the galleys of "the Religion" under the orders
of that monarch. The Knights, like every one else, had watched with anxiety
the preparation of this great expedition in Constantinople, and when the
Grand Master proposed to send the galleys of the Order to join forces with
Doria at Messina, there was great dissatisfaction at the Council Board.
That which it behoved them to do, the members informed the Grand Master,
was not to help a great potentate like Charles, but to make provision for
their own security by attending to their fortifications, which were in
anything but a satisfactory condition. D'Omedes maintained that this
expedition was destined to serve with the King of France against the
Emperor, and that Malta was not the objective. He accordingly sent away the
galleys of "the Religion" under the Chevalier "Iron-Foot," the General of
the Galleys, to join the fleet which had its rendezvous at Messina. Hardly
had he done so when news came from the Levant that the fleet of the Grand
Turk was at sea heading for Sicily. The fleet was composed of one hundred
and twelve royal galleys, two great galeasses, and a host of brigantines
and transport vessels. Sinan-Reis was in command with twelve thousand
Janissaries, numerous pioneers and engineers, and all the necessary
appliances for a siege.

The embarkation of so large a number of Janissaries was the measure of the
serious purpose of the expedition, as the Sultan did not readily part with
the men of this _corps d'elite_ unless he was in person taking the command.
It may be as well to explain here exactly what the Janissaries were, and it
cannot be better done than by an extract from the famous historian
Prescott:

"The most remarkable of the Turkish institutions, the one which may be
said to have formed the keystone of the system, was that relating to the
Christian population of the Empire. Once in five years a general
conscription was made by means of which all the children of Christian
parents who had reached the age of seven and gave promise of excellence
in mind or body were taken from their homes and brought to the capital.
They were then removed to different quarters and placed in seminaries
where they might receive such instruction as would fit them for the
duties of life. Those giving greatest promise of strength and endurance
were sent to places prepared for them in Asia Minor. Here they were
subjected to a severe training, to abstinence, to p