would hamper the defence; they would, therefore, be sent round
into the outer port, where they would be safe from any attack by
sea, although they would doubtless be burnt did an army besiege
the town."

Passing along the walls of the grand master's palace, which was a
strongly fortified building, and formed a citadel that could be
defended after the lower town and the rest of the castle had been
taken, they came to the western angle of the fortifications.

"You must know that each langue has charge of a separate part of
the wall. From the foot of the mole of St. Nicholas to the grand
master's palace it is in charge of France. On the line where we now
are, between the palace and the gate of St. George, it is held by
Germany. From that gate to the Spanish tower Auvergne is posted.
England takes the wall between the Spanish tower and that of St.
Mary. You defend only the lower storey of that tower, the upper
part being held by Aragon, whose charge extends up to the gate of
St. John. Thence to the tower of Italy -- behind which lies the
Jews' quarter -- Provence is in charge, while the sea front thence
to the mole of St. Nicholas, is held by Italy and Castile, each
taking half. Not only have the langues the charge of defending each
its portion of the wall, but of keeping it in order at all times;
and I may say that nowhere is the wall better kept or more fairly
decorated with carvings than where England holds."

"You have not told me who defends the palace itself."

"That is in charge of a force composed of equal numbers of picked
knights from each langue."