The Military Orders of the Middle Ages by Frederick Woodhouse

Author:Frederick Woodhouse
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pronoun

CHAPTER XVI

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THE TURKISH FLEET ARRIVES AT MALTA – A KNIGHT TAKEN PRISONER AND TORTURED – ST. ELMO ATTACKED – CRITICAL POSITION – BLOODY CONFLICTS – PIETY OF THE GARRISON – ST. ELMO TAKEN – ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY THE TURKS.

“All furnished, all in arms,

All plumed like estridges that wing the wind;

Baited like eagles having lately bathed;

Glittering in golden coats like images”

Shakespeare

On May 18, 1565, the Turkish fleet was discovered bearing down upon the island. It consisted of about one hundred and sixty ships of the largest size, besides transports and a multitude of smaller vessels.

The army numbered thirty thousand men, all seasoned and experienced soldiers, who had already won victories under the standard of the Crescent. The train of siege artillery was of formidable strength, many of the guns being able to throw a marble shot of fifty-six pounds weight, and some even carried shot of one hundred and twelve pounds weight.

Solyman had taxed the utmost resources of his empire to fit out this expedition, and everything was the best that money, skill, and labor could produce. After some ineffectual opposition from Copier’s squadron, the Turks affected a landing.

They were narrowly watched by small detachments hidden among the rocks and stragglers were speedily cut off. One of these detachments was under the command of a Portuguese knight, named La Riviere. In a skirmish with the enemy this officer was taken prisoner, and immediately carried off to the Turkish commander, who, finding he could get no information from him respecting the strength of the garrison and nature of the fortifications cruelly put him to the torture.

La Riviere bore it for some time with wonderful courage, but at last hit upon the plan of releasing himself by a clever deception. He professed his willingness to give information, and, with every appearance of candor, said that the most likely way to capture Malta would be to attack the fortifications at the post of Castile, where the defenses were the weakest. This led the Turks into a tap and the general, finding he had been deceived, caused La Riviere to be executed.

The Turkish generals now held a council of war to determine the best method of conducting the siege, and, after much discussion, determined to commence by the siege of Fort St. Elmo.

This was no easy task. All the surrounding space was rock, and it was not possible to construct trenches and approaches in the usual way. Timber, earth, and stones were used to protect the attacking force, but they suffered greatly from the guns of the fort, and made but slow progress.

By dint, however, of constant labor night and day, and by the lavish sacrifice of life, some batteries were erected the heavy guns were got into position and began to play upon the walls of St. Elmo. The enormous shot fired continually soon began to tell upon the masonry; it was evident that all would soon be reduced to ruin, and the way open to the enemy.

A messenger was sent, therefore, to La Valette, to tell him of the danger of the garrison.

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