Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/110
CHAP. VI.
Of the Road which the Author kept, when he Travell'd the fourth time into Asia, to go from Paris to Ormus. And first of his Voyage from Marseilles to Alexandretta.
I set out from Paris in the company of Monsieur d' Ardiliere the eighteenth of June, 1651. and arriv'd at Marseilles the sixteenth of July. On the twenty-sixth of August we set Sail, with a favourable North-West Wind that blew very briskly the two next days; but at length it grew so very slack, that coming about to the North-North-East, we made for Sardinia. Upon the second of September by Sun-rising, we discover'd the Western Coast of Sardinia, six Leagues from the Land. About Noon the Wind chopping about again to the North-West, we held on our first Course; and upon the third of September, we descry'd the Island Galita upon the Coast of Africa. On the fourth we discover'd the Island of Zambino before Tunis, and about Evening Cape Bon, which is the most Southerly Point of all Africa. The fifth we had a sight of the Island of Pantalaria, and the Coast of Sicily. The sixth we discover'd the Island of Goza, and the seventh the Castle that bears the same name.
We landed at Malta upon the day of the Nativity of the Virgin, which is a great day among the Maltesi, upon which they give thanks to God, for that the Turks rais'd their Siege upon that day.
The Grand-Master goes to the Church of St. John, accompany'd with all the chief Commanders in their Robes of Command, and the greatest part of the Knights. All the Country-men and Citizens are up in Arms upon that day, and march to the Inn call'd the Auvernian-house, with the Knight that goes to fetch the Standard. This Knight is clad in a Cassock of Crimson-Velvet, with a Cross of the Order, before and behind. He wears a Helmet upon his head, and carries the Standard upon his shoulders; and by him marches the Grand-Master's Page, who carries a Sword in one hand, and a Dagger in the other, both very richly Embellish'd, and giv'n to the Order by Charles the fifth. The Page that carry'd the Sword and Dagger was the youngest Nephew of Pope Innocent the tenth. The Souldiers and Citizens marching before to the Church door, make a Lane for the Knight and the Page to pass on to the Altar, where the Knight makes three bows, and having done as much to the Grand-Master, places himself on the right hand of the Grand-Masters Chair, and the Page on the left. Then the Mass and the Musick begins, and while the Gospel is reading, the Grand-Master takes the Sword and the Dagger out of the Page's hand, and holds them with the points upward all the remaining part of the Mass. During the Elevation of the Host, the Knights repeats the same Ceremony as at the beginning; and then the Bells ring, the great Guns go off, and the Souldiers give three Vollies. Mass being ended, the Grand-Master retires, accompany'd as before, only that he is then attended by all the Ecclesiastical persons of the City, and coming out of the Church, he proceeds with all the Infantry marching before him toward our Lady's of Victory, where they all go in procession. While they make a stand in that place, the Souldiers give another Volley, which is answer'd by all the Canons in the Town, as also from the Ships and Galleys. After that they return to St. John's; and the Infantry Guard the Standard back to the Inn, while the Grand-Master goes to his Palace.
The ninth we view'd the Fortifications, which are stor'd with very fair pieces of Canon.
The tenth we saw the Pages perform their Exercises before the Grand-Master, which are generally vaulting and handling their Arms, both Musquet and Pike.
The elev'nth we view'd the Arsenal, where I was assur'd that there were Arms for twenty thousand men, being in good order, and rarely well look'd after.
The next day we visited the Infirmery, where the sick are serv'd in Plate, as well the poor as rich.
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