 Instead, he recommended the quicker and cheaper approach of building a new fortification on Mount Sciberras.In a report of 13 January 1566 Laparelli made a more forceful case for the new city, saying that 12,000 foot and 200 horse would be needed to hold the island without it, but only 5,000 foot if it were built.The knights sent messages to the European courts in which threatened to leave Malta if they were not helped by money and troops.