THE LOSS OF RHODES ad. 



1522. 

 on shore, whereof we marvelled. And it was tolde us 

 by some that came out of the campe, and also by the 

 spies that the lord great master had sent abroad arayed 

 as Turks, that they abode the commandement of their 

 great lord, untill the hoste by land were come into the 

 campe. Howbeit there came some number for to view 

 the towne, but they went privily, for the ordinance of the 

 towne shot without cease. 



All this while the gallies and galliasses went and came 

 to land, bringing vitaile and people. At the which ships 

 passing nigh the town, were shot many strokes with bom- 

 bards, which made some slaughter of our enemies : and 

 when the most part of them was past, they began to set 

 ordinance on the land with great diligence. Then the 

 lord great master departed from his palace, and lodged 

 him nigh a church called The victory, because that place 

 was most to be doubted : and also that at the other siege 

 the great businesse and assault was there. 



Hov^ the lord great master made his petition 

 before the image of S. John, and offered him 

 the keyes of the tov^ne. 



THe day before were made many predications and 

 sermons, and the last was in the church of S. John 

 Baptist. When the sermon was done, a pontificall Masse 

 was celebrate with all solemnities, and all the reliques 

 taken downe, and the lord great master and all his 

 knights with great devotions and reverence heard it. 

 And when the Masse was ended, the lord great master 

 made a pitious oration or prayer before Saint John Bap- 

 tist his protectour ; and above all other words, which 

 were too long to tell, he besought him meekly that it 

 would please him to take the keyes of that miserable 

 city. The which keyes he presented and layed upon the 

 altar before the image, beseeching S. John to take the 

 keeping and protection thereof, and of all the religion, as 

 by his grace he had given to him unworthy, the govern- 

 ing unto that day : and by his holy grace to defend them 



V 17 B 



