Part L Travels into /i^ L e v a n t. i i 
CHAP. VIII. 
Of the Grove J and other Walh^ in the Countrey- 
Fields^ and of the Ijle of Goz©. 
THE Countrey is full of Gardens, and very agreeable Places of Pleafure: Y^'^^^^^*^'* 
The Grove, which is but twelve miles from the New Town,is a delightful 
place,whither the Great Mailers commonly go to divert themfelves : This place 
was embellifhed by the Great Mafter VerdaU^-viho was made a Cardinal ; there 
he built a Palace, in form of a Caftle,with fo much uniformity and contrivance, 
that there is not fo much a*- a foot of ground loft ^ all the Halls are adorned 
with excellent Painting, which reprefents the Life of the Great Mailer Verddax 
This Houfe hath a very neat Garden, full of Orange, Citron and Olive- 
Trees, vv'ith feveral lovely Fountains : At fome dillance from the Houfe, there 
is a li cieWood, Hocked with Game, for the Pleafure of the Great Mailers. 
In going to tliis place of diverfion, youpafs near to the Old Town, which is 
not far from it: It is fituated in the middle of the llland, upon an indifferent 
high Hill, of a pleafant Profpedt ; it is inviron'd with Precipices and Bottoms, 
and adorned with lovely Fabricks within: Pretty near to this Town, is the 
Grot where St. Pnul lodged all the while he was in Malta ; where there is an ^^^^ ^^^^ 
Image of our Lady, called LW)' of Melecca , and, as they fay, many Mira- jvielecca^ 
cles are wrought at it: One may alfogoand walk in the llle of G'tJs^o, which 
is but five miles from Malta : This little Ifle is thirty miles in circuit, twelve 
in length, and fix in breadth. Though it be begirt with Rocks and Precipices, 
yet it hath fome Creeks ; it hath a very wholfom Air, is fruitful, and almolt 
all cultivated, though it be mountanous. It hath many Springs of frelh Water, 
and places fit for Gardening and Pallure ; but the Inhabitants delight more in 
labouring the Land for Corn, than in any other kind of Husbandry : There 
were formerly feven or eight thoufand Souls in this Ifland j but fince the 
Year 1551. that the Turks took the Caille of it, and carried away all they found 
there, the number of Inhabitants is much decreafed : This Caille is, at prefent, 
very well fortified. ^ 
CHAP. IX. 
Of the Viihlich^ Rejoycing and Solemnity on Our 
I Lady-day, in September. 
! 
The CcrettiO" 
BEing at Mdta on Our Lady-day^ \.\\Q^\g\\Û\ oï September^ I faw the Re- nyandRe- 
joycing and Ceremony, that the Religion make yearly on that Day, in joycing on 
memory of the Turks raifing the Siege from before the Early in the ^i^'^ 
morning, all the Militia are in Arms before the Church of St. John^ and drawn ° ' 
up in Battalia : The Church being extraordinarily deck'd, the Great Mailer 
goes to High Mafs, where, after the reading of the Epillle, the Marlhal of 
the Religion comes forth of the Inn Auvergne^ being followed by one of the 
ancientefl Commanders of the Inn, with a Helmet on his head, who carrys 
the Colours of the faid Inn : He takes a turn round the Churchj and, when he 
palfes through the Piazza, all the Soldiers difcharge their Volleys of fmall Shot. 
/ C 2 After 
