Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/745

Appendix VII. 707 which appeared of such surpassing strength, after having been battered by 300 stone balls, had the greater part of its extent destroyed, overthrown, and ruined. The enemy, who beheld the ruins with exultation, filled the air with their shouts, which vain rejoicing was, however, speedily converted into sorrow. For we, being anxious for the safety of the tower, beholding its great and fearful ruin, strove to prop up the remainder of the wall; and since such a course appeared the most judicious, after so complete a downfall, we decided upon protecting, not the tower only, but also the mole of St. Nicholas itself. With the most vigilant care and numberless inventions, a thousand labourers worked day and night without intermission, who dug a deep ditch, and constructed a bulwark with timber on the top of the mole, around the tower, and in the midst of its foundations, and completed an impregnable redoubt at a great cost. There we placed a guard of our bravest warriors within the ruins of the mole, and supplied them with stores and ammunition. At the end also, and foot of the same, we placed other garrisons, both at the eastern and western extremities; because at those points the ramparts ended, and the sea is fordable, so that it was necessary to watch and defend them, lest the Turks should pass there, and attack us in the rear. And on the walls of the tower we placed bombards, which should sweep the spot during an attack. Fireworks were also prepared to attack the fleet. Twice did the Turks storm the tower, and the new work on its ruins ; the first time, when they thought it easy to capture with only moderate force, before daylight at early dawn ; when they attacked the place in triremes prepared for the purpose, and fought vigorously. But our men, who were intent upon the defence of the post, were constantly on the wnteh. So the enemy was driven back discomfited. And in that battle nearly 700 Turks were killed, as we learnt from the deserters. Alter the lapse of a few days, however, enraged at their former repulse, they again attacked the tower with a powerful marine, and with ingenious skill; shaking and destroying our repairs and new bulwarks with their heavy artillery, and some were completely destroyed. We, however, promptly repaired whatever they overthrew. To carry out the attack, they then got ready triremes well supplied with munitions, and ingeniously prepared for the fight, and certain other heavy vessels (called commonly “parendarias”), in which were heavy guns and stones; that they might establish themselves upon the mole and tower, which they thought they were secure of, and from that point annoy and breach and capture the city itself. They also prepared certain flat—bottomed boats, from which some of the boldest among them reached the mole, and constructed a bridge with the most wonderful skill; which was to cross from the church of St. Anthony to the mole at the foot of the tower. But we, suspecting what would occur after the first attack, had laboured with all our strength and ingenuity, added to our munitions, increased our fortifications, and (lid not spare the most serious expense; for we judged that the safety of the city depended on that spot. In the middle, therefore, of the night, the Turks, on the thirteenth of the 46’