cytty gave us five again, which was more than they had don to all our men-of-warr that cam thither before.”
It is evident from the date of this entry, which was the 1st August, 1675, that this condescension on the part of the city, although, according to the chaplain, it was more than had ever been yielded previously, did not satisfy the punctilious admiral, since his letter, as given above, is dated seven weeks later. That the Grand-Master did eventually yield to his demands and salute his flag to his heart’s content is clear by the follow. ing extract from Teonge’s diary, under date February 11th, 1676:—
“Sir John Narbrough cam in from Trypoly and four more ships with him. The noble Malteese salute him with forty- five guns, he answered them with so many that I could not count them. And what with our salutes and his answers there was nothing but fyre and smoake for almost two hours.”
Indeed, the behaviour of the townspeople appears throughout to have been courteous and even cordial, as witness the following extracts:—
“August 2, 1675.—This cytty is compassed almost deane round with the sea which makes severall safe harbours for hundreds of shipps. The people are generally extremely courteouse, but especially to the English. A man cannot demonstrate all their excellencys and ingenuitys. Let it suffice to say thus much of this place, viz Had a man no other business to invite him, yet it were sufficiently worth a mans cost and paines to make a voyage out of England on purpose to see that noble cytty of Malta and their works and fortifications about it. Several of their knights and cavaliers corn on board us, six at one time, men of sufficient courage and friendly carriage wishing us good successe in our voyage, with whom I had much discourse, I being the only entertainer because I could 5peak Latine for which I was highly esteemed and much invited on shoare again.
“August 3.—This morning a boate of ladys with their rnusick to our ships syd and bottels of wine with them. They went severall times about our ship and sang several songs very sweetly; very rich in habitt and very courteous in behaviour, but would not come on board though invited, but having taken their
