I remember reading the diary of a traveller who visited Malta in their
time--some three hundred years ago. He said that one morning a pirate
ship was sighted off the island. The Grand Master at once ordered one
of the fighting ships to get ready, and called upon the knights to man
it. Any who desired to go were to parade in front of the Castile
Palace (now the Mess house of the Royal Artillery). Some fifty or
sixty would be sufficient, but instead of this over three hundred
turned up on parade with their retainers and men-at-arms ready to
start then and there.
In the Armoury can be seen among many others the suit of armour worn
by the Grand Master Wignacourt.
One cannot but admire the beautiful fitting of the different folds of
armour, made so that the arms and legs could be bent and yet
thoroughly protected against wounds; also the whole is beautifully
engraved with ornamental designs. Among these a quick-sighted Scout
will at once notice the fleur-de-lys, or Scout's badge, on the breast.
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