa Roccellæ Prioris, et septem Melitentium triremium ducis. Qui primus in hostes invectus, ita cos deterruit ac profligarit ut ipsam etiam Imperatoriam nisi ejus ratis scopula hæsisset in suam potestaieil redegi88et. Vicit (amen, et captis ex adversarii8 prceter tre8 nia octo trirernibue allis minori bu8, innumerisq tormentt8 a’neie, turn sexaginta supra trecen (08 Turns in 8er&utem redactf8 et ex C’hristiunu bismille ac sex cenh8 libertati donati8 ad 3U08 triu,nphaults UI morem res’ersu8, vkit vicetq. Serentssirncs Reipublicce et IeroSol!/ enhance Religtoni8 bencmerentis8imu8 ac suce families decus irnrnortale. In tanks rn memoriam ten erabilis lingua Itallea uno multplici nornine donat dicat coneecrat Anno Domi MDCLVI.”^[1]

No action of greater importance than this had occurred since the memorable day of Lepanto. The Maltese galleys, although not numerous, appear to have done their duty nobly on the occasion, as the eleven vessels captured by them and borne off in triumph to Malta amply prove.

Whilst these maritime successes were attesting to the naval superiority of the Order, and increasing the renown in which

↑ “To Saint John the Baptist, the patron of the knights of Jerusalem, on account of the glorious victory gained by the Venetians over the Turkish fleet at the mouth of the Dardanelles, by the advice, the care, and the happy valour of Fr. Dom Gregory Caraffa, prior of Rocella and commander of seven Maltese galleys, who, being the first to attack the enemy, threw them into such disorder that he would have secured their flagship had his own vessel not run on a rock. He conquered, however, and having seized, in addition to three large ships, eight other smaller galleys with numberless bra’ guns, he captured 360 Turks, and liberated 2,600 Christians. He returned in triumph where he lives, and will live eternally, meriting well of the serene republic and of the Order of Jerusalem, and the eternal glory of his family. In memory of so great a deed, the venerable langue of Italy, with unanimous voice, has dedicated and consecrated this tablet in the year of Our Lord 1656.”

[1] “To Saint John the Baptist, the patron of the knights of Jerusalem, on account of the glorious victory gained by the Venetians over the Turkish fleet at the mouth of the Dardanelles, by the advice, the care, and the happy valour of Fr. Dom Gregory Caraffa, prior of Rocella and commander of seven Maltese galleys, who, being the first to attack the enemy, threw them into such disorder that he would have secured their flagship had his own vessel not run on a rock. He conquered, however, and having seized, in addition to three large ships, eight other smaller galleys with numberless bra’ guns, he captured 360 Turks, and liberated 2,600 Christians. He returned in triumph where he lives, and will live eternally, meriting well of the serene republic and of the Order of Jerusalem, and the eternal glory of his family. In memory of so great a deed, the venerable langue of Italy, with unanimous voice, has dedicated and consecrated this tablet in the year of Our Lord 1656.”

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