. 9th.

Henry by the Grace of God, King of England and France, Defender
of the Faith, and Lord of Ireland, to our Reverend Father in
Christ, Dominus F. de Villiers L'Isle Adam, our most dear
friend--Greeting:

Although, by many proofs, we have often before been convinced
that our Reverend Lordship, and your venerable Brethren, after
the loss of Rhodes, have had nothing more to heart than that by
your actions you might deserve most highly of the Christian
republic, and that you might sometimes give proof of this by
your deeds, that you have zealously sought for some convenient
spot where you might at length fix your abode; nevertheless,
what we have lately learnt from the letters of your Reverend
Lordship, and from the conversation and prudent discourse of
your venerable Brother De Dentirville has caused us the greatest
joy; and although, with regard to the recovery of Rhodes,
complete success has not answered your intentions, nevertheless
we think that this your Order of Jerusalem has always wished to
seek after whatever it has judged might in any {100} manner tend
to the propagation of the Catholic Faith and the tranquillity of
the Christian Republic. But that his Imperial Majesty has
granted to your Order the _island_ of _Malta_, Gozo, and
Tripoli, we cannot but rejoice; places which, as we hear, are
most strongly fortified by nature, and most excellently adapted
for repelling the attacks of the Infidels, should have now come
into your hands, where your Order can assemble in all safety,
recover its strength, and settle and confirm its position.[5]
And we wish to convince you that fresh increase is daily made to
the affection with which we have always cherished this Order of
Jerusalem, inasmuch as we perceive that your actions have been
directed to a good and upright end, both because these
undertakings of your Reverend Lordship, and of your venerable
Brethren, are approved by us as highly beneficial and
profitable; and because we trust that your favour and protection
will ever be ready to assist our nation, if there be any need;
nor shall we on our part be ever wanting in any friendly office
which we can perform towards preserving and protecting your
Order, as your Reverend Lordship will gather more at length of
our well affected mind towards you from Dominus Dentir