rivations of every
kind, and to the strict discipline which should fit them for the
profession of a soldier. From this body was formed the famous corps of
the Janissaries.... Their whole life may be said to have been passed in
war or in preparation for it. Forbidden to marry, they had no families
to engage their affections, which, as with the monks and friars of
Christian countries, were concentrated in their own order, whose
prosperity was inseparably connected with that of the State. Proud of
the privileges which distinguished them from the rest of the army, they
seemed desirous to prove their title to them by their thorough
discipline and by their promptness to execute the most dangerous and
difficult services. Clad in their flowing robes, so little suited to
war, armed with the arquebus and the scimitar--in their hands more than
a match for the pike or sword of the European--with the heron's plume
waving above their head, their dense array might ever be seen bearing
down in the thickest of the fight; and more than once when the fate of
the Empire trembled in the balance it was this invincible corps which
turned the scale, and by their intrepid conduct decided the fortune of
the day. Gathering fresh reputation with age, so long as their
discipline remained unimpaired they were a match for the best soldiers
in Europe. But in time this admirable organisation experienced a change.
One Sultan allowed them to marry; another to bring their sons into the
corps; a third opened the ranks to Turks as well as Christians; until,
forfeiting their peculiar character, the Janissaries became confounded
with the militia of the Empire. These changes occurred in the time of
Philip the Second."

But to resume: just before the sailing of the galleys of "the Religion"
from Malta there had arrived in that island from France the famous
Chevalier, the Commandeur de Villegagnon. This great noble told the Grand
Master to his face that he was neglecting his duty, that the expedition of
the Grand Turk was bound for Malta and Tripoli: further, that he was
charged by Anne de Montmorency, Constable and First Minister of France, to
advise the Grand Master that this armament was directed against "the
Religion." The interview between the Grand Master and de Villegagnon took
place at a chapter of the Grand Crosses of the Order; when the Commandeur
had finished speaking, he was coldly thanked by D'Omedes,