This document is the oldest piece of literature found written in Maltese. The poem, Xideu il-Qada known as Il-Kantilena, was written in Medieval Maltese by Notary Pietru Caxaro around the year 1450. It was discovered by Prof. Godfrey Wettinger and Patri Mikiel Fsadni on the 22nd September 1966. The poem was recorded by Caxaro’s nephew, Brandano Caxaro, in his notarial register (dated 1533-1536). The original document can be found in the Notarial Archives in Valletta.