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LONDON : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT, E.C. 1884. 119390 . « e » . ♦ e • »r • • .«* • •.« • ••••«• • • » * . • • ••••* C * • * * t « c ■ e • * «-- f. * e : •. : *• •' • fc • e • • • « ; • • • «- • e ex PREFACE Che first edition of this work, published in October, 1858, vas the result of two years' close and careful study of the irchives of Malta, placed at my disposal by the late Sir William Eeid, then Governor of the island. Exactly i quarter of a century later, I brought out a second and jnuch amplified edition, embodying all the additional information that I had been able during those years to 3ollect. Whilst this was steadily passing into the hands of the public, the great Paternoster Eow fire of April last destroyed almost all that was left unsold. I have decided on taking the opportunity thus afforded to produce a third edition, which, I trust, may prove more attractive to the general reader than the portly volume which has passed through the flames. Students of the history of the Order are still referred to that work for the more minute details it contains, whilst those who would be deterred from its perusal by its size and costliness, will find all the more interesting portions reproduced in the present handier volume. September, 1884, CONTENTS CHAPTER I. 1099—1160. PAGE )evelopment of chivalry — Condition of Palestine prior to the first Crusade — Establishment of the Hospital of St. John — Capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders — Foundation of the Order of St. John — Death of Gerard and election of Raymond du Puy — Military constitution of the Order — Regulations for its estab- lishment — Admission of candidates — Establishment of com- manderies — Regulations respecting dress — Foundation of the Templars and Order of St. Lazarus — Loss of Edessa — Siege and capture of Ascalon — Jealousies of the clergy — Death of Raymond du Puy — Description of the present state of the ruins of the Hospital at Jerusalem 1 CHAPTER II. 1160—1291. Expedition into Egypt, and death of D'Ascali — Rise of Saladin — Dissensions in the kingdom — Battle of Tiberias — Loss of Jeru- salem — Its main causes — Establishment of the Hospital at Margat — Retirement of the ladies of the Order to Europe — The third Crusade — Siege and capture of Acre — Alfonso of Portugal — Dissensions between the Hospitallers and Templars — Andrew, king of Hungary, admitted into the Order — Fifth Crusade — Its failure — Coronation of the emperor Frederic at Jerusalem — The Korasmins — Battle of Gaza — Reforms in the Order — Crusades of St. Louis — Sanguinary combat between the Hospitallers and Templars — Loss of Margat — Siege and fall of Acre 35 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. 1291—1365. PAG Establishment of the Order in Cyprus — Its first naval armaments— Project for the capture of Rhodes — Death of William de Villaret, and accession of his brother — Capture of Rhodes — Destruction of the Order of the Temple — Arrogance of Fulk de Villaret — His flight to Lindos — Appeals to the Pope — His resignation, and appointment of Elyon de Villeneuve — Division of the Order into langucs — Dieudonne de Gozon and the dragon of Rhodes — His election as Grand-Master — Succession of Cornillan and de Pins CHAPTEE IV. Divisions of class in the Order — Langucs — Grand-Master, his posi- tion and power — Courts of Egard — Bailiffs, their offices — Adapt- ation of the Order to change of circumstances — System of management in commanderies — Report on the grand-priory of England in 1338 — Details of income and expenditure — Gross results and number of members ...... 9 CHAPTEE V. 1365—1480. Expedition to Alexandria — Election of Heredia — His previous history — He escorts the Pope to Rome — Is captured by the Turks — Returns to Avignon — His death, and election of de Naillac — Battle of Nicopolis — Timour the Tartar — His over- throw of Bajazet — Loss of Smyrna — Erection of the fortress of St. Peter at Budrum and of the tower of St. Michael — Elections of Fluvian and de Lastic — Descent on Rhodes — Fall of Constan- tinople — Elections of de Milly and Zacosta — Formation of an eighth languc — Election of Orsini — Fall of Negropont — Pre- parations for defence of Rhodes — Death of Orsini, and nomi- nation of Peter d'Aubusson — His previous history — Description of Rhodes — The three renegades— D'Aubusson made dictator . 11' CONTENTS. Vll C H A P T E R VI. First Siege of Rhodes in 1480. PAGE ttrival of the Turkish Army before Rhodes — First attack on fort St. Nicholas — Its failure— Breach opened in the Jews' quarter — Attempted assassination of the Grand- Master — Second attack on St. Nicholas, and its failure — Second advance on the Jews' quarter — Execution of Maitre Georges — Last assault of the Turks, and its repulse — Close of the siege — List of English knights present — Losses of the Turkish army . . . .141 CHAPTER VII. 1480—1522. 'reparations of Mahomet for a new siege — His death — Flight of Djem to Rhodes — His departure for France — His removal to Rome, and death — Death of D'Aubusson — History of the relic of the hand of St. John the Baptist — Succession of D'Amboise, Blanchefort, and Carretto — Usurpation of Selim and extension of his empire — Accession of Solyman — Death of Carretto, and election of L'Isle Adam — Description of Rhodes in 1521 and at present — Fall of Belgrade — Preparations for defence — Detail of the garrison and of the Turkish force — Arrival of the Ottoman army at Rhodes . . . . . . . .163 CHAPTER VIII. The Second Siege of Rhodes, 1522. commencement of the siege — Plot by a female slave within the city — Construction of cavaliers — Mining operations — Assault on the tower of St. Mary — Repeated attacks and their repulse — Accusations against the chancellor D'Amaral — His trial and execution — Negotiations for surrender — Terms offered by Soly- man — Their acceptance — Close of the siege and surrender of the island 188 Till CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. 1522—1565. PAC Departure of the Order for Candia, Messina, and Civita Vecchia — L'Isle Adam visits Madrid, Paris, and London — Malta ceded to the Order — Its antecedent history — Tripoli — Its disadvantages and dangers — Description of the harbours of Malta — Settlement of the convent in the Bourg — Death of L'Isle Adam — Election of Dupont, St. Gilles, and D'Omedes — Turkish descent on Malta — Destruction of the English languc — Election of La Sangle — Fortification of Senglea — Accession of La Valette — Preparations by Solyman for an attack on Malta — Description of its garrison and defences 21 CHAPTER X. Siege of Malta, 1565. Disembarkation of the Turkish force — Siege of St. Elmo com- menced — Heavy battering train — Arrival of Dragut — Capture of the covered way and ravelin — First assault and its failure — Petition to La A" alette for relief — Its refusal, and consequent insubordination — Return to obedience — Repeated assaults — The fort cut off from succour — Dragut mortally wounded — Fall of St. Elmo — Massacre of the garrison • CHAPTER XI. Siege of Malta, 1565 — continued. Arrival of a reinforcement to the garrison — Investment of the Bourg — Transport of galleys across the Isthmus — Attack on Senglea — Breach established on the post of Castile — Repeated assaults at both points — Exhaustion of the garrison — Arrival of a succouring force from Sicily — Close of the siege — Causes of the successful defence CONTENTS. IX CHAPTER XII. 1565—1680. PAGE sneral exultation at the successful defence of Malta — Rumours of a new Turkish expedition — Death of Solyman — Commencement of the city of Valetta — Death of La Valette, and accession of de Monte — Transfer of the convent to Valetta — Battle of Lepanto — Election of La Cassiere — Sedition against him — Build- ing of St. John's cathedral — Election of Verdala — Arrival of the Jesuits — Alof de Vignacourt — The Malta aqueduct — Elec- tion of Lascaris — Battle of the Dardanelles — Commencement of the Floriana enceinte — The brothers Cottoner — Sir John Narbrough's visit to Malta — Construction of the Cottonera lines and fort Ricasoli — Death of Cottoner — Decadence of the Turkish empire and of the Order 273 CHAPTER XIII. ie career of a knight as a novice, professed knight, commander, and bailiff — The auberges — The chaplains — Position of the Grand-Master — His election, household, and revenues — The navy — Revenues of the Order — Property and dignities of the various langues — The Hospital — Description of the establish- ment at Malta — Its regulations and staff — Criticisms of Howard . 295 CHAPTER XIY. ie chapter-general : its constitution and mode of procedure — The councils of the Order — Its punishments — Acts forbidden by the statutes — The question of duelling — Midnight disturbances — The question of chastity — Institution of slavery — Slave trade at Malta — Treatment of the Maltese by the Order — The bailiwick of Brandenburg 315 X CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. THE "LANGUE" OF ENGLAND. PA( Foundation at Clerkenwell — Introduction of the fraternity into Scotland and Ireland — Destruction of priory by Wat Tyler — Restoration by Docwra — St. John's Gate — Lease of Hampton to Wolsey — Suppression of the languc by Henry VIII. — Revival by Queen Mary — Final suppression by Elizabeth — Subsequent fate of the Priory, Church, and Gate — Revival of the languc — Its objects and present state . . . .3 CHAPTER XYI. Gregory Caraffa — Adrian de Vignacourt — Raymond Perrelos — Embassy from Russia — Construction of a new fleet — Zondodari — Manoel de Vilhena — Erection of fort Manoel — Emanuel Pinto — Francis Ximenes — De Rohan — Convocation of the last chapter- general — Erection of fort Tigne — The French revolution — Destruction of the French langues — Death of de Rohan and election of von Hompesch — Establishment of a Russian priory — Capture of Malta decreed — Arrival of the French fleet before the island — Dispositions of Bonaparte for the attack — State of the town —Inefficiency of von Hompesch — Surrender of the island — Departure of the knights for Russia — Election of the emperor Paul as Grand -Master — French decree on assuming possession of the island — Departure of Bonaparte for Egypt. . . .3 CHAPTER XVII. Insurrection of the Maltese — Blockade of the French within the fortress — Arrival of the joint British and Portuguese fleet — Details of the blockade — Sufferings of the garrison — Perseverance of the Maltese — Capture of the men-of-war sheltered in the harbour — Capitulation of the French — Treaty of Amiens — Eventual transfer of the island to the British — History of the Order since the death of the emperor Paul — Its present position at Rome — Conclusion Seals of the Order of St. John Chronological List of the Grand-Masters of the Order LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE St. John's Gate, ix the Muristax, Jerusalem . Frontispiece View oe Part of the Muristax, forming the Quadrangle of the Benedictine Monaster!', behind the Church of Sta. Maria Major, before the Excavations were com- menced by the German Government .... 33 Map of Rhodes, to illustrate the Sieges of 1480 and 1522 134 Facsimile of one of the Woodcuts ix Caoursin's " Obsidio Rhodie," showing the Form of the Town . . .162 Map of the Fortress of Malta, to illustrate the Siege of 1565 232 Arms on St. John's Gate, Clerkexwell . . . . 339 Monument of Sir William Weston, formerly ix St. James' Church, Clerkexwell 342 Seals of the Order of St. Johx 395 (fU*e^ ]\^L djLiLri' j (JW THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. CHAPTEE I. 1099—1160. evelopment of chivalry — Condition of Palestine prior to the first Crusade — Establishment of the Hospital of St. John — Capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders — Foundation of the Order of St. John — Death of Gerard and election of Raymond du Puy — Mili- tary constitution of the Order — Regulations for its establishment — Admission of candidates — Establishment of commanderies — Regulations respecting dress — Foundation of the Templars and Order of St. Lazarus — Loss of Edessa — Siege and capture of Ascalon — Jealousies of the clergy — Death of Raymond du Puy — Description of the present state of the ruins of the Hospital at Jerusalem. 'he Order of St. John of Jerusalem was one of the most nportant offshoots of the spirit of chivalry which pre- ailed in Europe during the Middle Ages. In those mes personal prowess being considered man's proudest :nament, and the pursuit of learning abandoned to the Lonk in his cloistered retreat, the profession of arms was le only occupation open to the youth of high and noble state. Taught from childhood to take delight in the tUitary exercises which formed the daily occupation of le retainers in every baronial castle, he imbibed at an irly age that ardent craving for distinction which was le of the fundamental principles of chivalry. Imbued 1 2 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. with the religious veneration of the period — a veneratic deeply tinged with superstition — he was led to consider i sacred the obligations imposed on him by the chivalr code. To fight in defence of his religion was not only duty, it was also an inestimable privilege. He had bee; taught that pardon for his sins was to be purchased by display of martial zeal on behalf of his faith, and that tl shedding of his blood in such a sacred cause would insu| him an entry into the joys of Heaven. This doctrii appealed in the warmest and most direct manner to tl prevailing sentiments of the time. What wonder the that it was eagerly accepted and gradually worked i way through all ranks of society ? Whilst such was the bent of public feeling in Europ there arose in the East a cry for the help of Christendoi which at once aroused the martial ardour of the natio: to a pitch of frenzy. The Byzantine empire had co tinued to maintain its rule long after its western sist had fallen beneath the attacks of the northern barbariai True, it was much reduced in extent; still, at beginning of the seventh century the Euphrates remain the Asiatic boundary of the empire. Her rulers, howev< either dreading the treachery of usurpers, or being usurpe themselves, were less on the look out to check the inroa of the surrounding wild tribes than to secure their oy position on the tottering throne. Encompassed 1 enemies within and without, that position was year becoming one of increasing difficulty, and demanded the part of the monarchs, as the only possible means i maintaining its integrity, the highest administrative cap eity, coupled with extreme skill in the art of defensi: warfare. Unfortunately for the empire her rulers evinq such gifts. Instead of striving to make head agairl THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 3 ie constant encroachments of neighbours, they plunged iadly into all the voluptuous degeneracy of the times, and linly sought to conceal their weakness and cowardice ^hind the idle pomp of a gorgeous magnificence. Under Lch circumstances, the power which had at one time ^tended over the whole of eastern Europe, and had shared ie empire of the world with its sister of Rome, crumbled vay by degrees and became a mere phantom of its iginal greatness. One province, however, still continued to command the fectionate interest and sympathy of Europe, and that as Judaea, within the limits of which stood the holy city Jerusalem. Since the days of our Lord the vicissi- des of fortune and the results of war had brought about any changes within its sacred precincts. The capture the city by Titus had led to the dispersion of the Jews id the establishment of pagan worship in the land Jlowed by the footsteps of our Saviour. During the urth century, however, Christianity won its way roughout the empire, and before long its churche^ gan to replace the temples of paganism. Foremost longst these stood that of the Holy Sepulchre in Jeru- lem, erected by the empress Helena, mother of Con- intine the Grreat. She had been baptized at the same ne as her son, and with all the newly-awakened zeal of convert had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. To r is attributed the discovery of the Holy Sepulchre elf; and upon its site she erected the magnificent pile rich bears its name. Her example was followed by , mstantine, and by degrees the numerous stately churches d convents which they founded formed the principal fornment of the province. Jerusalem now became the favoured object of the world's 4 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. devotion. Beligious curiosity had from the earliest tim« prompted Christians to visit the regions sanctified by the} faith. This feeling, supported as it was by the influenc of the priesthood, grew in intensity until at length became recognized that a pilgrimage to Jerusalem was tlj most efficacious act by which the penitent could hope I atone for his sins. Yast crowds flocked thither from eveij corner of Europe to utter a prayer over the tomb of the Saviour, and to gaze on the hallowed spot where He hs breathed His last. The very dust of the land was sacre in their eyes, and the pious wanderer, on his return, hun his withered palm branch and pilgrim's staff over the alti of his parish church, where they remained not only emblem of his own devotion but also an incentive others to follow his example. Matters were on this footing when there arose fro: the obscurity of the East that wonderful man who w; destined to become the founder at the same time of a nd empire and a new religion. It will not come within tl province of this work to enter into any detail with regai to the rise and progress of Mahomet, who in the ear! part of the seventh century established himself as tlj prophet of a new faith. Within a very short time fro:| the commencement of his career he had brought the who* of Arabia under his dominion. A fundamental doctrine his religion being the necessity for its propagation by tlj power of the sword, the lust of conquest lent its aid to tlj zeal of fanaticism, and the new creed spread with a rapidii unequalled in the annals of religious propagandism. After the death of Mahomet, his successors, wM assumed the title of caliph or vicar of the prophcj gradually overran ihe neighbouring provinces. Damascu Antioch, and Syria having fallen to their arms, th( THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. O penetrated into Palestine, seized upon Jerusalem, and I tossing from thence into Egypt annexed that country lso to their empire. Media, Korassan, and Mesopotamia lhared the same fate, and entering Africa they spread hemselves over the whole of its northern coast. In Europe, after having successively captured the islands of Cyprus, Rhodes, Candia, Sicily, and Malta, they founded i , new empire in the heart of Spain, whence they carried n for many years a desperate struggle with the Christians ^ the surrounding provinces. Of all these conquests the one which caused the greatest lismay, and was in after times fraught with the most ventful results, was that of the Holy Land and the city •f Jerusalem. So long as the Christian emperors of the 5ast maintained their rule over its sacred limits, the advent >f pilgrims from all parts had been encouraged to the greatest possible extent. The government had early Liscovered that a large amount of money was by this neans brought into the empire, and that its commerce was nuch extended by the vast concourse of ever-changing )eople collected together within the favoured district, patters altered greatly for the worse when the province [ell into the hands of the caliphs. Although they were |ar too keen-sighted and politic to prohibit altogether the influx of this stream of Christians into the sacred city, they nevertheless imposed upon them such heavy taxes as told Materially on the slender finances of the pilgrims, and be- came a source of considerable profit to their own treasury. The infidels were at that time much divided by serious jliscords among themselves. Shortly after Mahomet's leath they had split up into separate factions, each led by |i chief who claimed for himself the right of empire as )eing the nearest in descent from the prophet. There u THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. were at one time no less than five distinct pretenders ! this position. The sovereignty of the Holy Land h been warmly contested between two of these rivals — t caliphs of Bagdad and of Egypt. In their struggles i supremacy the poor unoffending pilgrims of the West wei miserably harassed and plundered, first by one party, ai then by the other, and were not unfrequently murdere These dangers and impediments were not, however, suf cient to check the ardour of their religious zeal, nor did t" fear of maltreatment deter a vast and annually increasiii number of devotees from seeking the shores of Palestine. Many of these pilgrims combined the profits commerce with their holier object, and those who we thus able to establish business relations with the rulers the neighbouring provinces had it often in their pow< to befriend their less fortunate brethren. Amongst tl most distinguished of these were some merchants < Amain, a rich city in the kingdom of Naples, still existing though greatly shorn of its old wealth and importanc These, having in the course of their trading in Egyjj ingratiated themselves with the caliph Monstaser Billalj who at that time held the Holy Land in his powej obtained permission to establish a hospital within the oil of Jerusalem, for the use of poor and sick Latin pilgrim In obedience to the order of the caliph, the Mahometa governor of the city assigned to these pious men a sit close to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, on which the; erected one dedicated to the Virgin, giving it the name c Sta. Maria ad Latinos, to distinguish it from those churche where the Greek ritual prevailed. This work was accom plished between the years 1014 — 1023.* Its religion * The usual date given by the older historians for this establish ment is 1048, There is, however, still extant a charter granted fc THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 7 duties were carried on by Benedictine monks appointed lifor the purpose. Between that time, and the capture of 1 Jerusalem in 1099, the work was developed by the ii erection of two hospitals, for the reception of pilgrims ?:(one for either sex), and in connection therewith two d additional churches were founded; that for the females was dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, and that for men to St. John Eleemon or the Almoner. This latter Ijdedication was at some subsequent date (which is un- certain) changed from St. John the Almoner to St. John the Baptist. In the course of time, many pilgrims who had in this hospital received the assistance so liberally extended to all wayfarers abandoned the idea of returning to their homes, and formed themselves into a charitable body, who, without any regular religious profession, devoted themselves to its service, and the care of its sick inmates. All the chief cities of Italy and the south of Europe (subscribed liberally for the support of this admirable land much wanted institution. The merchants of Amalfi, [who were its original founders, acted as the stewards of ifcheir bounty, and as its beneficial influence became more widely known throughout Europe, its revenues increased largely. Grateful pilgrims on their return home spread ffar and wide the reputation of the Jerusalem hospitals, so that contributions flowed in from every quarter, and their utility was greatly extended. Such was the original establishment from which the Order of St. John eventually sprang, and it was from this fraternity of the re -endowment of this church and monastery by Melek Muzaffer in 1023. My authority for this statement is Capt. C. Conder, R.E., whose name is well known in connection with the Palestine Explo- ration Fund. 8 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. charitable devotees that a body of men descended, whl for centuries continued a terror to the infidel, and th: main bulwark of Christendom in the East. Meanwhile, a calamitous change befell the sacred city Its Mahometan masters, after four centuries of dominion were in their turn overpowered by a fierce horde o barbarians, bearing the name of Turcomans, who, coming from the wild regions beyond the Caspian Sea, pourec themselves gradually over all the countries bordering oi the Euphrates. The Holy Land soon fell into thei hands, and from that moment a new and most disastrou era dawned upon the pilgrims. Their tribute was largel; increased; and more than this, they themselves wer« plundered, maltreated, and subjected to every kind o atrocity, in comparison with which their former hardship seemed light indeed. From this time the journey to an(j the sojourn in Jerusalem became an undertaking fraugh with the greatest possible danger. A large number o: the pilgrims, who still endeavoured to make their waj thitherward, never returned, and those who were fortunate enough to do so, spread the evil tidings of what they hac been called on to suffer, so that gradually a strong feeling of horror and indignation was evoked throughoui Europe. In the year 1093, whilst these cruelties were at theii height, Peter the Hermit, a Latin monk who had beer; so called on account of the rigid austerities and seclusion of his life, returned from a pilgrimage which he, like sc many others, had made to the Holy Land. He had witnessed the hardships and barbarities to which thi Christian sojourners in Jerusalem were subjected, and had doubtless undergone much himself. He determined^ therefore, to devote his energies to the suppression of the; THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. il, and . applied to the Greek patriarch, Simeon, for sistance in the good cause. The Greek empire was at is time in far too insecure and tottering a condition to Imit the possibility of any armed intervention from that larter, but Simeon warmly embraced the opportunity of ndering what help he could, and gave Peter a letter of commendation to Urban II., who at that time occupied e chair of St. Peter. Fortified with this introduction, well as with a second letter of similar tenor from 3rard, the rector of the Hospital of St. John, at Tusalem, the Hermit proceeded to Rome, and there eaded his cause in person. The result of these efforts forms a prominent feature the history of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, le religious enthusiasm of Europe was aroused to a Itch of frenzy, and vast armaments assembled from | quarters, and poured eastward. After the miserable Ispersion of the first undisciplined mobs who, led by e fanatic Peter, rushed forward in tumultuous disarray, e armed chivalry of Europe gradually collected on ie plains before Constantinople, where they mustered ; strength of 600,000 foot and 100,000 horse. This iormous army was under the chief command of )hemond, son of the count of Calabria. Its advance :is marked by the successive capture of the cities of jicea, Antioch, Tarsus, and Edessa, and at length, on ie 7th of June, 1099, it made its appearance before ib Holy City. The caliph of Egypt, taking ad- ntage of the warfare which the Turcomans were ien carrying on against the Crusaders, had succeeded once more obtaining possession of Palestine, and is at this period in occupation of Jerusalem, which had garrisoned with a force of 40,000 men. There THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. were also in the city about 20,000 Mahometan i: habitants capable of bearing arms. The force of tl besiegers, diminished as they had been by their pr vious struggles and the privations they had undergor numbered barely 20,000 foot and about 1,500 horse. The first step taken by the Mahometan governc on the appearance of the enemy before the town, w the arrest of all the leading Christians in the pla< Peter Gerard, the rector of the Hospital of St. Job was of the number of those who were thus cast in] prison. He is generally supposed to have been! native of Florence, but the matter is very doubtfti neither tds family nor even his country has been wi any certainty ascertained. He had undertaken I pilgrimage to the East in accordance with the p]| vailing custom of the times, and having been an ej! witness of the many charities administered by t Hospital, he had abandoned all idea of returning Europe, and devoted himself instead to the service i the institution. Here, by his energy and zeal, as w as by the general piety of his life, he gained so mo influence that eventually he was appointed rector. . the same time a noble Roman lady, called Agnes, t*i at the head of the female branch of the Hospit Pilgrims of both sexes were admitted freely, even t infidels were not excluded from its benefits, in cc sequence of which the rector became gradually loot up to with almost filial veneration by the poor of 1 city. It was the dread that this influence might utilized in favour of the besiegers which induced governor, as a matter of precaution, to imprison Grera He also caused all the wells within a circuit of five six miles of the town to be filled up, and levelled ev< THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 11 ailding iii the suburbs, burning the wood of which they rere composed, so that the besiegers, when they arrived, >und nothing but an arid waste encircling the city. ; In spite of their numerical inferiority and the ptacles thrown in their way, the Crusaders at once roceeded to carry on the siege of the town. On the £th day a general assault was attempted, but owing * the want of proper military engines, the effort proved jLtile, and the assailants were driven with great loss om the walls. To remedy this defect, Godfrey de ouillon and Raymond of Toulouse had two large ooden towers built to assist the attacking party in teir escalade. A second assault was delivered on .e 19th July. This proved entirely successful. odfrej T , by means of his towers, penetrated within the alls, and then, opening the gates, gave admission to .e whole army. A scene of bloodshed and cruelty now took place bich has cast an indelible stain upon what would herwise have ranked as a most glorious achievement, ot content with the slaughter of those who were und with arms in their hands, the women and ildren indiscriminately fell victims to the ferocity of e conquerors. It is computed that no less than >,000 persons were massacred within the limits of the osque of Omar alone. The carnage on this spot was fearful that the dead bodies were floated by the earn of blood into the court, and the Christian ights rode through the place with blood above their rrses' fetlocks. On the following day an occurrence ill more disgraceful took place. A body of 300 men, to 10m Tancred had pledged his knightly word in token protection, were murdered in cold blood, it having 12 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. been decided by the assembled leaders that no quart should on any pretence be given to the Saracens. At length the slaughter ceased, and, satiated wit blood, the commanders of the army, followed by ti soldiery, bareheaded, and with naked feet, proceeded the Holy Sepulchre, there to offer up their prayers ai to return thanks for the successful issue of their sacr< undertaking. Incongruous as this act may appe after the scenes just enacted, it was in strict accordan with the spirit of the age, when the piety of t\ Christian was closely allied to the intolerance of ti fanatic. Their religious duties accomplished, they , once proceeded to organize a government for the newl acquired territory. The majority of the suffrages f< on Godfrey de Bouillon, a prince who was noted f his piety as much as for his valour, and he was once placed in the position of ruler. Refusing ij crown and title of king which were tendered to hii on the plea that he would never wear a crown of go on the spot where his Saviour had worn a crown thorns, he modestly determined to content hims* with the title of Defender and Advocate of the Ho Sepulchre. He has, however, always ranked as t] first king of Jerusalem. One of the earliest steps which he took after assumii the reins of government was to visit the Hospital St. John. Here he found a number of wound* Crusaders who had been received into the building, ai were being nursed with the most tender solicitudj Godfrey was so much struck with the admirable mann in which the establishment was conducted by Gerard, ai with the benefits it had conferred on his suffering arm that he at once endowed it with his manor of Montboi* THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 13 Brabant.* His example was followed by several of 3 other leaders of the army, who had, either in their n persons or in those of their followers, experienced ? kindness and hospitality of the institution. The main object for which the expedition had been dertaken having been attained, and the Holy City scued from the hands of the infidel, the greater portion the crusading army returned to Europe. The fame of e Hospital was by their means spread abroad in every section, and, in consequence, numerous additional bene- f 3tions accrued to it, until eventually there was scarcely Province in which it did not stand possessed of manorial ■its. Its ranks received at the same time a large gmentation by the secession of many of the Crusaders mi their martial career, who, yielding themselves up tirely to a life of religion, joined the charitable iternity. Under these circumstances, and actuated by a laudable sire to secure the benefits of the institution upon a oader and more permanent basis, Gerard proposed that ey should organize themselves into a regularly consti- ted religious body, taking upon themselves the three mastic obligations of poverty, obedience, and chastity, d that they should devote the remainder of their lives the service of the poor and sick in the newly-established Qgdom of Jerusalem. This proposition on the part of the 3tor, coming as it did at a time when religious enthusiasm d been greatly stimulated by the success of the Christian my, was hailed with acclamation and at once acted on. le patriarch of Jerusalem received from the candidates 3 three religious vows, and clothed them in the habit ' This deed is still extant in " Cod. papyrce Biblioth. Vaticanoe," . 3,136, page 19. 14 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. selected for the Order, which consisted of a plain blac robe, bearing on the left breast a white cross with eigl points. Pope Paschal II. shortly afterwards formall sanctioned the establishment of the Order by a bull pul lished in the year 1113. By this instrument the Hospit was exempted from the payment of tithes, the endowmem it had received were confirmed to it, and the privilege w conceded to its members of electing their own head wher ever a vacancy should occur, without external interference either secular or ecclesiastical. After the recovery of Jerusalem from the hands of th Saracens the number of pilgrims rapidly increased, an (xerard, in his solicitude for their welfare, establishe! branch hospitals in most of the maritime provinces 1 Europe. These were placed under the superintendenc 1 and management of members of the Order as offshoof of the parent institution, and formed points of departui where pilgrims could find shelter and entertainment whih waiting for transport to the Holy Land. Gerard, who had already reached a green old age, di not long survive the establishment of his institution. H died in the year 1118, and in accordance with the terms c the papal bull already mentioned, the fraternity imme diately proceeded to elect his successor. Their choice fe" ! on Raymond du Puy, a member of a noble family i Dauphine. At this time, Baldwin II. was seated on th throne of Jerusalem. Although so short a time ha! elapsed since the establishment of the kingdom there ha already been two changes of rulers, Godfrey, and his brothe Baldwin I., who succeeded him, having both died. Th 1 kingdom at this period consisted only of certain isolate cities, with the districts in their immediate vicinity, th intervening country being still peopled and held by th THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 15 racens. Intercourse was therefore very difficult, and nmunieation was liable to constant interruption from 3 predatory attacks of the infidels. Prompted by these cumstances, Raymond du Puy had no sooner assumed 3 reins of office than he began to devise a material jeration in the constitution of his Order. His mind, turally of a chivalric and warlike bent, was not prepared rest satisfied with the peaceful functions undertaken by e fraternity. He therefore proposed that whilst they still tained the obligations imposed on them by their vows ey should add the further one of bearing arms in defence their religion and in support of the new kingdom. Although this proposition was diametrically opposed to e leading principles upon which the institution had been unded — which principles had but a few years before been ,cepted with the utmost enthusiasm and established by clamation — it was nevertheless received on all sides with •light, This change of feeling is easily accounted for. Tien Gerard, who was himself a man of peaceful habits d bred in an almost monastic seclusion, formed his •der on an entirely religious basis, rendering the aban- mrnent of a warlike career a matter of course, he found enty of ready and willing followers from amongst the nks of the crusading army. They had passed through period of extreme peril and hardship ; they had fought eir way step by step at the point of the sword, until, dly reduced in numbers, and satiated with warfare, they d at length achieved the main object for which they x>ve. Prostrate with the exhaustion consequent on so jolonged a struggle, and eager for repose — filled, too, at e moment with all the veneration which the remembrance the holy ground on which they trod was calculated to spire — it is not a matter for wonder that they embraced 16 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. with eagerness the peaceful career thus presented for th( adoption, combining as it did the gratification of th( religious enthusiasm with the calm and rest so grateful their jaded senses. The lapse, however, of a few yea brought about a great change in their feelings. The qui and seclusion of a monastic life soon lost the charms whi it had at first possessed ; the habits of a life of exciteme and warfare could not be thus suddenly suspended witho gradually producing a sense of inertness and lassitud When, therefore, their new superior, filled with the sax restless cravings as themselves, sought to restore to thi institution the active exercise of that profession which hi been their delight, and which they had abandoned in hasty fit of fanaticism, it is not surprising that this ne proposal should have been hailed with eagerness. The suggestions of Raymond du Puy met with ti warmest approval from Baldwin. The constant warfa to which he was exposed on every side, the incessai depredations of the Saracens who surrounded him, aii the necessity which consequently existed for supportii his position by force of arms, led him to receive with t] utmost favour so welcome a proposition. It would brii to the support of his cause a body of men highly train: in all the chivalric exercises of the age, inflamed wi| religious ardour, and unfettered by any of those social ti in Europe which had drawn from him so many of li followers. Thus upheld on every side, Raymond pi ceeded without delay to carry his design into execution the patriarch of Jerusalem was once more called in give his consent, and the entire body took a fresh oath, which they bound themselves to support the cause Christianity against the infidel in the Holy Land to t last drop of their blood. They at the same time pledg 1 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 17 3mselves on no pretence whatever to bear arms for any ler object than the defence of their faith. From this moment we may consider the Order of St. lm of Jerusalem as permanently established on that litary basis which it retained till its final dispersion from ilta. Although Gerard must be recognized as the ginal founder of the fraternity, it is to Raymond du ^y that the honour belongs of having been its first litary Master. When we look back on the glorious [lievements which through so many centuries have brned its annals, and mark the long list of names, taobled by so many heroic deeds, which have been bcessively enrolled beneath its banners, we must render | praise to the mind that first contemplated the establish- rat of a brotherhood combining within its obligations ph apparently contradictory duties, and yet fulfilling its jrposes with so much lasting benefit to Christianity and (perishable renown to itself. To regulate the new administration rendered necessary \ the changes which he had introduced, Raymond called aether the leading members of his Hospital, who bore b name of Masters' assistants, and forming them into a .apter or council, he submitted for their revision the finances originally drawn up by Gerard. It was at this meting that the first statutes for the governance of the ider under its new character were instituted, and these Ire laid before, and received the sanction of, the Pope. It sjy here be recorded that the original rule was lost at \i capture of the city of Acre in the year 1291. ^Eleven l]irs afterwards Pope Boniface VIII. , at the request of tthen Grand-Master, presented the Hospital with a h bull, in which the contents of Raymond's rule were tpitulated with a few trivial alterations. ^ 18 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. One of the first steps taken by this council was divide the Order into three classes, according to their raii and functions. The first class, which formed the arist cracy, were to be named knights of justice ; the seconj which constituted the strictly ecclesiastical branch, we called religious chaplains; and the third or lower clas serving brothers. It may here be observed, as regards tl first class, that no one could be admitted thereto who hx not already received the accolade of knighthood at secul hands. There were also religious dames of the Orde These ladies had branch establishments in France, Ital Spain, and England ; the rules for their reception wej similar to those for the knights of justice, with the adc tion that proofs of noble descent were demanded of the] It will be seen further on that similar proofs were aft* wards called for from knights of justice, but at the til; of which we are now speaking nothing was required them beyond the fact of their having been received m the ranks of secular knighthood. In addition to I above, who were regular members, there were other perso attached to the institution under the title of donats. The did not undertake the same obligations, but were employ] in different offices in the convent and Hospital. In tokj of their connection with the Order, they wore what v> called the demi-cross, with three two-pointed arms, inste of four. In after times this title was conferred on perse who had made oblations to the treasury. The powers of government were vested in the hands a council, presided over by the Master, and all questk connected with the well-being of the fraternity, as W as the collection and expenditure of the large and year. increasing revenues, were submitted to its decision. The income of the Order at this period was derived £d THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. li feed property iu every part of Europe, the result of "benevolent donations that had been so unsparingly towed. At first, these estates were farmed out to ividuals totally unconnected with it, and the tenants •e supposed to remit their annual rent, based on the ae of the land they held, to the treasury at Jerusalem. r .s system was soon found extremely faulty, and, indeed, 1-nigh impracticable. The difficulty of obtaining their ' rights from persons having no interest in the pros- ify of the fraternity, and who, on account of their 'ance from the seat of government, found every facility evading their obligations, soon caused the most alarm- deficits to arise. In order to remedy this evil, and to ire the punctual transmission of the rents of their aerous manors, it was determined to place over each usty member, who should act as steward of the funds mitted to his control. Establishments (at first called septories, but at a later date commanderies) were ned on a scale varying with the value of the properties were intended to supervise, there being in many s several members of the Order congregated together, superintendents were taken from among the seniors, were not confined to knights of justice, a certain iber of chaplains and serving brothers being also linated. In such cases it was not unusual to find tfits of justice attached to the preceptories sub- nate to them. he object of these preceptories was not confined to the action and transmission of revenue. They also became ich establishments where postulants were professed, the various duties carried on in a precisely similar mer as in the parent convent at Jerusalem. Periodical ts were collected, which were from time to time called 20 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. to the East to recruit the ranks constantly being thinr by war and disease. When not required for this duty, k knights were to be found rendering assistance in the wj fare unceasingly waged against the Moors in Spain al in the south of Europe. Wherever the infidel was to encountered, thither it was the duty of every true knig of St. John to hasten. They were, however, strict forbidden, upon any pretence whatever, to interfere warfare between Christian princes. So long as the establishments retained the title of preceptories, th( chief was called preceptor ; when they changed thi name to commanderies he became the commander ; hen the origin of the term knight commander, which has be ! introduced into so many orders of chivalry. The court reserved to itself the power of recalling a preceptor fr<| his post at any time and replacing him by another, being merely considered the steward of the property. T] right gradually fell into abeyance, and eventually a nors nation to a preceptory came to be regarded practically a permanent gift, subject only to the payment of a fix annual tribute to the public treasury under the title responsions. Strong prohibitions were issued against the use of a ornaments or devices in either the dress or arms of t brotherhood beyond the symbol of the Order, the eiglj pointed Cross. This restriction was considered necess^ in the eyes of their founder, owing to the increasing ta for splendour which was creeping into the habits of epoch. When the first germs of the chivalric idea beg to show themselves, and to replace the barbarism wM had overthrown the Roman empire, the simplicity of | age had limited the construction of arms strictly to purposes for which they were required, and nothing THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 21 way of ornament seems to have suggested itself. As, ^wever, time wore on, and brought with it a steady ^vance in civilization and luxury, new ideas became pre- sent. Whereas, in the earlier ages, duty to his religion id to his country were the only obligations imposed on a light, by degrees another element was introduced, and ly-love was eventually heard of as the noblest incentive the chivalric mind. So inseparably did this feeling come connected with the after character of the system at it may be looked upon as its mainspring. Every true light considered that the most daring act of gallantry U amply rewarded by the approving smile of his lady- ^e. Bearing on his person the favoured colours of his istress, he carried them wherever peril was to be braved i honour won. Under these circumstances it was but natural that the jnplicity which had characterized preceding times should ,ve way to the introduction of personal adornment, rmour came to be constructed no longer with a view Ij to its use, but ornamentation, more or less elaborate, is rapidly introduced. The insignia of heraldry date eir origin from this new sentiment, and each succeeding aeration outvied its predecessor in the splendour of its uipment. At the time the Order of St. John adopted military basis — i.e., in the early part of the twelfth cen- ry — this innovation had not reached any great height; had, however, so far won its way that Raymond du Puy ought it advisable to make a special regulation against j introduction into his fraternity. No decoration of any nd was permitted on any portion of the armour, with e sole exception of the Cross, and this was only to be me on the pennon, the surcoat, and the shield. The precise date at which all these changes in the con- 22 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. stitution of the Order took place is more or less a mat of uncertainty; the weight of evidence seems, however,] be in favour of from 1118 to 1120. At this time, in acl tion to the kingdom of Jerusalem, the Latins held svi over other detached principalities, which formed the ung and enthusiastic mind ; but he did not feel equally sposed to undertake those Hospitaller duties which puld fall to his lot were he to assume the White Cross St. John. Under the influence of these feelings a body of nine i*ench knights, with Hugh de Payens at their head, ined themselves together, with the object of forming 1 escort to the numerous bands of pilgrims who were mually resorting to the shores of Palestine. They were first under no religious restrictions, and had no distinct des laid down for their guidance, their duties being itirely voluntary. The king of Jerusalem gave them as residence a portion of his palace adjacent to the temple Solomon ; hence arose their name of Knights of the emple, or, as they were usually called, Knights Templar. Hugh de Payens, having been sent by the king to )licit assistance from the Pope in the form of a new rusade, took that opportunity of presenting his com- anions. He explained the objects of their association, ad requested permission of his Holiness to establish a 3w religious and military Order. The Pope referred him the council of Troyes, then in conclave, which, after ue investigation, gave its decided approval to the project l the year' 1128. Fortified with this sanction, Hugh de ayens traversed the greater part of Europe in search of mdidates for his new Order, and eventually returned to 24 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. \ Palestine with a body of three hundred young and ardefj spirits, selected from the flower of the chivalry of Euroj'1 Here they received every assistance from Raymond ajf his Hospitallers. For a long time, until donations begjL to pour into their own coffers, they were almost entire; maintained by the latter, who took them under th| protection. By degrees, however, the benefactions of m charitable, and the increase of their numbers, placed the on a footing of equality with the elder institution. In giving his sanction to the formation of this f raterni the Pope directed that they should wear a white robe wi a red cross, in contradistinction to the black robe aji white cross of the Hospitallers. They were consequent generally known as, respectively, Red Cross and Wh'^i Cross knights. Although they did not undertake ai charitable duties similar to those of the Order of St. Jok their regulations for the maintenance of their monast vows were even more severe. In order to prevent a temptation to a transgression of the vow of chastity, was decreed that they were on no account even to look c the face of a fair woman, and, as a still further precautioi they were forbidden to kiss even their own mothers. At about the same time another body, which in 1 original institution was of far greater antiquity than evej the Hospitallers, also became military ; and this was tl Order of St. Lazarus. The old writers date the origin taehments of the military Orders, he sat down before e walls. Gerard, the lord of Sidon, with fifteen small dleys, was to hold possession of the sea, and intercept e passage of supplies to the beleaguered city. For five months the siege was carried on with the most vigour. The Christians, harassed by constant trties on the part of the garrison, gained ground but 3wly. Every step w^as purchased by a fearful expendi- re of life, not an inch being yielded by the Saracens ithout a desperate resistance. At last, however, having ercome all the obstacles which the ingenuity of the fence had placed in their way, they reached the foot the rampart. At this critical moment, a powerful )stile fleet, laden with reinforcements and provisions, )ve in sight. Gerard of Sidon had no alternative but retire with his few ships in all haste, and the vereignty of the seas was consequently left in idisputed possession of the enemy. This sudden and ilooked-for check spread the utmost dismay through- it the Christian camp. A council of war was at once immoned, in which the propriety of raising the siege was Ivocated by the majority of those present. The leaders the military Orders, supported by the patriarch of 3rusalem and some of the other clergy, took, however, contrary view. They urged strongly on the king the ssity of prosecuting the siege, assuring him that retreat would have such a disastrous effect on his rces, and would so raise the spirits of the infidels, Lat he would be unable to resist a hostile advance 28 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. which would probably culminate in an attack Jerusalem. These arguments coincided with the views held by king himself ; so he decided, in spite of the adverse opin of the majority, to continue the enterprise. He so arou the spirit of all present by his bold counsels that even thi who had been most forward in advocating a retreat n became enthusiastic converts to his wishes. The Tempi] constructed a lofty tower on wheels, which they advan< close to the walls of the town, from the top of which drawbridge could be lowered at will to span the int vening space. In the course of the night the Tiu threw down a quantity of dry wood and other combustil matter, which they ignited with a view to the destructi of the tower. A strong east wind, however, set in, and t flames were blown on to the wall of the town. This ^ so much calcined by the action of the fire that in t morning it was easy to form a practicable breach. I time was lost. The Grand-Master of the Templars at on directed a body of his knights to deliver an assault, whi was attended with complete success. The assailants : sooner made their appearance through the breach thi the garrison fled precipitately. The Templars prompt advanced into the heart of the town, and had they be supported its fall must have ensued. Unfortunately, t grasping disposition of their Grrand-Master ruined t enterprise. Instead of sending for immediate reinforc ments, he actually mounted the breach with the rest of 1 knights, and there kept guard to prevent any other troo from entering the town, trusting thus to secure its enti pillage for the benefit of his Order. The result was wt might have been foreseen. The garrison not being f< lowed up, soon recovered from their panic. Perceivii THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 29 e slender strength of the enemy who had penetrated thin the city, they returned to the attack, drove the ttnplars back to the point at which they had effected their trance, and thence through the breach. Having cleared e place, they proceeded to secure themselves from further saults by retrenchments and barricades. The garrison were so elated at the success with which this raiidable attack had been repelled, that, strengthened as ey were by the reinforcements which had arrived with eir fleet, they determined on assuming the offensive, a the following morning they sallied forth in great ;ength, trusting to deliver such a blow as should compel e Christians to raise the siege. The action lasted the itire day, with varying success. The Templars, anxious I atone for their previous misconduct, threw themselves fi the enemy with the most reckless impetuosity, and pre ably supported by Baldwin and the Hospitallers. »t length the Saracens gave way, and, being closely •essed, the retreat was speedily converted into a total iut ; a large proportion of the garrison fell, and the ^mainder regained the shelter of their walls. On the llowing day they offered terms of capitulation, which living been accepted, Baldwin entered the town on the f >th August, 1154. i This conquest had a most beneficial effect on the posi- i'on of the kingdom of Jerusalem. Instead of the nstant alarms and incursions from which they had rmerly suffered whilst Ascalon was in the hands of te Turks, their frontier was now comparatively secure. ;s new holders, supported as they were by the garrisons Beersheba and Gaza, the former held by the Hos- itallers and the latter by the Templars, were able to rive back the Moslems into the heart of Egypt. The 30 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. greatest joy was displayed throughout Europe at tb timely acquisition, the glory of which was by universj consent awarded to the Knights of St. John and the' chief, Raymond, who, when it had been proposed abandon the siege in despair, had persistently urged i prosecution. Pope Anastasius IV. was so strongly iri pressed in their favour on the occasion that he issued new bull confirming and extending the privileges whk his predecessors had already granted. The publication of this bull created the greatest jealous 1 amongst the regular clergy of Palestine, who could nc brook the exemption from all ecclesiastical supervisio thus conceded. Numerous complaints of the arroganc and malpractices of the fraternity, some of which wer doubtless true enough, but others simply jealous fabrica tions, were forwarded to the papal chair. Amongst othe grievances, it was specified that the church of St. Jok exceeded in splendour that of the Holy Sepulchre, t which it was in close proximity, and that the bells of th former were rung with violence whilst service was beinj conducted in the latter, to the great annoyance and inter ruption of the congregation. Other complaints of a simila character, and framed in the same spirit, were made The Pope decided against the appellants, and confirmee the privileges of the Order, thus stigmatizing as vexatiout the opposition that had been raised against them. Thi* was the first time that any dispute had arisen between thi Hospitallers and the regular clergy ; but having once beer started they soon became almost chronic, and the readei of the histories of those times has to wade through long dissertations on both sides, in which the most trivia] matters are made to bear a malicious and invidious inter- pretation. This discord embittered the last days of THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 31 ymond du Puy. He had lived long enough to see his ler settled on a permanent basis, honoured and respected QUghout Europe, wealthy and powerful from the endow- nts it had received, and increasing annually in numbers, this time there was scarcely a noble house in Europe ich did not send one or more of its members to bear j White Cross on his breast, the aristocratic connections is formed tending much to increase the high estimation which the fraternity was held. At length, in the year 60, Raymond died. He had attained the age of eighty xrs, of which sixty had been spent in constant warfare. )thing seemed to affect his iron constitution, and he re an apparently charmed life through innumerable aies of danger. He breathed his last in the Hospital St. John, at Jerusalem, whither he had retired to meet | end in peace. History has recorded nothing but good his character. A true type of the Christian soldier d the gentleman, he lived to see his every ambition [filled, and the Order on which all his hopes had been ltred taking a leading place amidst the chivalry of irope. It was during his lengthened rule that the magnificent .e forming the new Hospital and convent was erected, le precise date of the work is uncertain, but it was obably between the years 1130 and 1150. Recent plorations have largely cleared up the difficulties which, 1 lately, rendered it almost impossible to define what ^re the actual limits of the establishment. The following scription may be taken as correct, so far as sites are ncerned, very few of the actual remains having been, yet, uncovered. To the south of the church of the Holy Sepulchre, there a plot of ground nearly square, about five hundred feet '32 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. a side, which is bounded on the north by what formerly the Street of Palmers, now known as the ^ Dolorosa; on the west by Patriarch Street, now Christi Street ; on the south by Temple Street, now David Stre< and on the east by the Malquisinat or Bazaar. "Witl this area stood the later buildings of the Order. North the Street of Palmers, and to the east of the church of t Holy Sepulchre, stood the churches and hospitals of Mary ad Latinos and St. Mary Magdalene, also Ijatnos ; the original establishments of the Amalfi m< chants. No traces of these are now to be found. To t south of the Street of Palmers, in the western angle of t square already defined, stood the church of St. Jo]j Eleemon and its hospice. Such was the institution as it existed prior to the fc mation of the kingdom of Jerusalem in 1099. Betwe that time and the middle of the succeeding century , t' Order, under Raymond du Puy, had developed the chur of St. John Eleemon into a fine building, the conventu church of St. John the Baptist.* On the east of th they had erected another large church, called Sta. Mar Major, with a monastic quadrangle to the south of it; ai along the south of the whole square, looking towar< Temple Street, ran the noble Hospital of St. Joh When Jerusalem reverted to the possession of the Saracen the church was by them converted into a madhouse (: Turkish, Muristan) ; hence the whole space has since be( known by that name. In the year 1869, the eastern ha] * In the south-west corner of the site still stands an old Byzanti: basilica of St. John the Baptist, earlier than any other kno 1 ? building in the area. Capt. Conder, R.E., suggests that possibly ti was the original church of St. John Eleemon, and that the conventu church of St. John the Baptist, referred to above, was not an enlarg ment of it, but a separate structure. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 33 which stood the church of Sta. Maria Major, the mastic quadrangle, and a portion of the Hospital, was -en by the Sultan to the crown prince of Prussia. This ;t of the Muristan has since then been excavated, 1 the ruins of the old buildings laid bare. The most ispicuous and interesting feature in the space is the eway of St. John. It consists of a large round arch, uprising two smaller arches within it. A few remains y of the latter now exist. The spandril between the ) was formerly adorned with sculpture, now nearly all ic. These arches rest at one side on a central pillar, I at the other on an entablature reaching from the jail side columns of the portal. The main arch rests on buttress adjoining the portal. Around this runs a >>ad sculptured frieze, representing the twelve months. hove, in the centre, is the sun, represented by a half aire, holding a disc over its head. Near it is the moon, lEemale figure with a crescent. The cornice above is piled with medallions, representing leaves, griffins, &c.* passing through this gateway the visitor would enter i north side of the church of Sta. Maria Major, which Lsists of a nave and two aisles terminating in three >es at the east. In its greatest length it extends to ) feet, and is about 65 feet in breadth. It is, of irse, roofless, and only portions of the columns are to • seen. The aisles were separated from the nave by It arches carried on three clustered columns on each «e. Behind the church, on the south, is a vaulted quad- igle, evidently the monastic establishment, and on the ith side of the quadrangle was the refectory, now used a German Lutheran chapel. South again of this the This description of the gateway is taken from Baedeker's, alestine and Syria." 34 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. excavations have laid bare a number of piers and eoluni which were no doubt a portion of the Hospital. It i thus described by Mandeville in 1322 : — " Before " church of the Sepulchre, 200 paces to the south, is " great Hospital of St. John, of which the Hospitallers 1 " their foundation. And within the palace of the sick b " of that Hospital are 124 pillars of stone ; and in the w; " of the house besides the number aforesaid there are fif %c four pillars that support the house. From that Hospi " going towards the east, is a very fine church, which " called Our Lady the Grreat, and after it there is anot " church very near called Our Lady the Latin, and th " stood Mary Cleophas and Mary Magdalene, and tore tl " hair when our Lord was executed on the cross." Such is the present state of these most interesting rui and it is to be hoped that when the western half of Muristan (still in possession of the Turks) is excaval many valuable remains both of the Hospital and c ventual church of St. John will be laid bare. CHAPTER II. 1160—1291. •edition into Egypt and death of D'Ascali — Rise of Saladin — Dissensions in the kingdom — Battle of Tiberias — Loss of Jeru- salem — Its main causes — Establishment of the Hospital at Margat — Retirement of the ladies of the Order to Europe — The third Crusade — Siege and capture of Acre — Alfonso of Portugal— Dissensions between the Hospitallers and Templars — Andrew, king of Hungary, admitted into the Order — Fifth Crusade — Its failure — Coronation of the emperor Frederic at Jerusalem — The Korasmins — Battle of Gaza— Reforms in the Order — Crusades of St. Louis — Sanguinary combat between the Hospitallers and Templars — Loss of Margat — Siege and fall of Acre. e rule of the two Masters who succeeded Raymond du y was short and uneventful; and in the year 1168 the ortunate Gilbert D'Ascali was appointed fourth holder :he office. Soon afterwards Almeric, the new king of usalem, brother of Baldwin III., suggested the advisa- ty of an expedition against the caliph of Egypt. The priety of joining with the king in this enterprise was ?mly debated in the council of the Order of St. John, caliph had but lately entered into a treaty of peace hihe Christians, by which he had bound himself to pay m an annual tribute. This treaty had so far been ipulously observed by him ; it was therefore argued by 36 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. many that they were not justified in waging war agai: him. D'Ascali, notwithstanding, strenuously support) the undertaking, and his detractors assert that his obj in doing so was to replenish by the spoils of Egypt 1| treasury of the Order, w T hich he had much reduced by extravagance. The majority of the council supported i views of the Master, and he was authorized to raise mor by loans from the bankers of Genoa and Venice. "W this assistance the Hospitallers enrolled a large auxilis force of mercenaries, and took the field with an an far more numerous than on any former occasion. 1 Templars, on the other hand, declined to lend any aid Almeric, grounding their refusal on the injustice a impolicy of the attempt. The result of the expedition proved the wisdom of th decision. After a brief success, and the capture of B beis, Almeric laid siege to Cairo. Before, however, had succeeded in making himself master of the pla Noureddin, the Turcoman leader, who had been su moned by the caliph to his aid, advanced in overwhelm] strength, and succeeded in joining his forces with those the Egyptians. Under these circumstances nothing \ left but to effect a rapid retreat, and to abandon recently acquired post of Belbeis. Thus ended this fated expedition. That it was unprovoked in the out 1 and consequently unjustifiable, cannot be denied ; a that, starting with a breach of faith, it deserved no bet fate, is true. It would, however, had it been success! have tended much to strengthen the feeble kingdom, it was, the Christians gained nothing but obloquy, a brought down on themselves an enemy who eventua compassed their complete overthrow. The friends 1 ! Almeric endeavoured to screen his share of the transact THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA 37 [j throwing the entire blame on the Master of St. John ; 1 Gilbert, on his return to Jerusalem, found himself licked on all sides. His proud spirit sank under the ftl, and in a fit of despair he resigned his Mastership, Ml left the Holy Land. Shortly afterwards he was [fcwiied whilst crossing from France to England, from tch fact it has been assumed that he was an English- In. This seems the more probable, as the name ILscali, or De Sailly, is of Norman origin, and might til have been borne by an English knight at that Hod. Dn his resignation he was succeeded by Gastus, who, to Lv the stereotyped expression of the chroniclers, has left t other record of himself than his name. Joubert, the Ith Master, was elected on the death of Gastus, in the |ir 1169. Great changes were now taking place in the nntries surrounding Judaea. The army which had been lit to the caliph of Egypt was commanded by Siracon, l^ose nephew, Saladin, accompanied him into Egypt, fcureddin's design in this act was not simply to aid in celling the Christians from the country. He had given R'acon private instructions that after he had carried out Bit object, he should take advantage of any favourable Uportunity to seize upon its government himself. These fytructions were carried out. Siracon deposed the caliph, fjd seated himself on the throne. His triumph was, ] wever, very brief, as he died almost immediately after- f(.rds. His nephew, Saladin, in his turn, assumed the p,ns of government, and to make himself secure, strangled h late caliph. Noureddin having also died at about the line period, Saladin married his widow, and thus became It only ruler of Egypt, but also of all the territories [pnierly governed by him. i 1 a D a a 38 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Aim eric died in the year 1174, and was succeeded his son, Baldwin IV., who was afflicted with leprosy, the following year that prince endeavoured to establish frontier fortress on the banks of the Jordan, within limits of Saladin's dominion. Saladin at once advanc to oppose the Christians, and, having skilfully lured thi into an ambush, fell upon them whilst entangled id; defile, and completely routed their army. In this dis; trous affair the Hospitallers were nearly cut to piec their Master, Joubert, being covered with wounds, a saving his life only by swimming his horse across f Jordan. His end, which occurred in the year 1179, 1 been differently recorded. Some say that he died of gri owing. to the troubles which year by year were falli with increasing force upon the kingdom ; the gene: opinion, however, is that he was murdered, having be' starved to death in prison, after falling into the har of one of the Saracen generals. The vacancy was filled by the election of Roger D< moulins. On his accession he found the Christian territo threatened from without by a powerful enemy, and at t same time torn and divided by internal discord. A tri had been concluded with Saladin, but it was merely tei! porary, and it was clear that when war once more bro! out the Christians would be quite unable to present a si! cessful resistance to the infidels. They decided, therefo:| upon sending an embassy to Europe to solicit the aid o| third Crusade, and for this purpose selected Heraclit; patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Masters of the Hospil and Temple. Shortly after their arrival in Europe tj latter dignitary died, leaving Heraclius and Desmouli to carry out the embassy unaided. They visited the couij of Philip II. of France, and Henry II. of England. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 39 frll as that of Pope Lucius III., but without much prao- t al success. A Crusade was, indeed, preached, but with rh lukewarmness that it proved futile ; and the disap- i inted envoys were compelled to return to the East rtthout having secured any efficient aid. Here they Lad that the disease with which Baldwin was afflicted nd so far overcome him that he had become incapable I carrying on the functions of government. He had, in I lsequence, associated with himself Gruy de Lusignan, a Ij-ench knight, w T ho had married his sister Sabilla, the Idow of the marquis of Montferrat. At his death, which [purred shortly afterwards, Gruy and Sabilla were, after ? ne opposition, proclaimed king and queen. "Whilst the kingdom was in this disorganized state, Uadin took the opportunity of laying siege to Acre. A enforcement of the military Orders had been thrown into tje town, commanded by their respective Masters. Des- bulins, to avoid being blockaded, collected his Hospitallers, Id, supported by a body of the inhabitants, sallied forth lader cover of night, leaving the Templars to hold the fen. The Saracens, taken by surprise, at first gave way i| a panic, and were slaughtered in large numbers. As !y broke, however, Saladin was enabled to rally his rces, and a desperate battle ensued without any decisive ^vantage on either side, but he was in consequence com- piled to raise the siege. This success was dearly pur- ;ased, chief amongst the slain being Roger Desmoulins Imself. As the country was in a state of active warfare, le council lost no time in electing his successor, their oice falling on Grarnier de Napoli, who thus became ^hth Master of the Order. Saladin, foiled in his attempt on Acre, had turned his mis against Tiberias, a city of which Raymond, count of 40 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Tripoli, was lord in right of his wife. On hearing of tl attack, Raymond magnanimously advised the king 1 leave the city to its fate, urging him to take up a strict!) defensive line of action. He pointed out that the Saracei army could not long maintain itself in the district, owin to the scarcity of water. Other and less sagacious counse unfortunately prevailed ; and the king, collecting all h available forces, marched in the direction of Tiberias, d< termined to stake everything on the issue of a single battl Evil and ill-judged advice was taken in connection witj every step. A spot was selected for encampment which tl | total absence of water soon rendered untenable. Findin it impossible to remain where he was, Lusignan advance into the plain of Tiberias to give battle to the enem; The most powerful efforts were made by the ecclesiastii who accompanied the army to arouse the enthusiasm the soldiery. The piece of the true cross, which had bee: so long preserved at Jerusalem for the veneration of tl, pious, had been brought with them and intrusted to tl special guardianship of the military Orders. It was o this eventful occasion planted on an eminence, whei throughout the day it served as a rallying point to tl Christians. The main reason which had decided the kin to give battle being the want of water, his first effor 1 were directed to supply the deficiency. The lake | Tiberias, at a distance of two miles, lay glittering in til sunshine in rear of the Saracens, and between it and tl Christians, now parched with thirst, were drawn up tl dense masses with which Saladin was prepared to resi their advance. In the van of the army stood the forces II the Hospital and Temple, ready at the appointed signal t rush at the foe, and hew a pathway to the much longed-fc water. When the desired moment arrived, on they dasheo THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 41 Ud were at once lost to view in the mass of opponents by viom they were siurounded. Whatever may have been tpir defects, or even vices, cow r ardice was certainly not tten alleged against the brethren of either Order. On ^fis important field, with the fate of Christian dominion H the East depending on their success, they strove with inerous rivalry to outvie each other. Side by side these Billed warriors of the Church hurled themselves on the pidel, and the fierce war-cry of the Temple, rising high Ipve the din of battle, was mingled in gallant unison pth that of the Hospital. } All, however, was in vain. The numbers of the enemy Ifere too vast for even their heroism to overcome, and II, as the Saracens were, by a general of such ability as pladin, those numbers were used to the greatest possible ^vantage. As the day wore on, the impetuosity of the j&iristian attack abated, and the stubbornness of their re- B'tance became less determined, until at length, broken, pished, and exhausted, they gave w r ay. Saladin pressed b victory to the utmost ; allowing the retreating army C breathing time, he poured his forces on their shattered CfLumns and utterly completed their overthrow. This disastrous fight sealed the fate of the kingdom. Gruy had Hiked everything on the issue of a single field, and the lizard of the die had gone against him. Saladin was not cjly master of the day, but the way to Jerusalem lay den and unopposed to his advance. The king, the Grrand- laster of the Temple, and several other lords of note, fell ilto his hands, whilst Gamier, the Master of the Hospital, Mose valour throughout the day had been worthy of his I alted post, met the end of a true soldier of the Cross, I ving been so desperately wounded that he only survived I reach Ascalon, where he died. 42 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, The loss of the Hospitallers was enormous. In additio to those who fell on the field, such as were taken prisoned were massacred by order of Saladin, who gave them tfe option of apostasy or death, they, like true Christia knights, unanimously selecting the latter alternative. Tl few remaining members of the Order at the chef-lieu, [ soon as the news of the issue of the battle and the deai of Grarnier had reached them, assembled, with a feelin well-nigh of despair, to elect, as it seemed to them, rno; probably their last Master. With some difficulty the persuaded Ermengard Daps, on whom their choice ha fallen, to accept the onerous post. This duty accomplishei they prepared to meet their fate in the hopeless strugg which was now imminent. Saladin lost no time in securin the fruits of his victory. The various fortresses on h route, denuded, as they were, of their ordinary garrison fell an easy prey, and no opposition being offered to h\ advance, he soon appeared in front of Jerusalem. TI siege lasted only fourteen days, and ended in the capitul tion of the city in October, 1187. Saladin, in the hour of his triumph, acted with a gen I rosity hardly to have been anticipated from his previoij conduct. He allowed the military, the nobles, and a who had borne arms, to proceed to Tyre, and fixed tl ransom of the civil population at the rate of ten crow] per man. In many instances, at the supplication of tl queen, he was induced to forego the demand of this ransoi and the Hospitallers freely lavished what remained in the already nearly exhausted treasury to purchase the liberi of others, so that the number of those who were eventualj doomed to slavery was comparatively small. He a! permitted ten of the fraternity of the Hospital, in cojj sideration of their charitable functions, to remain for THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 43 Ifiited period within the city to complete the cure of those Uk who were under their charge, and not in a state to Idergo immediate removal. iThus, after having been at great sacrifice rescued from te domination of the Turk, and having continued for c'rhty-oight years to be the seat of government of a Kiristian kingdom, Jerusalem once more returned into Beir hands. The crescent again waved over the ramparts iiere the rival banners of the Hospital and Temple had w so long fanned the breeze, and the church of the Holy tjpulehre became a Mahometan mosque. Was it for this mt Peter the Hermit had in the preceding century thun- cred forth his denunciations against the infidel ? Was it flr this that Europe had poured forth her countless hosts t) whiten the shores of Palestine with their bones ? Was i for this that generations of zealous devotees had conse- nted their swords and their lives to the preservation of flat precious conquest ? It was, alas ! too true. Europe 1 d looked supinely on whilst the web of destruction was King slowly, but surely, woven round the sacred province ; : (1 now, when it was too late, when all was lost, a cry of ^idignation and vengeance arose on every side. It may be well to pause for a moment and analyse the aises which led to so speedy a decline and fall of the Jngdom of Jerusalem. These were, on the one hand, the icrease and concentration of the power of the Moslem, [d, on the other, the decadence and disunion of that t the Christians. When first the Crusaders established lemselves on the shores of Palestine, they found the ferny divided into factions, and combating as to certain sputed tenets of their faith with a rancour and animosity ch as only religious warfare could excite. Either party is generally ready to coalesce with the new comers to 44 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. insure the overthrow of its rivals ; the Christians, theref < in most of their earlier campaigns, were able to reckon aid on one or other of them. As, however, the power ( the Turcomans gradually consolidated itself, and opposirj pretensions were eventually concentrated in the person rd. In a document dated October 26th, 1231, his name pears as the head of the Order. A leaden bulla or seal his is also affixed to a document now in the Record fice at Malta, bearing date 1233. In this seal Guerin seen kneeling before a cross ; the cross of the Order is ible on his mantle. The inscription runs : " Frater Tinus Custos Ospitalis Jherusalem." At his death, (den took place in 1236, Bertrand de Comps was elected j sixteenth Master, which office he held for five years. It was during his rule that the third re-occupation of rusalem by the Latins took place. Their brief tenure of & city, which had been the result of the treaty of the peror Frederic with the sultan of Egypt, was brought 'a close on the termination of that treaty. The sultan ected all proposals for a renewal of its provisions, and >ve the defenceless Christians out of the place. In the vr 1240, Richard of Cornwall, brother of Henry III. of gland, made his appearance at Acre, accompanied by a Dng body of English Crusaders. Richard had no sooner lived at the scene of action than he at once prepared take the field. From the well-known energy of his iracter, and the strength of the army under his com- nd, the most sanguine hopes of success were entertained* 52 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. The sultan of Egypt, in whose possession Jerusalem aii( its environs still remained, was at the moment engaged ij a war with the sultan of Damascus. He felt, therefore 1 that the time was most inopportune for resisting th invasion now threatening him, and so, without waiting fo any aggressive movement on the part of the earl, h offered at once to conclude a treaty by which he was t surrender Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Beritus; as well as Mount Thabor and a large portion of the Hoi Land. This treaty was accepted by Richard with th approbation of most of the chiefs of the kingdom; its proj visions were at once carried into effect, the cities mentione being given over to the Latins and immediately re-occupie by them. Upon this occasion no restrictions were impose as to the fortifying of Jerusalem, and as it was evidentl impossible to hold the place in security without th adoption of prompt measures, the most strenuous exe] tions were made to restore its defences. The treasury (j the Hospital was drained to the last farthing, and tl power of the Order strained to the uttermost to furth( the work. In the year 1241, Bertrand de Comps died of wounc received in an action against the Turcomans, who ha made an irruption into the territories of the prince < Antioch. They were in this battle completely routed, an their defeat cast a halo of glory over the chivalric end ij the gallant and aged Master. He was succeeded by Pet* de Villebride, whose short rule was marked by even most disastrous to the fortunes of the kingdom and of h Order. A savage horde known by the name of Korasmins, wis dwelt near the shores of the Caspian Sea, having be* driven from their homes by the Mogul Tartars, had poura THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 53 r er the neighbouring countries, led by their chief, Bar- ican, a general whose skill in war and intelligence in the t of government were such as to raise him in the scale of vilization far above his wild followers. They soon reached e unfortunate province which had but just returned to e rule of the Latins, and was still suffering from the Tpetual warfare of which it had been the victim. Only a w feeble ramparts had as yet been constructed for the fence of Jerusalem, and behind these it was felt useless attempt a stand. The Latin army, including the ilitary Orders, thought it best to evacuate the city, and to tch their camp on the plain of Gaza, sufficiently near to atch the course of events. The Korasmins speedily made emselves masters of the abandoned post, where they newed once again those scenes of carnage which had ?en so often before enacted on the self-same spot. Even- ally, satiated with slaughter and weary of inactivity, ter a few days spent in the wildest revels and the vilest bbauchery, they advanced in a tumultuous horde, flushed ith victory and eager for the fray, determined to over- helm the comparative handful of Latins by whom they ere opposed. , The valour of the Christian chivalry, though exerted to le uttermost, expended itself in vain against the almost puntless swarms opposed to them. Upon this occasion Lose jealousies which had for so long divided the military Tders were quelled in their zeal for the common cause, id the blood of both Hospitaller and Templar flowed eely in one common stream — a worthy sacrifice to their )untry and religion. For two whole days the struggle as maintained, and still the Latins stood undismayed, ie scale of victory seeming during that long time ?arly equally balanced. It was not, however, within the 54 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. power of human endurance to bear up indefinitely againi;j the interminable stream of new opponents unceasingly poured upon their exhausted ranks by the indefatigabjjj Barbacan. At length, on the evening of the second daifj the Christian force, overpowered by the sheer weight cij numbers, was compelled to give way. Signal as was the:|j defeat, it was unaccompanied by disgrace. Still strud gling, though all was lost, the broken remnants of tt army refused either to fly or to yield. In this fatal field tht\ Masters both of the Hospital and Temple found a nobli| grave in company with almost the entire body of theiH respective Orders, only thirty-three of the Templail| and sixteen Hospitallers surviving the slaughter. Wit II this disastrous defeat ended all hope of resisting the vicl torious advances of the Korasmins, and the slender reliJ of the Christian force sought the shelter of Acre. Hen William de Chateauneuf was raised to the vacant pos of Master of the Hospital. Chateauneuf found himself at the head of his fraternit at a moment when it was plunged in the direst distress] Within the limits of the Holy Land there remained but j few members, mostly wounded, who from behind the wall of Acre were compelled to tolerate the ravage of the sacre< province. Fortunately, the Korasmins soon began tj quarrel amongst themselves, and ere long became in con! sequence so enfeebled as to be no longer objects of dread Hemmed in on all sides, and harassed by the peasantry whose hatred they had aroused by their licentiousness an? brutality, they gradually diminished in numbers until before long, no trace of their power remained. Freefj from the imminent peril which had at one time threatened complete annihilation, Chateauneuf took the most ener getic measures to recruit the ranks of his fraternity, anfj THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 00 •estore some semblance of credit to its exhausted trea- y. Every preceptory in Europe was drained of its mbers, even novices being included in the conscription. st sums of money were also remitted from the same ces ; so that before long we find that, with the revivi- lg power so peculiar to it, the Order was once more rishing with as stately a grandeur as of old. he first Crusade of St. Louis of France was one of the llts of the disaster of Graza. This unfortunate expedi- 1, ending as it did in the capture of the entire force in ypt by Bendocdar, rendered no assistance to the waning ivev of the Christians. Louis, after having been ran- ged from his captivity, and having lingered at Acre for |r years, unable to accomplish anything in aid of the ise he had so much at heart, left the Holy Land in )4, and the next few years were spent by the military (lers in securing themselves within those posts which jy still retained. During this lull in the political storm ♦ quarrels which had so often arisen between them, but ich the urgency of their mutual peril had temporarily ?lled, once again broke forth. Beginning in single inbats, or in struggles of small parties, the ill-feeling m by degrees so rancorous that eventually they rarely t without bloodshed, and, not contented with isolated counters, gradually developed a state of actual warfare, e mutual exasperation at last became so envenomed Lt in the year 1259 the whole force of the respective ders met in a general engagement. Victory favoured p side of the Hospitallers, and the slaughter was such jit scarce a Templar survived the fatal day. It was long 'ore that fraternity rallied from the blow, and by the ie that their ranks had been sufficiently recruited to en- .e them once more to show front against their rivals, the 56 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. breaking out of renewed hostilities with the common enemy overcame the bitterness of civil discord. It was during this, the last year of Chateauneuf's nihil i that the Pope issued a bull decreeing a distinctive dre*| for the knights of justice. It is dated in August, 125{j! William de Chateauneuf died in the month of October c | that year, and Hugh de Revel was elected to succeed hinii This knight, the nineteenth Master of the Order, was thj| first who received from the Pope the title of Grand-Masted The bull conveying this dignity was dated on the 18t | November, 1267. The chiefs of the Temple had froij) their first foundation taken the rank of Grrand-Masteiii whilst those of the Hospital had until this date contenteil themselves with the simpler appellation of Master. Under the auspices of Hugh de Revel some vitsj changes were made in the organization of the Europeaj possessions of the Hospital. The various preceptories haji hitherto been in the habit of remitting the surplus of thei revenues, after deducting the cost of their own subsistence to the general treasury at head-quarters in the East. I many cases, sometimes owing to the extravagance or mis management of the administrators, and sometimes froi causes over which they had no control, the customar balance was not forthcoming. As, however, it was absc lutely necessary that a positive and considerable sur should be relied on with certainty to support the heavj expenditure of constant warfare, it was decided at chapter-general, held in Csesarea, that a definite paymen should be demanded from each preceptory, based on thj average receipts of a term of years, which sum should k] variably be remitted to the general treasury, the balanc being retained for local expenditure. This annual payi inent, which formed a species of rent-charge, was called ;j THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 57 fconsion, and was usually fixed at one-third of the gross fepts. The commission which was sent to each pre- Itor to announce the changes thus decreed began with I word commandamus ; hence arose the word commander, which title the preceptor eventually became known. ories were at the same time established, formed by the on of several preceptories. At the head of these were ced dignitaries with the title of prior, or, as they were awards termed, grand-prior. The prior held supreme trol over the preceptories which constituted his priory, I he was charged with the duty of collecting and re- tting their several responsions. He was also called on Maintain strict discipline, and to act as a check upon extravagance or other malpractices of the preceptors, was instructed to make constant visits, so as to ascer- . by personal observation that due economy and ipline were enforced. ifcVhilst thus organizing improvements in the internal inonry of the Order, Hugh de Revel was at the same e making the most strenuous efforts to maintain a bold at against the perpetual aggressions of the relentless my. These exertions were not, however, very sue- ful. His means of defence were so limited, and the 'fver against which he contended was growing gradually ! overwhelming, that each year witnessed some new [amity. In 1263 the sultan succeeded in obtaining pos- sion of the fortress of Azotus. Ninety knights had n placed by Revel at this post to lead the garrison and tduct the defence. One by one these brave men fell, 1 it was not till the last of their number had succumbed t Bendocdar was able to force his way into the town. the succeeding year the Templars were forced to sur- .der the fortress of Saphoura, and these losses were soon I 58 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. followed by others still more grave. Antioch, Laodiee and Karac fell in succession ; and Acre itself was on! saved by the report of anticipated succour from Cyprij which induced Bendocdar, who dreaded another Crusacj to retrace his steps. The second Crusade of Louis, in which he met his dea amid the fever-breeding swamps of Tunis, brought : relief to the suffering Latins of Syria. The efforts ma in the year 1271 by Prince Edward of England, thou conducted with energy, were equally fruitless, owing the insufficiency of the force of which he was the lead Having narrowly escaped assassination,* that prince i turned to Europe, having succeeded in obtaining a trnj for ten years, during which time a short breathing spa was permitted to the harassed and dispirited Latins. . this peaceful lull Hugh de Revel died in 1278, ai Nicholas de Lorgue was intrusted with the baton of Gran! Master in his stead. The death of Bendocdar in the year 1281 brought ti treaty to a close, and the military Orders were once mcj aroused from their brief repose. The commencement the new war was signalized by some important success on the part of the Christians. One of the Saracen coll manders unwarily led his forces within reach of Margat- still an important stronghold of the Hospitallers — t garrison of which utterly routed them, and annihilated t. whole body. Enraged at this disaster, the sultan at on despatched a force of 5,000 men for the capture of Margi * Immediately after the receipt of his wound, and whilst the res>, threatened to be fatal, Edward made his will. It was dated at Ac June 18th, 1272, and the subscribing witnesses were Hugh de ReV; Grand-Master of the Hospital, and Thomas Berard, Grand-Master the Temple. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 59 fcismayed by the numbers of their opponents, the Ipitallers, feeling that they were too few to meet the niv in open combat, had recourse to stratagem. Post- la portion of their force in ambush outside the gates of loity, the remainder advanced towards the enemy in |r of battle. After a brief struggle they pretended to I way, and fled towards the town as though panic- Iken. The Moslems, huiTied away by the ardour of luit, dashed after the retiring foe in all the disorder of pid advance. Once drawn into the defile where the [lush was laid, the flying Hospitallers halted in their i|se and turned fiercely on their pursuers, who were piayed by hearing the tumult of strife suddenly arise he same moment in their rear and on both flanks. i|le or no resistance was offered ; the struggle became a [-acre, and a very slender remnant of the force survived tarry to the sultan of Egypt the news of this fresh and re serious disaster to his arms. [roused to a pitch of frenzy by the double defeat which pad sustained, the sultan vowed a deep and bitter n, and as often recovered, but each effort showed more more clearly that the place was doomed. Though y member of that heroic but attenuated garrison stood ismayed at his post, it was evidently the firmness of heration, not the energy of hope. Beaujeu and the pr leaders had no thought of surrender ; still they knew nothing short of a miracle could save them. At i^th the fatal morning dawned, the sun of which was to jiess the complete expulsion of the Latins from Syria, jly in the day the marshal of the Hospitallers, who had fe than once rescued the city from impending capture, .j at the head of his knights whilst defending a breach ir the gate of St. Anthony. Dismayed at the loss of I gallant knight, Beaujeu turned to Villiers and re- nted him, as a last resource, to attempt a diversion by ring out of the town and attacking the enemy's camp, .[trusted thus to obtain a short respite during which he :|ht in some manner repair the ruin. There is no doubt I this instruction was the means of saving the lives of iiers and the knights who accompanied him, though at i[, moment the service seemed one leading to certain *:h. Hastily assembling a troop of his knights, and jouncing to them that the time had now arrived to ^ifice themselves for their faith, he sallied out by a side ^ and made a circuit, so as, if possible, to fall on the Ik of the enemy unperceived. Khaled was, however, I wary a general to allow himself to be thus taken by >rise, and when Villiers reached the intended point of ck he found a strong force of cavalry drawn up to 66 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. receive him. All efforts to penetrate this serried ma proved unavailing, and eventually he was driven back wi the slender relics of his force. Meanwhile, the breach of St. Anthony had been carrie Beaujeu slain, and the town fallen into the hands of t enemy. All was therefore lost, and nothing left but endeavour to rescue such of his knights as had hither escaped the slaughter, which was even now flooding t streets with blood. Retreating warily, he formed rallying point for all who were able to join him, ai gradually reached the shore. Here he succeeded in ei barking them on board the galleys which were lying the roadstead. This was a very difficult operation, a: one not carried out without severe loss. The enemy ^ held in check by the archers, who, posted on the vesse decks, kept up an incessant discharge upon the advanci squadrons. Under cover of these missiles the embarkatij: was at length completed, and thus the slender relics that proud fraternity which had during so many yer raised the White Cross as a barrier impassable to t Moslem were compelled to abandon the sacred soil of tfo adoption, and to wend their sorrowful way towards t island of Cyprus CHAPTEE III. 1291—1365. Uhlishment of the Order in Cyprus — Its first naval armaments— > Project for the capture of Rhodes — Death of William de Yillaret, and accession of his brother — Capture of Rhodes— ■ Destruction of the Order of the Temple — Arrogance of Fulk > de Yillaret — His flight to Lindos — Appeals to the Pope — His 1 resignation, and appointment of Elyon de Villeneuve — Division j of the Order into langues — Dieudonne de Gozon and the dragon of Rhodes — His election as Grand-Master — Succession of Cor- r nillan and de Pins. [e slender and dispirited relics of the unfortunate prison of Acre found shelter in Cyprus, where Henri LLusignan, anxious to atone for his desertion, welcomed ]|:m with open arms. The town of Limasol was allotted ( them as a residence, and here the Hospitallers once ire re-established their convent. An imperative order IB at once issued for each grand-priory to despatch Ither without delay all its available members. This junction was obeyed with so much enthusiasm, that in ) course of a few months the ranks of the fraternity vre again restored in numbers. Nor was it in men only it assistance poured in from Europe; the coffers of 3ry priory were drained for the assistance of the neral treasury, so that they were soon able to open '?ir Hospital, and recommence the exercise of those iritable duties which had been so rudely disturbed. 68 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Although the Holy Land had now passed complete away from the power of Christendom, the number pilgrims seeking its shores continued unabated ; the du therefore still devolved on the Order of supplying su protection and escort on the road as lay within thj power. For this purpose, the galleys which had convey them from Acre were brought into requisition, and the new element thus adopted they soon succeeded demonstrating that the White Cross of St. John was be as much dreaded when waving over their galleys as had been in the van of their troops. To the various pa: of Italy and the Adriatic their fleets proceeded in t months of March and August ; they collected the gratei bands of devotees at these several points of embarkatic and escorted them safely through the perils of t| Levant, until they landed in Syria, whence, as soon the cravings of their religious enthusiasm had be satisfied, the brethren accompanied them back to thi various destinations. Whilst thus employed, they not unfrequently e countered the galleys of the Turks which, scenting th( prey, were generally to be found hovering near th< desired victims. These soon discovered that their enemies had lost none of their vigour, and were st as dauntless in enterprise as of old. The numeroi Ottoman prizes, which ere long graced the harbour Cyprus, were the first promising token of that maritir supremacy which was eventually to assert itself on t. waters of the Mediterranean. Many of these captur proved extremely valuable, and in some cases indiviclii knights succeeded in appropriating to themselves much the wealth which should have found its way to tl treasury. Discipline had in truth been rudely shakei THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 69 afl the sudden flush, of prosperity thus developed tended st'l further to loosen its bonds. The very island in Wich the fraternity had established its convent bore i idst its balmy breezes the seeds of that voluptuous- q!s which, from the earliest ages, had been its ciracteristic, and the Hospitaller, returning from a sJcessful cruise, sought to make amends for the toils ail privations he had undergone by an outburst of li urious dissipation. During the remainder of the rule of John de Villiers tlse expeditions continued without intermission, and & knights gradually so curbed the power of the infidel ir this branch of warfare, as to render the navigation oj the Levant comparatively secure for the commerce o: Europe. This was a boon which every nation could abreciate, especially those who, like the Venetians, owed t'Mr position to the magnitude of their trading trans- aions. Whilst the knights of St. John had been e^aged in the defence of the Holy Land, their aehieve- i 'iits, brilliant as they were, had been of but slight IB to the populations of Europe ; and although much rigious enthusiasm had been evoked by the tales of lroism and chivalry, which were the constant theme cf troubadour in hall and bower, still the effect was tmsitory. Now, however, when, in addition to the E3red cause of opposing the infidel, there was added tie more tangible benefit of protection to commerce, a (y r of gratitude arose on every side. The difference between the conduct of the Hospitaller f'.d Templar was freely discussed. They had both dually earned renown by their gallant defence of Acre, id had shared the same fate on its fall. But from 1 at time w T hat a contrast had there been ? The 70 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Hospitaller, taking advantage of the nearest point established himself almost within sight of the shore fi which he had been driven. Unable any longer to cc pete with his foe on land, he had not hesitated! encounter him on the seas ; and those Turkish ro^ 3 who had for so many years been the terror of the Ley! were taught to feel the curb. Instead of the slave mn of Egypt being filled with captive Christian sailors, | tables were suddenly turned, and the Turk was him*] found tugging at his oar in one of the numerous gall ! of the Hospital. The Templars, on the other ha, after a brief sojourn in Cyprus, hurried westward "w l unseemly haste, and settling themselves in their varii European preceptories, gave way to the most unbridi dissipation. Their gross licentiousness, and the M gance of their bearing, soon drew down on th universal distrust and hatred, whilst there were ] wanting those who possessed both power and will accomplish their overthrow. No doubt, during th last years of their existence, little can be said in favu of the Templars; and although the cruelty with wh. their extinction was accomplished has raised a feeli 1 of compassion on their behalf, it cannot be denied til they had of late years gravely deviated from the origii designs of their institution. In the year 1294, John de Villiers died at Cyprus, a was succeeded by Odon de Pins, a Provencal knight, ^ only survived his election three years, when he was his turn replaced by William de Villaret, also a knight Provence. This Grand-Master soon became impress with the desire of securing a new and more perniane home than that of Cyprus. For this purpose, he t his eyes in the direction of Ehodes, a spot whi THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 73 apeared in every way adapted to the purpose he had at liirt. This island had originally formed a dependency the empire of Constantinople. It afterwards became t3 prey of the Genoese, in whose possession it continued 1 til the emperor Vatiens succeeded in recovering it. (adually, however, its governors established themselves independent princes, and in order to make good their ptensions against the empire, they opened their ports to 1 3 Turkish corsairs of the neighbourhood. To repel this 1 xious swarm, and destroy their nest, would of itself be t act reflecting great credit, whilst further to erect terein a stronghold which should be a terror to the i ridel, and a support to the commerce of Europe, was crtain to evoke the deep gratitude of Christendom. Impressed with these views, Villaret determined to crry out a thorough reconnoissance of the island. He (asted cautiously round it, marking well its various points ( defence, the positions of the harbours, the sites of the iwns, and, as far as he could ascertain, the number of 'eir respective inhabitants. By the time he had con- • iided his survey it was made very clear to him that the idertaking was one of no ordinary magnitude, and that hodes possessed the most formidable means of defence, its inhabitants knew how to make use of them. He turned, however, undeterred to Cyprus, fully resolved 1 at once organizing an expedition for the capture of the Land. Unfortunately, in the midst of his preparations, 3 was seized with sudden illness, which carried him off 1 the year 1308, to the deep regret of the fraternity, hey promptly elected his brother Fulk in his place, con- niving that he would, from his knowledge of his brother's 3signs, be the best fitted to carry them out. Fulk at ice proceeded to France, where he found the king, THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 7 r Philip the Fair, and the Pope, Clement V., in conclave Poictiers, in company with the unfortunate Grran Master of the Temple, James de Molay. Villaret lost ] time in submitting his scheme, pointing out the mai advantages which the acquisition of Rhodes by the Ord would confer on Europe. Clement supported him warml and not content with contributing a large sum of mone used his utmost influence to obtain assistance from tl various nations of Europe. To the Grand-Master himse he gave the right of nomination to the archbishopric i Rhodes in the event of his success warranting the erei tion of such a dignity. Great numbers of enthusias responded eagerly to the papal appeal, and flocked 1 Brundusium, the proposed port of embarkation. Selee ing the flower of this host of volunteers, Villaret shippe them on board the galleys which had been furnishe 1 for the expedition by the king of Sicily and the republ: of Grenoa. On arrival at Rhodes he at once made a descent o the coast, and, after a slender and desultory resistance o the part of the inhabitants, effected a landing. By thil prompt measure the open country fell, to a great exten" into his hands. Still, as the town of Rhodes remained if the possession of the Saracens, it was clear that the mos! difficult part of his task yet remained to be accomplished Hoping by a bold stroke to achieve a complete victory he attempted to carry the town by sudden storm, bu ; : in vain. The number and valour of the garrison, aide< ! by the strength of the defences, more than counter balanced the impetuous energy of the invaders, backer though these were by the veterans of the Hospital. Man; of the Saracens had, during the first moments of panic embarked on board their galleys, and put to sea. These THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 73 r a time, seeing that all was not lost as they had i agined, returned to port and aided to swell the strength c the garrison. On the other hand, Yillaret was doomed t witness a rapid diminution of his own forces. The fi.lure in the first assault had damped the ardour of many \lio, deeming the enterprise hopeless, stole away from t(3 scene of strife. Matters grew gradually more and ipre unpromising, until at length Villaret found himself eandoned by all but the members of his own fraternity. Under these adverse circumstances any further attempt c| the town was out of the question, and before long l.llaret found himself in a state of siege in his own camp. r iie position was clearly desperate, and he determined ion attacking the enemy, and either to drive him into the 8(1, or sacrifice the slender remnants of his own force in te attempt. The struggle was long and obstinate, but csperation at length inclined the balance in favour of te Hospitallers, and ere that day's sun had set Villaret Id the satisfaction of witnessing the dispersion of the nmerous battalions by which he had been surrounded. r ie routed Saracens, under cover of the night, flung temselves into their galleys, and, crossing over to the Finland, spread everywhere the news of their defeat, leanwhile, Villaret having re-assembled the relics of his irce, returned once more to his attempts on the city. nding himself unable to achieve its capture by assault, I converted the attack into a blockade, determining to iv r ait the arrival of reinforcements from Europe. His oady perseverance and indomitable energy carried him 'rough his difficulties. He borrowed largely from the inkers of Florence, and thus provided with the sinews 1 war, he gradually assembled a considerable force of ercenaries. Finding his strength was now such as to 74 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. warrant active measures, he decided once more to deliv an assault. This was carried out on the 5th Augur 1310, with complete success, and before nightfall on th day the White Cross banner of the Hospital was wavh over the ramparts of the town. The name of Rhodes is supposed to have been derive from the roses for which the island was famous, had previously been called by the Greeks, Orphieuse, i the island of serpents, owing to the number of venomov reptiles with which it was in those days infeste; Possessing a mild and equable climate, with a soil i such fertility as to render the whole country one va garden, it was indeed a spot likely to attract the attentic and excite the desires of a body of men who, like tl; Hospitallers, were in search of a permanent horn During the ages of her early civilization, the hard population of Rhodes furnished a constant supply i seamen, who, in the pursuit of commerce, were to be m with at every port in the Mediterranean. When, | later years, the island fell under the control of the effe empire of Constantinople, it gradually became inoculate with the same vices and decay which were steadil effecting the overthrow of the mother country. At tl time when the knights raised their banner in the islam its inhabitants had lost all that energy and strengt of character which distinguished them of old, an had bowed in abject submission under the yoke of tl Saracen pirates whom they had received within the: ports. Villaret's first act, after having secured possession I the town, was to embark with a large portion of h: forces for the purpose of visiting the various small islanc in the vicinity. He thus speedily enforced submissio THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. id \ his authority in Nisyrus, Leros, Calamos, Episcopia or iolos, Calchos, Symia, and Cos, in none of which did 3 meet with any serious opposition. Having carried it these precautionary measures he returned to Rhodes, id took the necessary steps to establish his convent there. rorn the time of the first landing of the Hospitallers dtil their settlement in undisputed sovereignty over tat and the neighbouring islands, a period of nearly >ur years had elapsed, the whole of which had been issed in a constant succession of struggles. Whilst lese events were occupying the energies and engrossing le attention of the knights of St. John, changes of le most vital importance had been taking place in iurope, by which their future fortunes were greatly iected, and to which it will be necessary now to refer. Philip the Fair had conceived a bitter hatred to the emplars, principally caused by the numerous acts of :TOgance and insubordination of which its members 1 his kingdom had been guilty. Clement V., who was mere tool in his hands, and who owed his elevation to le papacy entirely to the king's interest, had pledged imself to exercise the whole authority of his new osition in effecting the destruction of that fraternity. n order to carry out this design, the Grand-Master, ames de Molay, had been summoned to Lyons, where e unsuspectingly arrived in the early part of the ear 1307. He brought with him a large accumulation 'f treasure, the property of the fraternity, which, for ecurity, he lodged in the Temple of Paris. He was t first treated with every consideration by both king nd pontiff. Various discussions took place as to the dvisability of a union between the two Orders ; indeed, Element was so urgent on this point that it seems 76 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. likely lie desired by such an amalgamation to save thl Templars from that utter destruction to which he stoo pledged by his promises to Philip. Be this as it majj de Molay strenuously opposed the suggestion, and i a lengthy document, which history has preserved, h adduced numerous arguments to support his antagonisi to the measure. From that moment his fate wa sealed. If the Pope had made the proposal as compromise whereby the lives and property of th Order might be preserved, the refusal of de Mola prevented its success, and thenceforth he determine 1 to let matters take their course. The blow was at length struck. Secret orders wer| issued to the judicial authorities in every province c ! France directing them simultaneously to set on foe' a survey of all the Temple preceptories within thei' respective districts. They were to make themselve 1 acquainted with the persons of the knights residen therein, and on the 13th October these were to be a. surprised and made prisoners. An inquiry under th! Inquisition was to be afterwards instituted, the applicaj tion of torture being authorized to extort the necessar 1 confessions. The charges, which were framed into regular act of inquisition, embraced seventy-seven item! and were principally supported by two most un worth witnesses, one of them, Nozzo de Florentino, an apostat Templar, and the other, Squire de Florian, a native 1 Beziers, both under sentence of imprisonment for life On the 19th of October, 1307, the Grand Inquisitoj commenced his examination of the knights confine'' within the Temple at Paris, whose number amounte; to 140. These unfortunate men were one after th other subjected to the most fearful torture, under th THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 77 jnctised hands of the Dominicans, and a mass of con- fusion elicited through its influence. JEdward II., of England, was not at first disposed to jn in the persecution, but a bull from the Pope, ^dressed to him on the 22nd November, seems to live decided him to act, and on the 8th January, 108, all the Templars in England, save such as yre fortunate enough to elude the grasp of the law, yre seized and made prisoners, to the number of 229. H will not be necessary to enter into any detail of tJ3 proceedings which were carried on in the two cmtries, the accusations being practically the same, BJd the results not very dissimilar. Whilst, however, fe examination of the prisoners was prosecuted in hgland with comparatively little cruelty, the French lights were made the victims of the most diabolical t/ture. A large number perished under the hands of tie questioners, and many more sought a temporary lief from their agonies by confessions, which admitted t|3 justice of the accusations brought against them. r .iere still remained steadfast an heroic band, who had Athstood to the last, and firmly continued to maintain teir innocence. Of these, fifty-four were burnt alive i| Paris in a single day. They died testifying to the it to the fair fame of their Order and the fearful i justice of the persecution to which they had fallen vjtims. The concluding act of the bloody drama remained It to be performed. The Grand-Master and the three sand-priors of Normandy, France, and Aquitaine still l.iguished within the dungeons of their persecutors. r ie extremity of the torture to which they had been Ibjected had elicited from each a partial confession; 78 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. it was therefore deemed advisable, in order to justify: the atrocious cruelties and the scandalous spoliation o;j which the fraternity had been the victims, that thesf confessions should be reiterated with the utmost publicity j by the unfortunate knights. For this purpose, a scaffolt was erected in front of the cathedral of Notre Dame; in Paris, and on the 18th March, 1313, the citizen; were summoned to hear the confessions of these, thi four principal officers of the Order, read out and ratifies by themselves. When called on to confirm their state i ments, the priors of France and Aquitaine submitted and thus purchased an ignominious reprieve. James c$| Molay, however, advancing to the edge of the scaffold ! repudiated his previous admissions. He announced tj the assembled multitude that not only had they originall; I been extorted from him under the agony of torture but further, that they had been distorted and inter- polated in the most barefaced manner. The prior o Normandy commenced a similar recantation; but th authorities hurriedly brought his address to a close, am! the two recusants were taken back to their prisor Without delay the fiat for their instant execution wa ! issued, and that same evening James de Molay and hi' fellow- victim, Gruy, prior of Normandy, were burnt aliv before a slow fire on a small island in the river Seine The spot where this tragedy took place is now marke' by the equestrian statue of Henry IV. These measures were followed by a papal mandate, ar nouncing the extinction of the Order, and decreeing tha its property should be transferred to the knights of S" John. For a considerable time this edict remained complete nullity ; eventually, a part of the forfeited rev nues did find its way into the treasury of the Hospitaller: THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 79 Castile, Aragon, and Portugal the respective monarchs * ated new military Orders, taking for themselves the ^itionof Grand-Master, under the title of administrators. lie ostensible purpose of these new establishments was the "d vision of a barrier to repel the inroads of the Moors, the vj motive being that they thus retained in their own I ids all the property of the defunct fraternity. In France, Lilip laid claim to the sum of 200,000 livres as a reim- n'senient of the money which the prosecution of the Implars had cost him, and his son extorted a further sum ) 60,000 livres before he could be brought to permit the ::;nsfer of the much-coveted land, to the Hospitallers. In Ligland, the overthrow of the brotherhood was followed b a general scramble for the good things thus left without i\ owner. Much was seized by Edward for himself, more I s transferred to favourites about the court, whilst in other :• ;es, claims were put in by the heirs of the original donors, vich were admitted. The Pope, indignant at this secular expropriation of so much ecclesiastical property, wrote r; »st urgently and menacingly on the subj ect. Ultimately, h dread of papal fulminations led to the enactment of a Bill in Parliament in 1324, by which the Hospitallers v re put into legal possession of their rights. They found, lwever, to their cost, that there was a vast difference 1 :ween legal rights and actual possession. The struggle I tween themselves and the many vultures who had settled i on the prey was continued for a lengthened period, and €3n then much was permanently lost. Such was the sad end of the Order of the Temple, an htitution coeval with that of the Hospital, and which Id stood side by side with it on many a well- fought field, bw, whilst the one Order had by its recent conquest I Ehodes raised itself to a still higher position in the 80 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. estimation of the world, the sun of its rival's glory h\ set in gloom. That the Templars had of late ye:; achieved for themselves a reputation far from enviable an indisputable fact; that riot and debauchery of eve kind had for some time been rampant within their p:. ceptories, must be admitted by every impartial student history. To drink like a Templar had grown into, by-word. Nor were their vices confined to intemperai,) only ; they had become cankered and corrupted throuj the vitiating influences of inactivity and sloth. T< objects for which they had been originally called togetb in the bonds of brotherhood, and which had been th| invigorating influence during two centuries, were aba- doned. It was the universal feeling that the day of tl Order was over. Philip and Clement were therefore on carrying out the popular sentence when they swept away for ever. Nevertheless, whatever may have be their crimes, whatever their vices, it is impossible to stu| this last sad scene in their eventful career without \ strong feeling of pity for their cruel fate. Howe\f they may have degenerated in later years, they had i; two centuries borne their part nobly in the struggles t the East, and had earned a reputation which should hal saved them from so disastrous an end. Meanwhile, Yillaret was securing his establishment Rhodes. The Saracen inhabitants of the town having & either fled of their own accord or been expelled by t victors, it was found necessary to create a new populate by attracting thither a mass of Christian emigrant trade was encouraged in all possible ways, and merchai from every country in Europe were tempted to take i their abode in the island by the freedom from restriction and taxation which commerce enjoyed under this polii THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 81 c of. The ramparts were speedily restored to a state used the suspicion of Villaret, who at once removed him- b £ out of the way of danger. Under pretence of a hunting 84 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. party in the country, he, with a select body of adherents, 1 his palace on the morning of the day chosen for his captn and betook himself to the castle of Lindos, a fortified p^ about seven miles from Rhodes, protecting a small 1 convenient and well-sheltered harbour. Once safe lodged within the ramparts of this asylum, Villaret 1 defiance to his antagonists, and protested against any ai to which the council might resort in his absence, enemies of Villaret, enraged at this act of open defiaii once more assembled in solemn conclave. They now foul themselves joined by many of the more moderate memb*, who had hitherto remained neutral. They were naturaf indignant that their chief should so far have overstep]! the limits of his authority as to seize upon and retain stronghold of which they were the lords, and which he V$ garrisoning with foreign mercenaries. Loud, long, and stormy was the debate, for even tlji Villaret was not without friends, whose allegiance he 1! secured either by the brilliancy of his former reputation r the munificence of his later days. Their voices were, h( - ever, overborne. His last offence had been too open d barefaced to admit of explanation, and a decree was pas! deposing him from his office. One of the leaders of « malcontent party, a knight named Maurice de PagrJ, was appointed in his place. A report of the wljt proceedings, together with the announcement of the ik nomination, were at once forwarded to the see of Ece for the approval of the Pope. Villaret, at the same ti-3, from his stronghold at Lindos, sent his version of affair. Here, then, was a tempting opportunity m sented to the pontiff for interfering in the affairs of ;fi Order, and for gauging his own influence and author:/. He at once issued three separate bulls — the first addresd i THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 85 Villaret, and the second to de Pagnac, summoning m respectively to Rome ; whilst the third appointed a light, named Grerard de Pins, to act as vicar-general ■ring the absence of the two claimants to the office of I and-Master. Villaret and de Pagnac both obeyed the summons, and pceeded to Avignon, which was at that time the seat I the papacy, and whilst there the latter died before fly action had been taken in the dispute. His deatli nnoved one great obstacle from the path of the Pope, tfiose object was the nomination of a creature of his own t the magisterial office. He induced Villaret, by the er of a grand-priory, where he should be permitted to Ejjoy the revenues of the office free from all interference the part of the fraternity, voluntarily to resign his canity. The Pope thereupon summoned to Avignon . the members of the Order who were within reach I his influence. Here, under his own surveillance, and te pressure of his personal influence, he caused a suc- cor to be nominated, in whose allegiance he felt sure lj could confide. Ely on de Villeneuve was the knight ins selected, and, irregular as was the mode of his elec- ta, the fraternity accepted the decision without cavil, i { & he took his place on the rolls as the twenty-fifth I and-Master, in the year 1319. Villaret received his {.pointment to the grand-priory of Toulouse, whither lj, retired without any further attempts to recover his ]sition. No records, bearing on the remainder of his le, are now in existence. All that is known is that 1 died at Montpelier on the 1st September, 1327, where, i the church of St. John, his monument still exists. Villeneuve was in no hurry to exchange the luxury | the papal court for the comparative banishment of 86 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. a residence at Rhodes ; so, for a period of thirteen j r ea he, under one pretence or, another, postponed his departu During this interval a chapter-general was held by mandate at Montpelier. It was on this occasion that t Order was, for the first time, divided into langues. Ma: writers have dated back this division of the fraterni almost to its first establishment. There is certainly trace whatever in any of the records now existing warrant such a supposition. It was in this council tl the division appeared for the first time. The Ord although originally founded by Italian merchants, 1 rapidly become principally French in its composite and that nationality had always preponderated anion; its members. The fact that the chapter-general 1 assembled in France added still more to the influer of that element. We find, therefore, that whilst t number of langues was fixed at seven, no less than th of them were French, viz., those of France, Proven and Auvergne. The other four were Italy, Grermai England, and Aragon. The dignities in the gift the Order were at the same time attached in proper p portion to these new divisions, the leading posts, owi; to the weight of their influence, being given to the th3 French langues. The name of Sir John Builbruix i] pears at this chapter as the Turcopolier, or commamr of the light cavalry. This dignity was from that ti permanently allotted to the langue of England. In dition to this grand-cross, three others were at the sals time appropriated to England, viz., the bailiwick of E#j or the Eagle (an honorary distinction formerly belong],' to the Templars), and the grand-priories of Englal and Ireland. Many needful reforms were introduced into the re THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 87 inons at tins chapter, which was held in the year 1331. rose were not made before they were urgently required. IV number of those who preferred an easy and luxurious vdence in a European commandery to the secluded life ■ constant warfare entailed by the necessities of the Ib at Rhodes was very great. The difficulty of over- ling this feeling had increased so rapidly that the >ij>ject was one of the first brought under the consider- ii)n of the chapter. It was there decreed that a certain In of actual residence at Rhodes, and the performance )^a definite number of caravans (as the cruises on board I galleys were called), should be an absolute requirement wualify a knight for holding any official post or dignity fyatsoever. Several other stringent reforms were at ;1| same time carried, though not without considerable leussion and many loud expressions of dissatisfaction, trtunately, however, for the benefit of the Order, the ajority of the chapter stood firm and so gained their [int. pi 1332, after a delay of thirteen years from the date I his election, Villeneuve proceeded to Rhodes. Here he find that under the lieutenancy of Gerard de Pins the f;tifications of the town had been considerably developed, rd a spirit of discipline introduced into the convent to uich for many years it had been a stranger. When, t,srefore, that knight resigned the reins of office on the rival of his chief, he had the satisfaction of knowing tat his lengthened rule had reflected credit on himself id had been most beneficial to the interests of the Uternity. It was during the earlier years of Villeneuve's residence i Rhodes that the legend is recorded of the encounter 1 a Hospitaller with the famous dragon. The tale is 88 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. so well known, through the poem of Schiller and illustrations of Retsch, that it appears almost needless repeat it. Still, as it was one of the incidents held the highest estimation by the Order, in subsequent a occupying a prominent place in all the histories, it wo n be wrong to pass it over in silence. The story runs I a monster had made its appearance in the island, wh! it committed the most fearful ravages, carrying off ma of the inhabitants, especially women and children, a establishing itself as the terror and scourge of locality. Numerous attempts had been made to acco plish its destruction, but in vain, many knights havii lost their lives in their gallant endeavours to rid island of the pest. The Grand-Master, dismayed the losses sustained in this novel warfare, forbade, unc pain of the severest penalties, any further attempts. One knight alone had the hardihood to dare disobedieil to this mandate. Dieudonne de Grozon — a youth wh(l dauntless courage scorned to quail before this strange f< and whose heart was tc ached with the deepest emotion i the wail of grief extorted from the miserable inhabitai by the ravages of the dragon — felt that he could not ref ra from one further attempt on behalf of these sufferi* peasants. Without confiding his mission to any one I retired by permission to France. There, in his patenl castle, he caused a facsimile of the monster to be co structed, covered with scales, and presenting, as nearly possible, the terrifying aspect of its living counterpai Having procured two English bull-dogs, a breed even tb ; famous throughout Europe, he trained them to the atta of the fictitious monster, teaching them to fix their gr upon the belly, where the animal was unprotected wil scales. Having thoroughly accustomed his four-foot< THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 89 stents to the aspect of the foe, he returned with them Rhodes, and at once proceeded to carry his project into cution. It is needless to enter into the details of the test as given in the legend. Gozon, by the aid of his ine allies, achieved the destruction of his enemy, though before he had been unhorsed, and had well-nigh paid |k his life the penalty of his temerity at the first onset [he brute. He was borne back in triumph to Rhodes, ore the whole town received its deliverer with the dest acclamations. This triumph was, however, at first y short-lived. The Grand-Master promptly summoned 1 before the council to answer for his disobedience to magisterial mandate, and on his appearance before the rd he was stripped of his habit as an unworthy and ellious knight. Having by this display of severity y marked his determination to enforce obedience, leneuve, at the unanimous request of the members of council, was induced to relent. In consequence of the >le gallantry displayed in the action, he not only :ored his habit to Dieudonne, but nominated him to one the richest commanderies in his gift. low far this legend can be borne out by facts is a very puted point, some writers throwing discredit over the ire story, whilst others are prepared to admit the pro- )ility of its having, at all events, some foundation. The )onents of the legend argue upon the gross improbability the existence of any such monster, with the voracious pensities and extraordinary powers attributed to it. ey further assert that in the middle of the fourteenth tury there could have been no difficulty in achieving destruction without having recourse to the chivalric ; somewhat antiquated expedient of a combat on horse- k. The use of Greek fire had long been known, and 90 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. gunpowder itself was also gradually being adopted. Wit] the assistance of these agents it could not have bee] necessary for the attacking party to have run any grea danger in exterminating the reptile. On the other hand, it seems strange that the stor should have obtained such very general credence, and hav been so universally upheld by succeeding generations. It i an indisputable fact that the commencement of the inscrif tion on Grozon's tomb, erected only thiiteen years after hi death, runs thus: " Ingenium superat vires. Deodatus d | (xozon eques imanem serpentem interfecit." Which ma be thus rendered : "Skill the conqueror of force. Diei donne de Grozon, knight, slew an enormous serpent." ] must not be forgotten that the island had, when under tl | Greeks, been called Orphieuse, or the isle of serpent | from the number of venomous reptiles swarming thereii j That there was some truth underlying the iegend seem j on the whole, certain. Dieudonne de (xozon did undeniabl destroy some noxious beast or reptile which had infeste the island, after others had failed in the attempt. H thus gained for himself a reputation, which graduall swelled until it attained the proportions of the fable. I reference to this subject, Newton, in his " Travels an Discoveries in the Levant," says, speaking of Rhodes " Over the Amboise Grate a head was formerly fixed, whk " has been thus described to me. It was flat on the to]; " and pointed like the head of a serpent, and as large l \ " the head of a lamb. This head was certainly on the gal. " as late as the year 1829, and seems to have been take " down some time previous to 1837. This is perhaj " the same head which Thevenot saw in 1657, and whic ' " he thus describes : ' Elle etait beaucoup plus grosse < plus large que celle d'un cheval, la gueule fendi U i THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 91 jusqu'aux oreilles, de grosses dents, les yeux gros, le trou des narines rond et la peau tirant sur le gris blanc.' According to the tradition in Thevenot's time, nd which has been preserved in Rhodes ever since, this as the head of the great serpent slain by Dieudonne e Grozon in the fourteenth century." Madame Honorine liotti thus describes the head which she saw in 1829 nnslated from Biliotti's "L'lle de Rhodes," p. 151): >^his skull, which was fastened over the inside of the Lmboise Grate, the point of the jaw downwards broad uvards the top, and contracted near the point like the ead of a serpent, seemed somewhat smaller than the kull of a horse; the lower jaw and the front cartilages •ere missing, so that I was obliged in imagination to eplace the portions destroyed by time. The sockets of lie eyes were large and round ; there was no trace of kin upon the bones, which were completely blanched. [n short, this skull, such as I saw it, without lower jaw r the point of the muzzle, had more the appearance of \ serpent's head than that of a crocodile." The Grrand-Master Elyon de Villeneuve died in 1346, II Dieudonne de Grozon, the hero of the dragon, was ninated as his successor. Vertot relates that on the asion of this election Grozon rose in his place in council, 1 taking his audience completely by surprise, nomi- :ed himself as the person best qualified to succeed to ) vacant office. This tale is a fabrication, for among j documents recently discovered in the archives of the •tican is a letter addressed to Grozon by Clement VI., :ed in July, 1346, in which, after congratulating him his election to the magisterial dignity, the Pope goes to allude to the fact of his having been prevailed on, with great reluctance, to accept the post. This 92 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. ■ letter, coupled with the fact that he twice during M rule tendered his resignation, most completely exonerafci his memory from the stigma of arrogance, which th invention of Vertot's is calculated to cast upon its During his continuance in office Gozon was muc J troubled by the difficulty he experienced in obtainir payment of responsions from the more remote cob manderies. A circular is extant addressed by him to tl priors of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, reproachir them for not having remitted any responsions since tl ] fall of Acre. The war between the Genoese and Ven tians created a new difficulty. The fraternity contains j within its ranks knights belonging to both those nation | and these naturally sympathized with their countr; j men. "When residing in their European commanJ eries they could not always refrain from joinii the belligerents, although such an act was in dire i contravention of the rules of the Order, and the Po] ] called on Grozon to put a stop to the practice. This w a mandate easier given than obeyed, and involved tl j Grand-Master in much difficulty and some obloqu i Nor was this the only incident which arose to distiu his serenity. The due governance of the dignitari and principal officers of the institution, residing f; ! away from the convent, became a matter of ever h i creasing difficulty. Possessed as they were of conside able patronage, and with control over large sources \ wealth, they were enabled to ingratiate themselves wil the ruling powers in the countries where they live I Finding themselves supported by the monarch, the were able to bid defiance to the Grand-Master. Gozc became so discouraged and so deeply hurt at tl position in which he found himself, that he twit THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 93 ritioned the Pope to allow him to resign his office, the first occasion he was induced, after much Isuasion, to retain it, but on the second application his I uest was complied with. Before, however, any uion had been taken in the matter he died, towards I end of 1353. He was succeeded by Peter de [rnillan, the grand-prior of St. Grilles, of the langue I Provence, whose rule only lasted two years, when he I s replaced by Roger de Pins, also a knight of Provence. During his time a chapter-general was held at Avignon, I which it was decreed that from that time no serving Ither should be raised into the class of knights of Mice. General receivers were also appointed, to whom i responsions should be paid, and by whom they should I remitted direct to Rhodes. This step was taken to I ird against the misappropriations which were so con- rntly occurring. Roger de Pins died in 1365, and was succeeded by [ymond Beranger, also a knight of Provence. A >iod of 250 years had now elapsed since first the Jder was established on a military basis by Raymond I Puy. Since that time many changes had taken place, n the institution had developed into a very complex )^anization. It will be well, therefore, at this point • make a pause in the historical narrative, and to furnish tpe details of the power into which the fraternity had sanded, and of the mode in which its affairs were con- bted. CHAPTEE IV. Divisions of class in the Order — Langues — Grand-Master, hispositii and power — Courts of Egard — Bailiffs, their offices — Adaptatit' of the Order to change of circumstances — System of manageme in Commanderies. Report on the grand-priory of England 1338 — Details of income and expenditure — Gross results ai| number of members. It has already been stated that at its first institute the Order of St. John was composed of three separa - classes, ranked under the respective heads of Knight 1 Chaplains, and Serving Brothers. Of these the class < chaplains gradually became subdivided into conventu chaplains and priests of obedience. The former we: specially attached to the head-quarter convent and pe formed all the ecclesiastical duties appertaining theretj whilst the latter carried on such parochial work as wj, incident to their profession in the numerous Europes commanderies. The serving brothers were also soq divided into two classes, one comprising those who enters the Order in this rank with the hope of winning the spurs under the White Cross banner, and afterwards I. obtaining admission into the class of knights ; the oth< composed of men who, from the lowaiess of their birtSj were unable to enter in any other capacity. At tl chapter-general held in 1357 under the Grand-Mastersh:! of Roger de Pins (referred to in the last chapter), tM THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 95 F'mer of these subdivisions was abolished, it being then 3?reed that no serving brother could be promoted into [•3 rank of knights of justice. As time wore on, and the advantages of birth became D>re and more considered, the regulations for admission I o the first class gradually increased in stringency. The jignia of the knight were no longer deemed a sufficient larantee for the introduction of the wearer ; it was made pessary that he should adduce proofs of the nobility of I descent before he could claim admission as a knight ) justice. In the various Ungues these proofs of nobility Jfered materially, four quarterings only being required j the English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese Ungues, iht in the French, and no less than sixteen in the :rman. The stringency of these regulations was not ••axed until at a later period of the Order's existence, * en an innovation gradually crept in, and knights of Loe were appointed, to meet the case of wealthy can- liates whose parentage would not bear the requisite test. l.e establishment of the princely mercantile families *uch formed the mainstay of the Venetian and Genoese •oublics led originally to this addition. Over and above this threefold division, we have already In that during the Grand-Mastership of Elyon de illeneuve, in the year 1331, the fraternity was separated 10 seven Ungues, viz., Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy, :rmany, England, and Aragon. In the year 1461, | eighth Ungue was added by the division of that of :uld have lost its value from the number of the holders. Ipntually, therefore, the Grand-Masters surrendered the >vilege, whereupon the Pope assumed to himself the sed patronage. Under papal auspices the appointments ' k :ame so numerous, and such strong opposition was in •isequence offered, that at length the system was again ii 98 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. changed, and a fixed number of titular or honorary hail: divided amongst the langues. There was one such in 1 English langue, viz., the bailiwick of the Eagle, thusgivi to England four grand-crosses ; the conventual bail two capitular bailiffs, and one bailiff ad honores. The conventual bailiffs each held, ex officio, an import? post in the active government of the fraternity. TI the bailiff of Provence was the grand- commander. T office made him president of the treasury, comptroller the expenditure, superintendent of stores, governor of 1 arsenal, and master of the ordnance. The bailiff Auvergne was the grand-marshal and commander-in-ch of all the forces, both naval and military. In those di the services were not kept distinct as they are now, a the knights served indiscriminately either on land sea. The grand standard of the Order, the famous Wh Cross banner, was intrusted to his charge. The bai; of France was the grand-hospitaller, under whose cont came, as the name imports, the supreme direction the hospitals and infirmaries. The bailiff of Italy u grand-admiral, and acted as second in command to i grand-marshal. The bailiff of Aragon was the graij conservator, whose duties were somewhat analogous those of a commissary-general in a modern army. X bailiff of Germany was grand-bailiff of the Order, 1 jurisdiction being that of chief engineer. The bail of Castile and Portugal was grand-chancellor, and such was supreme over the legal tribunals. The bail of England was the Turcopolier, or chief of the Kg cavalry. It has been a matter of some dispute as to what tf the real signification of the term Turcopolier. The mi probable explanation is that it is derived from the Ore,' THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 99 Id 7tcoXo?, a colt, and thence an offspring generally. ■ Turcopoles were the children of Christian fathers by Vkish mothers, who, having been brought up in their liter's religion, were retained in the pay of the Order. Ry were clothed in Eastern fashion, inured to the liiate, and well acquainted with Oriental modes of war- I. They consequently made excellent skirmishers, and le well adapted for all the duties of light cavalry. The a iest record now in existence of an English Turcopolier ; ated in 1328, when an English knight was appointed )he office, and from that time until the suppression of i langue the post was always held by an Englishman. t is not easy to account for the arbitrary attachment fji peculiar office to each different langue, when it is $ embered that most of these posts seem to have required iph technical professional knowledge, and should, one r ('ld think, have been held by men chosen by their t3ss. It would certainly seem more sensible to have ).2ted as chief engineer a man who had made that lijace his peculiar study, rather than to have given the ie to the bailiff, for the time being, of Germany, when dignitary may have been, and probably generally ignorant of the rudiments of the profession. The r solution of the incongruity seems to be that it was Jgned to prevent the jealousies and cabals which would pwise have sprung up on the occasion of every vacancy, .tin, although the Grand-Master did not actually i;ess the patronage of these offices, he must have been 1, from his position, to influence the selection ; and as influence would probably have been exercised in >ur of his own countrymen, the result would have been Overthrow the balance of power between the various ronalities. As it was, the preponderance of the French 100 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. element perpetually led to disagreement. It will be m later on that it was the source of much difficulty at* critical juncture in the fortunes of the Order. The reg lo.tion was, therefore, very probably made as a precauti( against a monopoly on the part of the all-powerful Fren king ties. It certainly seems the simplest method by whi that result could be obtained. It still remains difficult to account for the particul selection of the offices attached to each tongue. T French being the most numerous, it was natural that t three most important offices should be attached to tb three tongues, but as regards the others, no such soluti can be given. It may be that the offices which chanced have been held by the different tongues at the time, wt from that moment permanently attached to them. Tl surmise is strengthened by the fact that the post of Ti copolier was being held by an Englishman at the til when it was definitely appropriated to that tongue, a the same may have been the case with other nations. Lieutenants were nominated in the same manner as t bailiffs, whose duty it was to act for them whenever th were absent or incapacitated by sickness. The property held by the Order in the various countr' of Europe was, for the convenience of superintenden divided into estates of moderate extent, termed co:! manderies. Several members of the fraternity w(! attached to each of these estates in various capacities, a at its head was placed a brother, in whose hands 4 vested its supreme control, and who bore the title of co mander. Although it was a post of importance a responsibility, it was not necessarily held by a knight justice, a certain number of the commanderies in evd» priory having been reserved for the other two classes. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 101 ►jus strange, but it is a fact, that in commanderies thus i crned there were, nevertheless, knights attached in i subordinate position of confratres. The commander i boimd to exercise the most rigid supervision over the Ite under his control, and to husband its resources with I. Grand-priors were appointed, under whose sur- [lanee a certain number of commanderies were placed, Idly all those contained in a province or other territorial iision. These officials received from the commanderies ti their surplus revenues, which were lodged in the • sury of the priory. (?he payment to be made by the grand-priory to the pent at Rhodes, under the title of responsions, was ralated at one-third of the gross receipts of the com- naderies. An average was struck, and a fixed amount ted thereon. As the commanderies paid over to the Isury the actual balance remaining of their revenues fcr the payment of expenses, the grand-priory was either :ainer or loser, according as those remittances were more ^less than had been calculated for. The responsions re remitted to the general treasury at Rhodes through I medium of receivers, nominated in most of the leading cimercial cities of Europe, who acted as bankers. The ; .nd-prior w r as bound to make a personal inspection of jh commandery in his district at least once in every five r irs. He had full authority to correct abuses, and to order ih renewals, alterations, and improvements as seemed 'him necessary to develop the resources of the estate. It is an interesting study to observe how the system : ried out by the Order of St. John adapted itself to the jied circumstances of the localities where its property Is situated. In Palestine there were pilgrims to be <»ided and sick to be nursed; there w^as also constant 102 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. warfare to be waged against the Moslem. We find, thei fore, that here the Hospitaller in his barrack convent w half soldier, half monk. At one time, wrapped in his bla mantle, he might be seen seated by the pallet of the si and lonely wanderer ; at another, mounted on his galla steed, clad in burnished steel, he was to be found hewi] a pathway for himself and his brave companions throuj the serried ranks of the foe. The spirit of the age tv in accordance with such transformations, and the Ord< in adapting itself to that spirit, laid the sure foundati of its future grandeur and prosperity. In later years, when the fraternity had become establish in Rhodes, we find great changes showing themselves their habits and duties. The hospitals were still mai tained and tended, but they no longer constituted important branch of the knight's duties. There were wearied and harassed pilgrims to sustain ; the sick h dwindled into the ordinary casualties incident to t population of a small island. The knight was no more be seen forming one of that squadron who, under t White Cross banner, had so often struck dismay into t hearts of the enemy. Having established himself in 1 new home, and expeditions for the recovery of the Ho Land having ceased to be practicable, he commenced fortify his stronghold. Rampart and ditch grew a] extended, the skill of engineering science being exhaust to devise fresh defences. The fortress of Rhodes, and a later date that of Malta, remain imperishable records the energy, the perseverance, and the science with whi he carried on his work. Meanwhile, he was busily e gaged in developing the power of his Order on the s« On the waters of this his new dominion he trod the de of his galley every inch a sailor ; but few who saw hi THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 103 vould recognize in the hardy mariner of the Levant arrior monk of Palestine. Whilst these changes were taking place in the eharac- l^tics of the fraternity, another sphere was at the same opening for the display of their gift of adaptation ircumstances and place. Having been originally Itnized as a body, one of the leading features of which Ibid be the poverty of its members, they had ended \unassing wealth almost fabulous in extent. True, the 1 vidual remained without possessions of his own, the ciisitions continually falling into the hands of the lemifcy being common property. Under cover of this iinction they sheltered themselves against the apparent insistency between their vows and their acts. Whilst, Irever, they disclaimed all personal interest in their xmon wealth, they were never remiss in turning it to ■best possible advantage. In addition to its privileges, r'perty has also its duties, the due performance of which Olives special aptitude and training. We find the i!^ht of St. John in his European commandery aban- ring the chivalric aspirations of the Syrian crusader t. the reckless intrepidity of the island seaman, and pearing under a totally different aspect from either, pa genial lord of the manor and a wary steward of ! property of his Order. ^or was the new duty thus imposed upon him by any ans an easy task. The mere existence of these bands warrior monks, acting under an organization of their n, free from external control, was a perpetual source of Itention with the ruling powers. Freed by the dicta of ml bulls from most of the restrictions imposed on the y, and yet only partially acknowledging the authority 'the Church, they held extensive property in countries 104 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. to the crown of which they paid no due allegiance, ai the revenues of which they transmitted for expenditure a distant land and for foreign objects. At the same tii they refused to the Church those tithes which she glean from all her other votaries. They were dreaded by t monarch, who scarce knew whether to regard them friends or foes, and they were hated by the genuine ece siastic, who looked on them as unauthorized eneroache despoiling the Church of much property which the pie of her sons might otherwise have dedicated to her o^ special use. It was a difficult matter for the command placed in such a position, to steer a middle course, ai undeterred by the threats of the monarch on the o hand, or the mitred churchman on the other, to purs the even tenor of his way, and with calm steadiness a: perseverance to carry on that process of extraction i which he had been appointed to his office. In different countries this system must of course ha varied ; still, the leading features of the operation w( undoubtedly the same in all. We are fortunate in bei: able to form a very accurate notion of what this was fa a report drawn up in the year 1338 by the then grar prior of England, Philip de Thame, to the Grand-Mast Elyon de Villeneuve.* The picture which this docume affords of the stewardship of landed property in Engla * This report, which exists in MS. in the Record Office at Ma3 was printed by the Camden Society in the year 1857, under the I of "The Hospitallers in England." The report was prefaced b;: most admirable digest from the pen of the Rev. E! B. Larking,} whose essay the author is indebted for much of the matter contain in the remainder of this chapter. The original MS. is in peri! preservation, and although somewhat difficult to decipher, from crabbed and contracted Latin, is almost as distinct and clear as! the day when it was first penned* THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 105 I he fourteenth century is most valuable, and a careful I ly of its contents will give the reader an accurate Presentation of the position of agriculture in its various Inches at that period. Phe document furnishes a balance-sheet of each com- \ adery separately. We will begin with the income side. leach case the first item recorded is the mansion, with t' kitchen-garden and orchard. The house itself does I figure as an actual source of revenue ; still, as it Kiated the necessity for any payment of rent, it w r as suable property. The garden and orchard appear in I ry instance to have produced somewhat more than was f|uired for the consumption of the household. The -fount realized for the surplus varied from a few shillings l to nearly a pound, but it rarely approached the latter m. A further source of profit was the columbarium or L'ecote, which in some cases produced as much as thirty lllings, the usual average being from five shillings to If a mark.* Next on the list stands the rent received from arable, ['adow, and pasture land. The first varied much in the liferent counties. In Lincoln and Kent it ran as high r two shillings an acre, whilst in Somerset and Norfolk did not yield more than three halfpence. Meadow land idom fell below a rental of two shillings an acre, and in ;f ordshire it reached as much as three shillings. Pasture id was not calculated by the acre, but by the head of [tie, the average receipt from that source being some- lat as follows : — An ox or a horse, a shilling; a cow, two llings ; a calf, sixpence ; a sheep, a penny ; a goat, three •things. Messuages, mills, and fisheries stand next on 3 list, and do not require any explanation. The profit 1 The mark was thirteen shillings and fourpence. 106 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. of stock afforded a considerable source of revenue. Tlii, was the return produced by the cattle bred and fattenec on the home farm. In some instances it is, however recorded that owing to the devastation of enemies damage by inundations, and other causes, the stocl returned no appreciable profit. A fruitful source of income was that derived fron churches and chapels appropriated to the Order, the fund of which were paid into the treasury, chaplains beinj provided at its charge. In the case of sixteen of these, th combined amount paid to the credit of the langue wa £241 6s. 8d., whilst the cost of providing chaplains wa only £34 10s.; thus showing that, as in the present day the lay impropriators swept off the lion's share of the sub stance originally dedicated to the support of the Church. In those days the system of villainage, or compulsor service of bond tenants, was universal throughout Europe "We see it figuring largely on the credit side of our balance sheet. These services were generally rendered either b; payments in kind, such as poultry, eggs, corn, &c, or b;, the giving of a certain amount of labour for the benefi of the lord of the manor. As these latter have almoe invariably been entered in the accounts as money receipt there can be little doubt that a fixed commutation hal been concurred in between landlord and tenant. Th former thus secured for himself a certain and settle' revenue, whilst the latter was protected from the capric of his lord, who might otherwise have demanded hi services at a time when his own crops required attentior From an entry which occurs in the commandery of Shalde ford, the price at which this labour was commuted may b deduced, it being in that instance fixed at twopence a da} The total amount received under this head throughou THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 107 ]|igland was £184 16s. 8d. We next come to the rent mid by freeholders, the entry for which is placed under t> heading of redditm assisus. In only one instance is i nature specified. In the commandery of Grodsfeld in ] impshire, it is distinctly stated to be rent for houses in 1 3 two towns of Portsmouth and Southampton. The ] :>fits arising from the fees and perquisites paid to the nnor courts constitute an entry in almost every baili- 1 ok. In some cases they amount to a considerable sum. . i officer, called the steward of the manor, was appointed • the collection of these dues. There yet remains one item of income to be explained, Inch was of a totally different character to the rest. 'lis was a voluntary contribution from the neighbour- ed, and is entered under the title of confraria. The pde of collection is not specified, but it is probable that house-to-house visitation was annually made for the Lrpose of extorting the charity of the pious. The aount thus scraped together by the wealthy mendicants St. John from the overtaxed commons of England aounted in 1338 to nearly £900. It appears that even is large sum was less than what had previously been )tained, as may be gathered from an entry in the case of renham, where the smallness of the contribution is counted for by the poverty of the country, and the 3avy taxes payable to the king for the support of the ivy. Having thus glanced at the various items standing on Jie credit side of the balance-sheet, we now come to the ^penditure. The first charge against the funds of the )mmandery was for the maintenance of the household. a every manor there was a commander, in whose charge as vested the property, and attached to him were other 108 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. brethren termed confratres. These, together with th chaplains, formed the first class in the establishment, an a separate table was provided for their entertainment There appear to have been three different tables at whicl according to their rank the members had their common; the first being that already mentioned, the second for th free servants of the Order, and the third for the labourer or garciones kept in its employ. Most of the provisioi consumed at these tables were provided from the stock o! the land, and consequently cost nothing. There appear! however, very constantly an item under the head I eoquina, which seems to have embraced the provision i meat and fish beyond what was taken from the estat Three different kinds of bread were supplied to the sever tables — viz., white, ration, and black bread. There we also two kinds of beer, the melior and secanda. In add tion to their keep, the commander and his confratres had?; annual allowance for their dress, and as this was the san in every commandery it may be assumed to have be< fixed by authority. It consisted of £1 for a robe, 6s. 8 for a mantle, and 8s. for other articles of clothing. T members of the household had wages as well as boar which not only varied greatly for the different classes, b also for the same class in different commanderies. Tj highest in rank and pay was the armiger, who in sob cases received as much as £1 a year, the more usi stipend for him as well as the claviger, the ballivus, t' mcssor, and the coquus being a mark. The wages of t| lotrix or washerwoman seem to have been the smallest, t most cases amounting to Is. only. A very heavy charge is of frequent occurrence in thi accounts under the head of corrody. This term signifH a claim to commons at the different tables of the establi- THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. m ent, and was probably originally granted either in payment for money lent or as a return for some favour nferred on the Order. The table from which the rrodary drew his commons depended on his rank. Those iio were of gentle blood were accommodated at the gher table with the commander and his con f rat res, the hers were quartered either on the Kberi servicntes or the irciones. In some cases these corrodaries were in the ceipt of very luxurious rations. For instance, at Clerk en- ell, William de Langford is entitled to his commons at iie commander's table whenever he chooses to dine there, i'gether with a place for one chamberlain at the second ble, and for three inferior servants at the third. But on ■evasions when it w^as not convenient for him to be present 3 drew instead an allowance of four loaves of white, two t ration, and two of black bread, three flagons of best 3er, and two of secunda, one dish from each of the three bles, and nightly, for his bedroom, one flagon of best eer. During the winter season only, he drew daily four indies and a faggot of firewood. For his stable he drew alf a bushel of oats, hay, litter, and one shoe with nails »er diem. All these allowances were granted to him for 1 le term of his life, by charter from Thomas Larcher, who as at the time grand-prior of England. This worthy j ems to have distributed pensions and corrodies right and 'ft with the most reckless profusion, so much so that )me years prior to the date of this report he was either iperseded by, or resigned his post to Leonard de ^ybertis, grand-prior of Venice, under whose fostering are the revenues of the English langue underwent a ipid change for the better. In addition to the expenses incurred for the mainte- nance of the household and its corrodaries, there was in Wo THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. many commanderies a heavy item under the head hospitality. The rules of the Order were very strong to the free exercise of this virtue, and it seems clear, ( studying the accounts, that they were most liberally con plied with. In fact, the various commanderies appear ' have partaken very much of the character of houses i public entertainment, where both rich and poor might fe certain of a hospitable reception. Of course, no char^ was made for this service, though it seems probable th the item of confraria already alluded to may have bet swelled by the donations of such amongst the better cla of travellers as had experienced the hospitality of tl fraternity. How far the claim to maintenance on the pa of the humbler wayfarer may have extended is not easy determine, but there must have bden a limit somewherd or, unless the fourteenth century differed widely from tl present day, an unrestricted system of open housekeepirj would have entailed the maintenance of all the id vagabonds in the country. The Anglo-Saxon law limit( the claim in the case of monasteries to three days; pr bably, therefore, the same restriction was made at tl commanderies. It may also be assumed that in the cases a good day's work on the farm was extorted in retm for the day's keep, thus in a measure deterring the idl from seeking a shelter, the sweets of which could only 1 purchased by the sweat of his brow. This wholesale system of hospitality must not be trac always to a purely pious motive ; there were mai, sagacious reasons of policy which much encouraged tl practice. It must be borne in mind that in those da newspapers did not exist, the majority of men travelLj but little, and information was slow in spreading from oi point to another. We may readily conceive, therefor 1 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Ill iat a vehicle for the collection and distribution of im- rtant intelligence the table of the commander must ,ve been. The grand-prior, in his headquarters at erkenwell, might be regarded somewhat in the light of e editor of a modern metropolitan journal, receiving nstant despatches from his correspondents at their pro- ucial commanderies. These would contain a digest of L the gossip, both local and general, which may have livened the meals of the preceding week. This infor- ation could, of course, be collated and compared with at forwarded from other quarters ; so that the earliest Ld most correct intelligence would always reach the ior, and this he could at times turn to very valuable count. We may conceive him on some occasions in a »sition to give a friendly hint to the king in council of me projected political movement, hatched in the fast- ;sses of the north or in the secluded glens of the west ; r such information we may feel sure that an ample quid quo was expected, in the shape either of a direct dona- >n or of exemption from some of the numerous burdens th which the laity were oppressed. The knights were ill aware of the advantages which their organization [ve them on this head, and were not slow to avail them- i.ves of it. The records exhibit carefully the expenses 3y incurred in hospitality to travellers ; but they do not 1 7 anything of the results, pecuniary or otherwise, which Vre obtained by the practice. The intelligent reader i ty, however, perform that calculation for himself, and it ijto be feared that on striking the balance but little would i nain to be carried over to the credit of charity. There are, nevertheless, some entries which show that t s exercise of hospitality was not always free from i onvenience, although the fraternity did not grudge a 112 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. heavy bill for the sustenance of its numerous provinc: guests, provided the information forwarded by the coi mander was of a value commensurate with the expenc ture ; yet cases constantly occurred where the outlay w large and the results disproportionately small. A f( items of local gossip or provincial scandal would be dear purchased at the expense of many a good quarter of whe and malting barley. Under such circumstances it w but natural that an exculpatory note should accompai the obnoxious item. It was also frequently necessary f the commander, whose position gave him considerat standing in the county where he resided, to receive his table those of the laity who considered themselves | equals, and who chanced to live near him. This has several cases been quoted as an excuse for the extent of t housekeeping accounts. Thus we find at Hampton that t Duke of Cornwall is made to bear the blame of the hea bread and beer bill which the fraternity had contracts In the Welsh commanderies the trampers became ti scapegoat, who, to quote the expressive language of t$i accountant, " multum confluunt de die in diem et sunt m-a$ " devastators et sunt imponderosi" The accounts of Cleif enwell, the head-quarter station of the Order in Englar, show that its proximity to the Court rendered it peculial liable to this expense. The king had the right not oij r J of dining at the prior's table whenever he might cho3 to honour that dignitary with a visit, but also of sendi * to the priory such members of his household and courts he might find it inconvenient to provide for elsewhere, k is not, therefore, surprising that we find among the houfJ keeping expenses of this establishment 430 quarters & wheat at 5s. a quarter ; 413 quarters of malting barley^ 4s. ; 60 quarters of dragget malt at 3s. ; 225 quarters of t THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 113 ill at 2s., 300 quarters of oats at Is. 6d., in addition to large sum, for what we may call the kitchen bill, of ' 121 6s. 8d., besides many minor items for meal, porridge, ase, candles, &c. It was indeed a long price that the nmimity had to pay for the presence of the monarch d his satellites. Of all the entries on this side of the account that which >ms the most strange is the outlay for law charges, me of the items are innocent enough, as the salaries of i law officers of the Order and the fees of counsel, which pear to have been usually 40s. a year with robes, yond these, however, there are many which prove the lality of our courts of justice, almost all the judges ring been in the pay of the fraternity. Thus in k Exchequer we find the chief baron, Eobert Sadyngton, ) barons William Everden and Eobert Scarburg, the grosser, William Stoneve, and the two remembrancers, rvase Willesford and William Broklesby, each in the eipt of £2 a year. The opponitor, Roger Gildesburgh, irred for an annual salary of £5. In the court of mmon Bench the chief justice, William Herle, received a year, judge William Shareshull £5, judges Richard lleburgh and John Shardelowe £2 each. In the rig's Bench the chief justice, Geoffrey Scrope, received , besides a couple of manors at Huntingdon and ahull. His brother justice, Richard Willoughby, n*es for £3 6s. 8d., and in the court of Chancery four Ithe clerks pocketed an annual fee of £2 each. All se entries are expressly stated to be payments made to legal authorities to insure quiet possession of the lands ich had been transferred from the recently suppressed ler of the Temple. iChe report shows that at that date the number of the 114 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. fraternity resident within the limits of the grand-prior, of England was 119, in addition to 3 donats and £ corrodaries. Of these 34 were knights of justice, of who:' 14 were commanders ; 34 were chaplains, of whom 7 we:i commanders ; and 48 were serving brothers, of whom J were commanders. The rank of the remaining 3 is n specified. It must be remembered that in addition to ti above the langue of England also embraced the gran priory of Ireland, and the preceptories of Scotland, but neither are any details extant. In addition to its coi manderies, the Order held in England smaller estat called camerce. These not being of sufficient importa™ for the appointment of commanders were either admin- tered by lay bailiffs or farmed out. Their proceeds we; directly into the treasury of the grand-priory, none of tjj fraternity being maintained by them. The langue ai stood possessed of sundry manors, formerly the property $ the Templars. The total gross income of the grand-priory is shown in ifb report to be as follows : — Commanderies, £3,917 19s. 9<| Camerse, £747 7s. 8d. ; and lands transferred from 11 Templars, £2,337 14s., making a total of £7,003 Is. | The local expenses amounted to £3,176 16s. lid., leavi^ a balance credited to the treasury of the grand-priory £ £3,826 4s. 6d. The expenditure of the general treasif in pensions, bribes, &c, was £1,329 2s. 4d., leavinga balance for the payment of responsions of £2,497 2s. 1 The grand-priory of England was assessed at the amoil of £2,280. It will be seen therefore that in the yearn question there was a trifling surplus, which came into .e hands of the grand-prior. The income of that dignitary T ia £1 per diem ; for a period of 121 days this charge appe'S in the several commanderies, two or three days in eai* THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 115 der the head of the grand-prior's visitation. For the uainder of the year it is charged in a lump sum as one the expenses of the general treasury. He received in iition the sum of £93 6s. 8d. for robes for himself and Usehold. In considering all these figures it must be jne in mind that in the fourteenth century money had a l ue fully sixteen times greater than at the present i^uch then was the mode of life carried on in the • amanderies of the English tongue at the time of which ij are writing. It will not be too much to assume that i! other countries a very similar system was pursued. Main differences must, of course, have been made to ^t the habits and character of the people. Although I liberty of the English peasant in those days was I limited, it was far greater than that enjoyed by his c'tinental brother. Doubtless the commander in a ? ;nch or Spanish manor ruled over his peasantry with an riocratic despotism denied to him in England. We may J) safely assume that in no other tongue would there have a so large an expenditure in the item of beer, either iior or secunda. Certainly nowhere else would so noble a e'mue have been extracted from the same extent of land. 11, allowing for these and other minor differences, the ebrt of the grand-prior, Philip de Thame, affords a very isllent clue to the general system of governance adopted I the Order of St. John in the management of its I perty. OHAPTEE V. 1365—1480. Expedition to Alexandria — Election of Heredia — His previo history — He escorts the Pope to Rome — Is captured by t Turks — Returns to Avignon — His death, and election of Naillac — Battle of Mcopolis — Timour the Tartar — His ov( throw of Bajazet — Loss of Smyrna — Erection of the fortress St. Peter at Budrum and of the tower of St. Michael — Electic, of Fluvian and de Lastic — Descent on Rhodes — Fall of Consta tinople — Elections of de Milly and Zacosta — Formation of . eighth langue — Election of Orsini — Fall of Negropont — P parations for defence of Rhodes — Death of Orsini, and 1101 nation of Peter D' Aubusson — His previous history — Descript i of Rhodes — The three renegades — D'Aubusson made dictators The vacancy caused by the death of Roger de Pins w , as recorded at the end of the third chapter, filled n Raymond Beranger. The only incident during his vm worthy of note was the capture of Alexandria by i& knights, in conjunction with the king of Cyprus, on tec 10th October, 1365. Although they were unable X retain possession of the place, they succeeded in destroy]'^ such a vast amount of shipping that the naval poweii the Turk was seriously crippled for a lengthened period Beranger died in 1374, and Robert Julliac, grai.- prior of France, was appointed to fill the vacancy. At iA time of his election he was residing in his priory, ti THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 117 fore making his journey to Rhodes he proceeded to vignon, to pay his respects to the Pope. Whilst there received instructions from his Holiness that the knights ould take over the responsibility of the defence of nyrna. This was a post which, although most valuable i the interests of Christendom, was one of extreme danger id costliness to its holders. Situated at a considerable stance from Rhodes, its garrison would be completely ilated ; any energetic attempt, therefore, upon the part 1 the enemy, by whom it was surrounded, would pro- ibly lead to its destruction before reinforcements could [•rive. The cost also of the maintenance of such a force i the defence of the place imperatively demanded was a rrible drain upon the resources of the treasury. In spite ' these drawbacks the trust was accepted, and a garrison, mied entirely of volunteers, was at once despatched to ke over the new acquisition. Julliac died on the 29th ily, 1377, and was buried in an antique Greek sarco- lagus of white marble, which was utilized for the irpose. This sarcophagus, after the capture of Rhodes i the Turks, in 1522, was emptied of its contents and uned into a basin for a public fountain. It remained in is ignoble position until quite recently, when it was irehased by the French Government, and deposited in ie museum of Cluny, at Paris. Juan Ferdinand d'Heredia, the castellan of Emposta, :and-prior of Catalonia, Castile, and St. Gilles, the most :traordinary pluralist that had ever been known in the aterDity, was nominated as the new Grand-Master. The reer of this man had been so strange, and his influence *er the fortunes of the Order, both for evil and good, so )werful, that he has justly been looked on as one of the ost conspicuous characters which have figured in its annals. 118 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Descended from a noble family in Aragon, he was t.ij younger brother of the Grand- Justiciary of that kingdo: His brother, who had for some years been married witho issue, was anxious to see the family perpetuated throu him, and therefore induced him to marry. The result w; that whilst still young he was left a widower with fc children. Shortly afterwards his brother's wife, who h. been for many years childless, gave birth to a son. Tli disastrous incident left Juan without prospects. Una!; to remain quietly a pensioner on his brother's bounty, » took his departure for Rhodes, leaving his children unc the protection of their uncle. There he was warir welcomed by the Grand-Master, Elyon de Villeneuve, aid professed as a knight. He soon ingratiated hims: with the fraternity, and his advancement became rap. He was promoted in succession to the commanderies fi Alhambra and Villet, then to the bailiwick of Caspa, afc lastly, to the castellany of Emposta, one of the m: important offices in the gift of the Order. A dispute having arisen between the Pope and i Grand-Master as to a nomination to the grand-priory f Catalonia, Heredia was sent to Avignon to maintain 1.3 rights of the fraternity. Here he soon discovered thai I would be impossible to induce Clement to give way, ai he also perceived that he would gain more by support^ the papal pretensions than by upholding the rights of m Grand-Master. The result of his machinations was tit he was himself appointed to the disputed office. Havi, r succeeded in this step, the new grand-prior felt that 1 idea of a return to Rhodes must be abandoned, .ft therefore exerted himself to the utmost to secure position at the court of Avignon, and to become usel to his new patron. In this he was so successful tit THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 119 [9 long he became the favoured minister and principal ; viser of the Pope. During the pontificate of Innocent VI., the successor of lenient, the fortunes of Heredia reached their zenith. e had been the most intimate friend of the new pontiff ior to his elevation, and now became his sole confidant Id adviser. He was appointed governor of Avignon, id the affairs of the papacy were almost entirely com- mitted to his hands. Whilst occupying this exalted •sition he was courted on all sides. The princes of urope and their ministers sought, by the most lavish fts, to ingratiate themselves with a man in whom so uch power was vested, and he consequently amassed a ■rge amount of treasure. Heredia was possessed of the ost magnificent ideas, and we find him, in gratitude to s patron, surrounding Avignon with a fortified enceinte his own sole cost, a work which must have entailed vast expenditure. The Pope, equally prodigal of his fts, though more crafty as to the source from whence he *ew them, bestowed upon him in return the two grand- dories of Castile and St. Grilles. After the death of Innocent, and during the sway of is successor, Urban V., Heredia perceived that his in- a.ence at the papal court was sensibly declining. The 3ath of Urban, and the election of Gregory XI. in 1370, irtailed it still further. He therefore came to the con- usion that the time was come to provide himself with an onourable retirement for his old age, far from the scene t political turmoil, in the midst of which he had been lunged for so many years. With this view he cast his res upon the Grand-Mastership at Rhodes as a position recisely suited to his purpose. The death of Julliac resented him with an opportunity for carrying his design 120 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. into execution. Availing himself of the vast interest whic his position had secured for him amongst the cardinals ar others, whose voices were likely to control the electors : their choice, he caused himself to be put in nominatio The council had so often felt the weight of his influen< against themselves that they were not slow in perceivir the policy of disarming such potent antagonism, ai Heredia found himself elected to the post he coveted. It was at this time that Gregory carried into executic his design of restoring the seat of the papacy to Rom and he was escorted on his voyage from Marseilles Italy by the new Grand-Master, who had assembled fleet of eight galleys for his own conveyance to Rhode This duty accomplished, Heredia took his leave, ar whilst off the coast of Morea fell in with a Venetian fie on its way to recover sundry portions of that count] which had recently fallen into the possession of the Tiui Unfortunately for himself, Heredia joined in the exp dition, and the result was that he was taken prisoner Corinth whilst heading a reconnoissance. He languish in captivity for three years, until, in 1381, his ranso was effected, when he proceeded to Rhodes, and assum( his magisterial functions, which he continued to exerci for fifteen years. During this time he was surround* by difficulties, principally arising from the great schis in the church, which had led to the election of the riv pontiffs, Urban VI. and Clement VII. Heredia declan in favour of the latter, in which he was supported by tl convent at Rhodes, and by the French and Spanii tongues. The Italian, German, and English tongues, ( the other hand, joined the party of Urban. During the disputes Heredia found it impossible to enforce due obed ence to his mandates from many of the European con THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 121 ■iders. He was, therefore, requested by the council to Mlceed to Avignon, where Clement held his court (his id, Urban, being at Rome), and to seek at the hands of ;1 Pope the means of reducing the refractory commanders submission. Several chapters-general were convoked at \.:gnon, at all of which he presided, and in which many Beficial regulations were enacted. As at this time 5 vrna and Rhodes were threatened by the Turks he 1 patched to both places, at his own cost, vessels laden rh provisions and munitions of war. He also made I ?ral foundations in favour of his own langue of Aragon. it length, in the year 1396, Heredia, bowed with years ■ the cares of office, sank into the grave, universally (retted and beloved by the fraternity. The virtues and Id deeds of his old age had obliterated the remi- 1 ?ences of what he had been during the earlier portion Idis career. Men forbore to think on all the wrongs he 1 [ wrought against them in former times, w T hen con- eiplating the advantages and the prosperity which lying his later years he had been the means of pro- r ting. Vertot well sums up his career by saying that tvvoulcl have been good for the Order had he never »ered it, or having once reached the goal had he never ) n taken from it. He was buried in the monastery Ipf. D. de Caste, in Spain, of which he was the founder. The vacancy thus caused was filled by Philibert de s iliac, a native of Berri, and grand-prior of Aqui- lie. It this time a new and redoubtable foe had sprung i in the East. Bajazet or Bayazid, a descendant of iman, had overcome in succession most of the petty 'ir as Bajazet, entered willingly into the views of the heks, and assembling an army advanced against the [rkish monarch. After the capture of Sebasta, in the [fence of which Ortogul, the favourite son of Bajazet, h killed, Timour encountered his enemy near the town Angora. The result of the battle was fatal to Bajazet, I army was cut to pieces, whilst he himself fell a prisoner h the hands of his foe, and died shortly afterwards, . ing suffered the most cruel indignities. The knights of Rhodes had now cause to lament the cipitancy with which the Greek emperor had invoked aid of so dangerous an ally as Timour. After having rapid advances and with the assistance of able lieu- ants secured the full results of his successes, Timour ned his eyes towards those European conquests which i excited the ambition of Bajazet. He soon perceived t one of the main outlying bulwarks of Christendom 3 that island fortress whose ramparts were defended the knights of St. John. Before, however, he could 3mpt to crush the parent establishment, he saw that iwould be necessary to deal with its offshoot at Smyrna, 1 he therefore led his forces in that direction. De iliac had foreseen that whatever might be the issue the struggle between Timour and Bajazet, the victor •ild be sure to turn his arms against that point, and had 124 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. therefore taken every precaution for its defence. I appointed "William de Mine, the grand-hospitaller, as j governor, a knight in whose courage and intelligence 1 felt he could confide, and he poured into the place larj reinforcements both of men and munitions. We have i account of the siege of Smyrna from the pen of t' Persian historian Sefet-el-din, and he states that "t " princes of Europe had sent there many brave Christir "warriors, or, to speak more plainly, a band of mi " devils." Timour having vainly summoned the fortress to si; render, gave instructions to his generals to commence t siege without awaiting his arrival, but under their coi mand little or no progress was made. At length himself appeared before the town on the 6th day of t month Djemazul-Evel, 805 (the 1st December, 1402). order to secure the immediate submission of the fortress he attacked in person, Timour had adopted a system frcj which he never deviated. On the first day a white fl was hoisted over his pavilion ; this signified that if t. town surrendered on that day the lives of its people wor be spared, and the place itself preserved from pillad On the second day a red flag was substituted ; the coik tions then were the death of the governor and ieadi: inhabitants, but still with security to the masses. Shot this day pass without submission, on the third morni a black flag was hoisted ; this was final, and from tfi moment the only hope of the garrison was in a success 1 resistance, as the capture of the place was followed h general massacre. This last stage having been reached, the defenders Smyrna knew their fate, and prepared to hold out to t last. Timour's first attempt at assault was frustrated THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 125 J knights with great slaughter. Pouring upon the plants every species of missile, including Greek fire, nng oil, seething pitch, and other similar devices, they f ength succeeded in driving the Tartars back in con- . 'ii to their camp. This failure showed Timour that >A~as now confronted by men against whom the dashing insures he had so often successfully adopted were vailing. Bold and determined though the onset Iht be, he was met by a foe who could die but dd not yield, and against that living rampart it was ain that he hurled his choicest battalions. Taught by I experience, his genius soon devised a means for meet- his opponents on a different footing. le constructed numerous round wooden towers on pre, capable of containing 200 men each. They were . dec! into three compartments, of which the centre one ; on a level with the ramparts. The top floor was to crowded with archers, who could look down on the Anders, and pour a destructive fire on them at the ment of assault. To the centre floor a drawbridge was :.ched, which, when lowered, would enable the assailants rain the rampart. The low^er compartment was filled p miners, who could penetrate the walls without danger themselves. He at the same time constructed huge i ! s, described by the Persian historian as rising three feet I ve the level of the water. These were lashed together I projected from the shore on each side, till they met in centre, forming a roadway across the channel, and ipletely cutting off the fortress from all succour on the p of the sea. When these various works were com- ]:ed, which with the huge force at his disposal did not |e long to accomplish, the unfortunate knights felt that ; r doom was sealed. 126 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Everything being now ready, Timour gave the sign for the onset, and the ponderous towers moved slow towards the ramparts. Although a storm of rain pour down in incessant torrents, nothing checked the ardour the assault. Sef et states that throughout the siege t" rain fell without intermission, and it seemed as thouj a new deluge had broken over the land. He also recor with praiseworthy candour the extreme bravery of t. defence. " If the attack was vigorous, the defence w " not less firm, and no one was permitted a moment " repose. Although the battering-rams and other machin " dashing against the walls breached them even to tht " foundations, the defenders remained none the less brave " at their posts, hurling without cessation upon the enen " pots of Greek fire and naphtha, fiery wheels, and hiij " stones." Timour's arrangements had been so well ma< that there was no probability of failure. Whilst ti defenders were gallantly struggling to resist the assailac emerging from the central compartments of the towei the miners on the lower floor were able to prosecute tht labours undisturbed. Ere long huge gaps appeared in tl masonry of the ramparts, and these were supported 1 wooden props inserted for the purpose. The timbers we well saturated with naphtha, and then on a given sign ignited. As the supports gave way, large masses of t] rampart fell with a crash. With shouts of exultation t] Tartars poured through the breach, and overcoming eve: obstacle, succeeded in planting the banner of Islam ov the conquered citadel. Timour did not on this occasion depart from the prajj tice he invariably pursued after the display of his blacj flag. A universal massacre followed the termination Rhodes. Before, however, he could make his arrange- nnts for the purpose, intelligence reached him of an li asion of the eastern portion of his dominions by the kig of India, and he was compelled to hasten thither, inrderto grapple with his new enemy. Most fortunately N the Order he did not live to return, as before he hi succeeded in repelling the invasion, he died from the pfects of the constant debauchery in which he was puged. It is curious to note how, during these ages, an constantly sprang from obscurity in the East, and f( a time threatened to attain almost universal dominion. > thing, however, which they founded seemed to survive tlm. The guiding hand once withdrawn, the empire c:mbled away, and remained in a state of disintegration, Uidl some new ruler arose, gifted with sufficient genius to finite the fragments. De Naillac seized the earliest opportunity which the ■pension of hostilities gave him to replace the loss of Syrna. The point he selected was a Turkish castle on II coast of Asia Minor, about twelve miles from the iMnd of Lango. This stronghold had been built on the r ns of Halicarnassus, celebrated as the site of the tomb oKing Mausolus. Not deeming this place sufficiently s rested in the welfare of the convent flocked thither to gd their new chief and to assist him in his projects of defer* Foremost amongst these was the commander D'Aubus^j* whose name has been already mentioned. Eminerj| gifted as an engineer, and well versed in all the lafl developments of the art of fortification, he was felw be a man to whom, in the threatened crisis, all ccd THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 133 bk with confidence. He was appointed captain-general j.d inspector of the island. 'At this time war had not been declared between Mahomet and the Order, but constant skirmishes were dnng place ; and it was evident that before long open istilities must break forth. In the year 1470, the spies 'io were maintained by the fraternity at the Ottoman < irt, and, if report speaks truly, even within the walls of 1 3 harem, gave timely notice that a gigantic armament Its being prepared, the object of which was, as yet, a Isret. It proved to be destined against the island of ] >gropont, which fell an easy prey to the Ottoman arms. r L e loss of that island would undoubtedly have been at < Be followed by an attack on Rhodes, but for the fact t it at this critical juncture the shah of Persia declared I r against the Ottoman empire, and Mahomet found 1 aself so fully occupied on his eastern frontier, that he ss compelled to postpone his projects in the Levant. firing this lull Orsini died, in the year 1476, at so great $ age that for a long period his rule had been little more ,n nominal ; D'Aubusson, who had been made grand- [ or of Auvergne, having been in reality the director of government. It followed, therefore, naturally, that on occurrence of the vacancy he should be raised to the Ice of Grand-Master. D eter D'Aubusson was descended from the family of the )ounts de la Marche. He was born in 1423, his father ) ag Renaud D'Aubusson, of Monteuil-le-Vicomte. He had * fed, in his earlier days, in the war between Sigismond Hungary and the Ottomans, and on the death of that aarch had returned to France, where he w T as received ih much approbation by Charles VII. Whilst there he ( t part in the war against the English, and particularly 134 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. distinguished himself in the assault on Montereau Faut yone. "When peace was concluded, the young knight per ceived that all prospect of further distinction in tha quarter was at an end. He therefore determined to enro himself a member of the Order of St. John. It ha already been shown that the young aspirant was not lonj in making his name known amongst the fraternity, and ii assisting, both by his sword and his talents, to forward it interests. Long before he was raised to the suprem dignity, D'Aubusson had made himself indispensable and the public confidence in him was so unbounded tha all were ready to yield him the blindest obedience. Whei therefore, the council announced his election, the decisio was greeted with acclamations, which shewed how full their choice had met with general approval. The city of Rhodes at this time was a very differei place from what it had been when torn from the hands ( the infidel in the beginning of the previous century. that period, all the grandeur of former ages had been los and the town presented only an appearance of squalor an poverty. Now all was again changed. From the momei when Fulk de Villaret established his convent there, tl knights had lavished their treasures in the development works of defence, and also in the architectural decoratk of their town. It was situated on the sea shore, at tl north-eastern extremity of the island, and embraced with its circuit the two harbours, known respectively as tl inner and outer port. The latter, which was sometim called the port of the galleys, was formed by a long sti) of land running in a direction nearly due north, aj jutting out into the sea so as to enclose between it and t shore an anchorage sheltered from all but northerly wine On the rock, at the extremity of this neck, stood the tow PLAN OF THE F'QmTIEESS ©if KfflKDME S Masters Titlarc 2 Church of St Jo7m. ', BbspUaZ of St John. tt Street of the Kni (pits. 5 Amhoise Gate ■ 6 St George. 7 Spanish Tower. 8 St Marys Tower. 9 St Johns i 10ItaHan,T Fort St Nicholas . 1* Church of StAntJlcniy . 15 St StepheiLsSM . Iff St Pauls date. 11 S! Catherines Gate . THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 135 St. Nicholas, the first object which greeted the pilot on iring the shores of Rhodes, and justly considered the lost important point of defence after the palace of the rand-Master, which formed the citadel. Its position, rrounded almost entirely by the sea, rendered it fficult of attack under any circumstances, whilst from dden surprise it was practically secure. The inner port v is enclosed by two moles, running respectively in a >rtherly and easterly direction, and embracing within eir shelter an expanse of water partaking somewhat of j|e geometric form of a sector. At the extremities of ese moles stood the two towers of St. Michael and St. »hn. These two works, together with that of St. Nicholas, instituted the principal defence of the sea front. The land works consisted of a rampart and ditch, the inner in some parts strengthened by a faussebraye. The [rreplem was 40 feet wide, and the ditch from 40 to " feet deep and from 90 to 140 feet wide. The line was nked by numerous square towers at intervals. There hre also five more important projecting points, covered \th outworks, and partaking of the character of bastions. ^mmencing at the south-west, or Jews' quarter, these pre respectively the towers of Italy, St. John, St. Mary, > >ain, and St. Greorge. The line from the latter point ran i-rthward till it reached the Grand-Master's palace. r lence it turned at right angles eastward, up to the foot < the mole of St. Nicholas. The sea face, constituting ie inner line of the harbour, was also protected by a ] mpart, but without any ditch. The town thus encircled :rmed a crescent, of which an inner line, running due nd rocks, behind which cover could always be found gainst the garrison to such an extent that if all the rtillery in the world had been inside the town it could Id no harm to those that were without, provided they did ot approach too close." Such were the town and island, >ich, after being kept for a space of nearly forty years [ a state of perturbation and alarm, were destined to ^ness at length the storm of invasion break over them. whilst the knights were preparing themselves for the < flict, Mahomet, in order to blind them to the immi- loe of their danger, determined to submit to the hnd-Master proposals of peace. For this purpose he e.'cted as a combined envoy and spy a renegade Greek lb, on the capture of his native island of Euboea by the Irks, had embraced Islamism in the hope of bettering I fortunes. Demetrius Sophiano possessed all the cun- Ig of his race, and had often proved himself a valuable It in the hands of his new employer. In matters I diplomacy, however, Mahomet had, in D'Aubusson, c^Ieal with one who was fully his equal in the art, and nse extensive system of espial had made him well 138 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. acquainted with what was projected. Feeling that* short truce would give time for such last reinforcemer to arrive as were still lingering on the way, he yield a ready assent to the proposals of Demetrius, suggestii that as he could not conclude a treaty without the sanctL ; of the Pope, a temporary truce only should be establish^ pending a reference to Rome. This proposal was accept by Mahomet, who thought he had succeeded in throwrjj the enemy off his guard, and was only undeceived whi he found that D'Aubusson was taking advantage of t delay to complete his preparations for defence. Demetrius was not the only tool in the hands i Mahomet. In fact, a man who, like the Ottoman sulfa, ruled over an empire to which fresh additions were cc stantly being made, must have found frequent occasi, for the service of traitors, and as ample remunerati: awaited the successful informer, there were never wanti; those who had that to sell which it was his interest to bil His intention of attacking the island of Rhodes upon II first favourable opportunity had become so widely kno j that accurate information as to its defences was und- stood to be a highly marketable commodity ; all persol therefore, who were possessed of such hurried to Ce stantinople. Among these was Antonio MeligalaJ Rkodian, who, having dissipated his patrimony, sought) restore his ruined fortunes by taking service with Turk. He carried with him a very accurate plan of I fortress, for which, doubtless, he was amply reward-, though he did not long enjoy the fruits of his treachq] as he died on board a galley whilst accompanying Turkish army to the scene of attack. Another and far more gifted traitor presented him in the person of Greorges Frapant, commonly called Ma^ e THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 139 >rges. This man was by birth a Gorman, and had n trained as an engineer, in which science he attained at skill. He has been described by friends and enemies |:e as endowed with marvellous genius. Caoursin calls l a man of the most subtle ingenuity, whilst the est soldier Merry Dupuis, after recording of him that was a most excellent director of artillery, proceeds to ie on his personal advantages as " a fine fellow, well •rmed in all his limbs, and of a lofty stature, with great ffts of language, being both willing and entertaining." s very evident that Maitre Georges was no ordinary man, . the admirer of genius must regret the misapplied rers and perverted energies of this gifted renegade. the plans which this trio of traitors submitted to i hornet were so tempting that he at length decided to py out his long-cherished design. The chief command I; the forces was intrusted to a fourth renegade, a Greek, t:ke imperial house of Paleologus, named Messih, who 1 the rank of Capoudan Pasha. This man had been sent at the capture of Constantinople ; to save his he had become a Moslem, and taken service under Ihomet, rapidly gaining honour and advancement. lie all renegades, he showed the utmost zeal in persecut- I those of his former faith, and the knights of Rhodes L in particular, been distinguished by his bitterest imosity. It was finally arranged that early in the ruing spring the bulk of the army was to march across (a Minor to the port of Phineka, a commodious harbour Ijut forty miles to the eastward of Ehodes. The artillery . heavy stores were to proceed to the same spot from hstantinople by sea. The pasha, with his fleet, was to I it the place of rendezvous at the appointed time, whence jvas to make his grand descent upon the point of attack. 140 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Whilst preparations were thus going on at Constant nople, the knights were on their side taking every measu to insure the success of their defence. Not only mer bers of the Order, hut numbers of others, knights and simp soldiers, crowded to the scene of the coming strugg] The gallant heart of D'Aubusson was gladdened by t] constant arrival of welcome additions to his strength, cor prising as they did some of the noblest names in Eurod Amongst them was his eldest brother, the viscoul de Monteuil, who, at the head of a considerable body retainers, volunteered his services at this crisis. He w at once elected to the post of captain-general, in whi capacity he did knightly service under the command of 1; younger brother. One measure was still considered necessary by m council, and that was to remove temporarily from t powers of D'Aubusson those checks and restrictions wi which the jealousy of preceding ages had fettered t. Grrand-Mastership. Now that they were led by one whom they had such unbounded confidence, and when t" crisis required that he should act with promptitude m energy, they unanimously agreed to free him from i control, and to grant him unlimited authority till t troublous hour should have passed away. D'Aubuss* was at first unwilling to accept the undivided respom bility thus imposed upon him ; but his reluctance av overcome, and when the council broke up it was a nounced to the citizens that from that moment he w their sole and autocratic chief. Never was authoril vested in hands more capable of exercising it wisely, n the confidence with which he was universally regard; more signally justified by the result. CIIAPTEE VI. First Siege of Rhodes in 1480. I ival of the Turkish army before Rhodes — First attack on fort , St. Nicholas — Its failure— Breach opened in the Jews' quarter — Attempted assassination of the Grand-Master— Second attack on St. Nicholas, and its failure — Second advance on the Jews' quarter — Execution of Maitre Georges — Last assault of the Turks and its repulse — Close of the siege — List of English knights present — Losses of the Turkish army. 1 the 23rd May, 1480, the Turkish army, numbering r,000 men (some accounts say 100,000), convoyed by a let of 160 large vessels, appeared off the shores of Rhodes. Jie warnings which had been received enabled the knights : make every preparation for the event. The country I labitants had all taken refuge within the town, whither feir property had been conveyed. Nothing capable of moval w r as left to become the spoil of the invaders ; even h unripe corn was cut and carried away. The Turks Jsembarked in the bay of Trianda, on the north-west side Ithe island, and encamped on the slope of St. Stephen's |1, The next day the pasha despatched a herald to fnmon the town to surrender. He knew well that the 'mand would be rejected by the knights, but hoped to if luce the Grreek inhabitants by promising them an :mesty and an increase of privileges. The Ehodians, I wever, preferred to rstake their all on the fortunes of tliQ 142 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Order to accepting the offers of Paleologus, and neitt then, nor at any subsequent time, did they waver in thf allegiance. As soon as a reply in the negative had been receive the Turks began to push forward reconnoissances in fro! of the walls. It suited neither the policy of D'Aubuss nor the temper of his troops to permit these approaches be unchecked. A sortie was consequently made with body of cavalry, led by the viscount de Monteuil, a: the enemy driven back to their camps, in which affi Demetrius Sophiano, the second of the three traitors, n his end, having been trampled to death in the mel Meanwhile the pasha had been in consultation with Mail Georges as to the point he should select for the atta( That worthy, whose keen eye grasped the importance the tower of St. Nicholas, suggested that the whole weig of the besieging force should be thrown against it. battery was therefore commenced within the gardens of t church of St. Anthony, at a distance of about 300 yai from the walls. The knights, anxious to impede the wo]' opened an enfilading fire on the rising battery from gu which stood on the north side of the Grand-Master's pala In spite, however, of all obstructions, and in face of a lari loss in men, the work steadily grew, and at length thi of the pasha's great basilisks were mounted behind t! embrasures. These basilisks, of which sixteen w£ brought from the arsenal of Constantinople, had been ct under the direction of that most useful of men, Maii' Georges. They were of such stupendous dimensions tK their very appearance might well spread dismay in i garrison. In those early days of artillery the calibre guns was enormous, the projectiles being generally stone ; only a little powder was used ; the range tv' THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 143 >jisequently but limited. The effect required was gained iher by the weight of the projectile than by the impetus. J the present case, although the walls were solid, they Jre incapable of withstanding the huge missiles hurled ikinst them by Maitre Georges, and before long a wide ipach was established on the western face of the tower. Whilst this battering was in progress an incident )iurred which materially affected the fortunes of the wily qrman. In pursuance of a plan laid down between Erleologus and himself, Maitre Georges presented himself )p morning before the gates, and besought admission into i town as a deserter. Taken before D'Aubusson, he lerred that although he had been for many years in the ser- 7\e of the sultan his conscience would no longer permit him aissist in any further designs against the fraternity, and he all therefore resolved on seeking shelter within the fortress. [Ajibusson had had too many dealings with scoundrels as p.usible as Maitre Georges to give a ready credence to this fte of remorse. He knew too well that the day was passed w,en men made such sacrifices for their religion. He also k;3w what a fearful risk Maitre Georges would run, if really fcj.eserter, should he fall once more into the hands of the Irks. The probabilities seemed to him, therefore, that ^ man was acting in collusion with the foe. Treachery, h/vever, if treachery there were, was best encountered by ^simulation, and he determined to glean what information b, could from the German without trusting him in any way $/t could be utilized by the enemy. Maitre Georges was ftlcomed as cordially as though no suspicions had been a used, but he soon discovered that there were those in his bin whose sole duty appeared to be to watch his every nvement. One or two abortive attempts to search out tl weak points in the defence soon taught him that any 144 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. further efforts in that direction would inevitably lead destruction. In fact, D'Aubusson completely foiled ] designs, and if he did not prove of much use to t defenders, he was at all events prevented from assisting i any way the besiegers. Meanwhile, the battery in St. Anthony's garden h! been hard at work, and the mass of rubbish daij increasing at the foot of St. Nicholas tower show D'Aubusson that unless speedy precautions were taken t post would be lost. He therefore concentrated on t spot every obstacle his ingenuity could devise to impel the operation of an assault. Taking advantage of ij mass of masonry which had been dislodged, he with threw up a new defence across the mole. Small batter!! were established wherever they could sweep the approach to the breach, whilst in the shallow water of the harbcj near the shore he sank numerous planks studded wl sharp-pointed nails, to obstruct the enemy in any attenf at wading across. Having made all his preparations, i calmly awaited the onset. On the morning of the 9th of June, at daybreak, alarm was given, and a large fleet of the enemy's ligh craft, laden with men, was seen bearing down on fort. The men were landed, some on the mole and so on the rocks, and at once rushed with loud shouts at breach, endeavouring to carry the work by a coup de im Conspicuous on the summit stood D'Aubusson, arrayed all the panoply of his rank, and around him was gathe:j the flower of that chivalry from which the Turk had! often before been forced to recoil. Anxiously was I struggle watched by both friend and foe on the mail land. The battlements overlooking the harbour w# crowded with citizens eager to mark the progress of I THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 145 \j 3 whilst on the brow of St. Stephen's hill stood leologus himself, filled with the keen excitement natural none to whom success would be everything, and failure (lit ion. Amid the clouds of smoke and dust but little (lid be made out. Every now and then, as a passing gust wind raised the dark veil for a moment, that noble ;jid of knights might be distinguished, reduced indeed :j strength, but still standing unsubdued and in proud fiance, whilst the ruins were covered with the bodies of \ slain. That same glimpse would also show the Islems, undaunted by opposition, still swarming up the lj:>d-stained pathway, striving by the sheer weight of rubers to surmount the obstacle which had already i|ved fatal to so many of their comrades, throughout this eventful day D'Aubusson retained i,post. Utterly regardless of himself, he was to be )jid wherever the fight was thickest or support most efled. His exposure of himself was indeed so reckless lb call forth the earnest remonstrances of his friends ; I his impetuosity was not to be restrained. At last, list the fate of the struggle seemed still uncertain, the Jfison brought some fire-ships to bear on the galleys of Li Turks. The attempt was successful ; several caught r| and the remainder, to avoid a similar fate, were spelled to retire. When this was seen, the defenders t. Nicholas made a vigorous dash at the breach; the .(l.ers were overturned, and such of the enemy as had le good their footing on the summit hurled headlong fts base. The flanking batteries were all this time ) 'ing a destructive fire on the confused and disordered m which stood huddled on the rocks. Many of the a>3rs had fallen, their fleet had abandoned them, and k themselves were being mown down by the deadly L 146 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. fire from the ramparts. Is it surprising that under sue an accumulation of obstacles they should at length gr way ? The mass of slain with which the breach w covered bore testimony to the obstinacy and determinate of the assault; but the resistance of the defenders foj proved too powerful for them, and at length they soug safety in flight. The terror of the fire-ships had bet so great that but few boats remained to carry off t fugitives. Many were drowned in the attempt to crc to the mainland, and the survivors were borne awa crest-fallen and humiliated, from the scene of strife. T feelings of the pasha, as from the summit of St. Stephei hill he witnessed the untoward conclusion of the fra were far from enviable. His troops had been taught consider themselves invincible, but they now learnt tli( error at a grievous cost. Seven hundred corpses lj stretched on the mole and breach. The pasha obtained short truce to remove and bury them. A long tren was dug near the garden of St. Anthony, on the weste shore of the port, where they were all laid. This tren has been recently discovered, and the bones still fou there taken to the adjoining cemetery. Paleologus was not the man to despair at a ftf failure ; he was, therefore, speedily at work devising new attack. Conceiving that the knights were *probalj exhausting their resources in the defence of St. INIichol he determined to break ground on a fresh point, wli( he trusted to find a less obstinate resistance. Whi D'Aubusson was returning thanks for the glorious succi of the preceding day in a triumphal procession, the pad was moving his heavy battering train to the southern s| of the city. The Jews' quarter was selected as the nj object of attack. The ramparts at this point were THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 147 treme thickness, but also of great age, and therefore but •suited to resist any very severe battering. Wishing distract the garrison, Paleologus did not confine his orts to this spot, but at the same time opened fire ainst the tower of St. Mary on the one side, and that Italy on the other. He also commenced a general (nbardment. From the huge mortars which formed l;t of his siege train he hurled into the town gigantic ligments of rock and other destructive missiles ; light- lls and other combustible ingredients were also made I of, in the hope of causing a conflagration. Against Ise dangers D'Aubusson's genius was ever ready to nvicle a remedy. He created a cover for such of the rabitants as were not required for the defence, by the lotion of large sheds, with sloping sides, built against 1 interior of the ramparts on such sites as were best >: tected from fire ; others found shelter in the vaults of p churches and similar places of security : so that the >;ha gained but little by his vast expenditure of ammu- Lon. True it is, as Merry Dupuis records, that one shot tick the roof of the Grand-Master's palace, and, Unending through the floor into the cellar, destroyed a lcshead of wine. The waste of the good liquor seems to He impressed the simple-minded soldier more than the h lage to the building ; but if the casualties were con- ud to such losses as these, the pasha might as well have #iomized his powder. The roar of the bombardment I so loud that it could be heard in the island of Lango 'i the one side, and in that of Chateau Roux on the ■Tie state of the rampart in front of the Jews' quarter Hi became such as to render prompt measures necessary. ) aibusson therefore traced the line for a retrenchment 148 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. in rear of the weakened spot. With this object 3 levelled the houses in the proposed line, and built a bri< wall, supported by an earthen rampart with a deep dit« sunk in front. The work was pushed forward wi incredible rapidity. The Grrand-Master himself set t example by taking his turn at the manual laboi handling the pick and shovel with the utmost vigoi The effect of this good example was not lost. Not on did the knights and upper classes amongst the Rhoclia assist vigorously, but also the women and children. 1 joined in the universal enthusiasm, and performed t tasks of ordinary labourers. The result showed itn in the rapid elevation of a new barrier, encircling tl portion of the Jews' rampart which the pasha's batter; had demolished, thus rendering futile all his efforts. Up to this time Paleologus had conducted the siege an open and legitimate manner. Now, however, p ceiving that the resistance he was encountering v greatly due to the personal energy of D'Aubusson, j bethought him of removing his antagonist by the dagj of the assassin. To carry out this nefarious design, 1 entered into negotiations with two deserters from i) town, one a Dalmatian, and the other an Albania Whilst concocting his scheme with these wretches,! despatch was stated to have arrived from Constantino];, in which he was informed that the sultan himself J about to appear on the scene, with a reinforcement 1 100,000 men and a new park of artillery. This l| utterly false ; still it attained its object in greatly raist the enthusiasm of the besiegers. Armed with 11 intelligence, the two deserters presented themselves befl the gates with a plausible tale of having been captul] during a sortie, and of having only just succeeded \l THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 149 iking their escape. The story met with ready credence, id they were welcomed back into the town with the 1 rmest congratulations. Their first step was to spread the news of the expected rival of the sultan with overwhelming reinforcements, lating naturally the utmost dismay amongst the defenders. . rtain knights of the Italian and Spanish langues were ; much impressed with the fear of such an event that y formed a cabal to press upon the Grand-Master the jsity of surrender before the arrival of Mahomet. \ ith this view they secured the co-operation of one of 1 secretaries, an Italian named Filelfo. As soon as the totter came to the ears of D'Aubusson he summoned the r ilcontents into his presence, and informed them that 1 v had his permission to leave the town, and that he v-uld himself secure their safe retreat. "But," added i . kW if you remain with us, speak no more of surrender, ' iid rest assured that if you do you shall meet the fate k r ou so justly merit." This speech had the desired effect; lb recreants threw themselves at his feet, and implored 1 n to give them an early opportunity of redeeming their l iracters in the face of the enemy. Filelfo soon discovered that his master's confidence was 'vthdrawn from him, and he was in consequence greatly ( tressed. One of the deserters who had some acquaint- { ce with him imagined that he was now probably in a I )od when he might be rendered subservient to his scheme. tadually and cautiously he endeavoured to excite the 1 ilian's resentment at his treatment, and when he thought iat he had succeeded in his object he unfolded the plot, } iking the most brilliant offers, in guarantee of which he • owed the secretary letters from the pasha. Filelfo pretended to fall in with the views of the 150 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. deserters, and as soon as he had discovered everything h at once revealed the whole conspiracy to his master. Th! would-be assassins were immediately arrested, and, aftt trial, sentenced to death. The excitement and indignatio of the populace were, however, so great that they rushe on the criminals and tore them in pieces without waitin for the action of the law. Foiled in his attempt at assassination, Paleologus one more had recourse to legitimate warfare. Disheartened i the ill-success of his efforts against the Jews' quarter, h returned to his original point of attack, the tower of S Nicholas. To facilitate the approach of his assaultin columns, he constructed a large floating bridge, intended i stretch from the point in front of the church of S Anthony to the rocks at the base of the fort, and wic enough to admit of six men advancing abreast. Und( cover of the night a Turk had succeeded in fixing a anchor beneath the surface at the extremity of the mol to the ring of which he secured a rope, with which to war the bridge across the water. This operation had bee witnessed by an English sailor called Roger Grerva* (probably Jervis), and he, as soon as the coast was clea detached the rope and removed the anchor, carrying it i triumph to the Grand-Master. D'Aubusson was so please with the promptitude of the gallant tar that he rewarde him with the gift of 200 crowns. The night of the 19th June was selected by the Turl for the assault, and at midnight the various detachmen were set in motion. It had been arranged that, whilst tl bridge was being hauled into position, a large body < troops should be shipped on board some of the smalL craft and make a dash at the tower, hoping to take tl garrison by surprise. The incident of the anchor ha- THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 151 bkrever, forewarned D'Aubusson that the moment of aiault was at hand. Everything, therefore, that prudence o recy being at an end, the boats dashed forward, and on r ching the rocks the troops jumped out and rushed at t ) breach. The struggle was carried on with obstinacy and deter - r. nation, but in the darkness little could be distinguished. 1 e scene was fitfully lighted up by the flashes of artillery, vilst the lurid glare shed around by the Greek fire which - poured on the assailants added terror to the picture. - aid the roar of guns, the clashing of arms, the shouts E the combatants, and the cries of the wounded, the strife Mtinuecl with unabated violence, presenting a scene of i rible excitement to those who were looking on. As bugh to add to the horrors of the night, the fire-ships vre once more let loose on the enemy's fleet, towards Mich they drifted in a column of flame, bearing panic £ji confusion in their course. The early light of a 152 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. summer's dawn began to show itself before success haf* declared for either side. Guided, however, by th gradually increasing light, D'Aubusson's gunners wer enabled to direct their fire with greater precision, am;; speedily destroyed the bridge which had been of so mud; use in bringing up the Turkish supports. They also sue ceeded in sinking four of the galleys, which, in spite o the fire-ships, were hovering round the point of assault Throughout the night the principal leader of the Turk had been a young prince named Ibrahim, closely relate* to the sultan, with whom he was a great favourite. Th daring he had displayed had done much to sustain th vigour of the assailants, and, although severely woundec! he still kept his post. At this critical juncture, when hi< followers were beginning to quail, he was struck down b a shot. His death decided the fortunes of the day; th) breach was abandoned, and the harbour once more covers with drowning men, who found a watery grave, the onlj alternative to the avenging swords of the knights. The loss of the Turks on this occasion was betwee: 2,000 and 3,000, amongst whom were some of the b&i officers in their army. The impression made on th! survivors by this second failure was so dispiriting as t render the pasha's prospects of success somewhat proble matical. He was so dismayed by the untoward event; of the night that he shut himself up in his tenj for three days, refusing to see any one. D'Aubusso; availed himself of this respite to clear the mole of tbj mass of slain with which it was crowded. Rare pillag was there for his troops amidst that heap of Moslem' whose gold and silver ornaments were a lordly recoix pense to the hardy warriors who had stood their groun so well. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 153 Yfter three days' seclusion, Paleologus recovered his Mianimity, and decided on a still more vigorous ) secution of the siege. Abandoning all further fcmpts upon the tower of St. Nicholas, he returned othe south side of the city, and commenced construct - I a battery on the edge of the counterscarp opposite i\ retrenchment in the Jews' quarter. Here was an )Dortunity for the disgraced knights of Italy and Min to recover their fair fame. By means of a ) tern they entered the ditch at dead of night, i:l thence in silence climbed the counterscarp with rders, and rushed into the unfinished battery. The Irks, taken by surprise, offered little or no resistance, d the struggle, which was rather a massacre than a lit, was soon over, the assailants remaining masters ■the battery. The gabions and other woodwork were 5( on fire, the battery destroyed, and the gallant lie band returned in triumph to the town. This llliant episode restored its actors to the good graces of [Aubusson, who felt that he need have no further Eiducting his approach, therefore, on a more method- II and scientific system, he steadily regained the nt from which he had been ejected. Thence he Ipve galleries underground through the counterscarp, ad poured debris into the ditch, which was gradually t-form an embankment across it to the rampart. The sources of D'Aubusson were taxed to the uttermost devise means for resisting this new method of aproach. In the dilemma he bethought him of Maitre 154 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Georges. Mysterious notes had more than once bed shot into the town on arrows, warning the knights t beware of the German. Opinions were divided as 4 the object of these missives, some regarding them a spiteful attacks upon the deserter, whilst others, among.s whom was the Grand-Master, looked on them as an ad of cunning on the part of the pasha to secure favor; for his spy by an apparent display of animosity. Whatever his private opinion, D'Aubusson determim on the present occasion to avail himself as far possible of the engineering skill of Maitre George : He was not, however, successful. The German w* very reticent and desponding ; his suggestions wei few, and those manifestly useless. His obvious r< luctance to aid the defence strengthened the suspicioi which were afloat, and rendered a fresh scrutiny int his conduct advisable. Summoned before the counci he prevaricated, hesitated, and eventually contradicts himself in so many important particulars that he wj subjected to torture. Under this pressure a confessic was extracted from him that he had entered the tow with traitorous intent. Although a certain cloi; of mystery undoubtedly hangs over the conduct Maitre Georges, a confession extracted by torture n being very trustworthy, still there was that in b history and previous conduct which renders it probab he was really guilty. On the following day he w- hanged in the public square in sight of an applaudir crowd ; and thus perished the last of the trio of remit gades by whom Mahomet had been induced to ma| his attack upon the Order of St. John. The hanging of the traitor could be no protecticp against the cannon thundering at the rampart or tJ> THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 155 isault threatening at the breach, and D'Aubusson did >t confine himself to that measure. To harass the temy in their trenches, a large wooden catapult was instructed, which threw huge pieces of rock into the >vered ways and batteries. These fragments were so »vy that they crushed in the blindages which the urks had erected for shelter, and, as Dupuis has re- u'ded, "some Turk or other always remained dead under the weight." Whilst this effective machine was work, the defenders were also carrying on a little ibterranean strategy. Driving galleries beneath the reach, they made openings into the ditch, through kick they gradually carried away much of the stone ith which it was being filled, utilizing the material br the strengthening of their retrenchment. The work as prosecuted so briskly under cover of the night that le bulk of the filling, which the Turks had with so iiuch labour deposited in the ditch, began to shrink erceptibly. The pasha therefore perceived that unless e delivered an assault speedily, the road by which he oped to cross would be carried away. Previous to making his great attempt, which recent xperience had taught him must cost him dear, he lought it desirable to try and secure a capitulation. l parley was demanded, to which the Grand-Master onsented, in order to gain time for the further trengthening of his retrenchments. At the appointed our the Turkish envoy, Soliman Bey, made his ap- pearance on the counterscarp opposite the breach. )'Aubusson had appointed Anthony Graultier, the astellan of Rhodes, to be his representative ; and as the •readth of the ditch separated the negotiators, the con- 3rence was quite public. It was opened by the Turk, 156 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. who, after having paid a tribute to the gallantry c the defence, urged upon the knights the propriety J immediate surrender. " The breach in your wall ' gaping wide," said he, " and invites our attackin ' columns ; 40,000 of the best troops in the empire aj ' eagerly awaiting the moment which is to give yo ' over into their power. Yield yourselves to the clemenc ' of our sovereign, become his allies, and your livi ' shall be spared and your property protected. If yo ' refuse, your lives will be forfeited, your wives an ' daughters dishonoured, and your children sold inl c slavery. Such is the fate of those who persist i: ' opposing the mighty Mahomet. Choose, therefor ' whether you will be his friends or his victims." 1 this speech, well calculated to create a panic among; the people, Graultier replied in terms of proud disdab He assured the envoy that he was mistaken in suj posing the town incapable of further resistance. was true the ramparts were breached, but they we; well retrenched, and the assailants would again me the same fate that had already twice befallen them : St. Nicholas. Let them make their boasted assau! without further parley ; they would find the garriso; ready to receive them, trusting in Grod to defend tl right. This bold reply taught Paleologus that he had nothir, to gain by negotiation, and the audacity of the challeiif with which it had concluded aroused his most lively incli; nation. An immediate assault was therefore ordered. 7 stimulate his soldiers he promised them the entire booty the town ; and success was so assured that sacks were mat in which to carry off the anticipated pillage, stakes we prepared on which the knights were to be impaled, ai THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 157 ch soldier carried at his waist a bundle of cords with liich to secure his prisoners. Everything being thus ranged, the signal for the onset was awaited with impa- mce. A tremendous fire was opened from every gun rich could be brought to bear on the breach or adjacent mparts. This bombardment was so effective that the fenders were driven from the ramparts. During the ght the assaulting columns were silently moved into eir places, the roar of artillery continuing with unabated olence. The garrison were not aware of what was taking ace, and no extra precautions were adopted to resist the ipending storm. About an hour after sunrise, on the 27th July, the ^nal was given, and a rush was made on several points the enceinte at the same moment, the main effort being ncentrated upon the breach in the Jews' quarter. Quail- g beneath the pitiless shower of iron and stone poured on em during the bombardment, the defenders of the ram- trt had gradually been driven to seek shelter ; when, erefore, the assailants dashed through the breach they •iind no one to resist their onset. In a short time, and >fore the alarm had been given in the town, the standard the Moslem was waving on the crest of the parapet, and e Turks were pouring in a countless throng through the idefended gap. In this disastrous conjuncture a sudden mic seems to have overtaken every one. Men ran to and o, in their dismay scarce knowing where to bend their eps, or how to resist the storm thus burst upon them. A w moments more of this perilous confusion and all must ive been lost. Providentially, D'Aubusson, ever watch- 1 and ever at hand, rushed promptly to the scene of ntest. His presence instantly reanimated his followers, *d restored order and decision where but a moment before 158 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. all had quailed with dismay. With lightning speed dashed at the rampart ; its summit could only be react from within by ladders, and the first to ascend, sword hand, was the Grand-Master himself. Now might be seen the unusual spectacle of the besiegl converted into assailants, and endeavouring to recover | escalade the rampart taken by the enemy. Twice c[ D'Aubusson attempt the ascent, and twice was he hurli from the ladder, each time severely wounded. Again cl he renew the effort; his knights, he felt, must recover til lost ground or all was over. Better to die on the breai than survive the capture of his stronghold. The third tin he made good his footing on the wall, where, being speeds joined by numerous comrades, the fight became more equ. The mere numbers of the Turks acted prejudicially them ; they were so crowded on the rampart that thl were unable to move with vigour, and, swaying to and h before the fierce attack of the knights were gradua/ driven back over the breach. The pasha on this despatch I a body of janissaries to support the waverers. D'Aubuss I was easily recognized in the throng, and Paleologus, w> knew that he was the life of the defence, told off a body ;: chosen men to make a special attack upon the hero so co spicuous at the head of his gallant band. Clearing fj" themselves a passage through the mass of combatants, th succeeded in reaching the spot where D'Aubusson stocM Hemmed in though he was by these new foes, he yield* not a step, but maintained the unequal strife with u daunted energy. His desperate situation was soon seen 1 1 his brothers-in-arms. A rush was made to the rescue, till janissaries driven back, and D'Aubusson extricated fro his perilous position. Unfortunately, before this aid arrivf he had received three new and most grievous wounds. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 159 Ere he was borne from the field he had the satisfaction seeing the enemy driven back over the breach, and his ctorious knights pursuing them at the point of the jrord. This, in fact, was the turning-point of the i niggle. The panic, once established, spread amongst U infidels with a rapidity which their disorganized ndition rendered fatal, and, flying from their pursuers, tey found all egress blocked by the masses crowded on ie spot. In this predicament friend fared as ill as foe, id the most eager of the fugitives hewed for themselves pathway to safety by the indiscriminate slaughter of eir comrades. Numbers were hurled from the ramparts to the town, a fall of twenty feet, and were instantly assacred by the infuriated inhabitants. Meanwhile a ^adly fire had been kept up from every available point wn the dense crowd huddled on the breach ; and as at iat short range every shot told, the slaughter was lmense. The struggle had now degenerated into a assacre. Chased by their excited enemy, the Turks were own down without the slightest attempt at resistance. ifety was not to be found even in their camp ; they are driven from thence in headlong confusion, the great inner of Paleologus, which was planted in front of his ivilion, falling into the hands of the victors. All was now over. The troops of the pasha were irried on board the galleys, and Rhodes was saved. eanwhile, Peter D'Aubusson, the hero of the hour, lay his magisterial palace, unconscious of his well-earned lumph, prostrated by five severe wounds, one of which e physicians had pronounced mortal. The embarkation of the discomfited Moslems was itnessed by the worn-out garrison with feelings of 3 most lively satisfaction ; and the inhabitants of the 160 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. country, having been cooped up in the town for b months, were overjoyed at being once more free to retu to their homes. Vast numbers of dead had been 1( strewn on the plain, and the first step necessary i general safety was to remove these ghastly relics of t siege. The corpses were gathered into huge piles, ai burnt ; the women indulging, as Dupuis records, in a lit jocosity on the occasion by remarking that the Tur were like the beccafichi or ortolans, and had becor plump from the quantity of figs they had eaten. T universal joy was much increased 'when it became knoT that the Grand-Master was likely to recover ; and whe after the lapse of a few weeks, he was so far restored as be present in person at the laying of the first stone of church to celebrate the defence, their satisfaction w complete. This church was built at the extreme easte:; horn of the crescent formed by the town ; it was dedicate to Notre Dame de la Victoire, and still exists. The successful defence of Rhodes must be attribut< almost entirely to Peter D'Aubusson. His was the maste spirit that had guided every effort, his the eagle-eye th ever comprehended at a glance the exigencies of t' situation, his the fertile brain whence issued those schem and devices by which the designs of the enemy we invariably frustrated. He had throughout been the li and soul of the garrison — at one moment directing t construction of some new defence, at another wieldir his sword in the thickest of the fight ; now providing f the security of the defenceless inhabitants, and then aga overawing the wavering. To each and every one he w the guide and the support. Well was it for all that n< until he had struck the death-blow at his antagonist did himself succumb. The news of the success was receiv( THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 161 ;h enthusiasm throughout Europe. The imminence of » danger once past, men began to realize its extent. Had Ottoman standard been planted on the ramparts of 1'i.odes, the way to Italy would have been open, and [jazet's threat that it should wave over the Capitol of Pme might probably have been carried into effect. The [pe was now rescued from his peril, and was in con- } uence loud in expressions of gratitude to his deliverer, ;whom he gave the high-sounding title of "Buckler of ristianity." [t is much to be regretted that no record has been kept )the strength of the garrison during the siege, or of the ines or even the number of the killed. The archives )iy mention those who held official positions — a very small if nber out of the total who were present. The following ataes of Englishmen have been traced, but they probably I m but a portion of those who were there : — Tohn Vaquelin, commander of Carbouch, killed. ^armaduke Lumley, dangerously wounded, made prior 3: Ireland, vice James Hetting (or Keating), who was loosed for refusing to join in the defence. '[nomas Bern, bailiff of the Eagle, killed. lenry Haler, commander of Badsfort, killed. [nomas Ploniton, killed. Idam Ted bond, killed. lenry Batasbi, killed. lenry Anulai (or D'Avalos), killed. [ ohn Kendall, Turcopolier. Thomas Docray, afterwards grand-prior of England, jeonard de Tybertis. Valter Viselberg. ohn Eucht (or Ruck), ohn Besoel (or Boswell) . M 162 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. The losses of the Turks have been variously stated the most probable estimate being about 9,000 killed anc 30,000 wounded. The bulk of this huge list of casualties occurred after the last repulse, when in their flight the} were mowed down by thousands. Paleologus, after hi, humiliating discomfiture, could expect but a very un welcome reception from his disappointed master. Indeed in the first transport of rage, the sultan ordered him t< be bowstrung. This stern decree was eventually miti gated into banishment in Grallipoli, where he remains in disgrace till the death of Mahomet.* * The incidents of this siege are mostly derived from thre contemporary writers — the Turk Khodgia Effendi, and the two mem bers of the Order, Merry Dupuis and Caoursin. This latter was Vice Chancellor of the Order, and wrote an account of the siege, illus trated by a series of woodcuts. They are dated 1496, and ai excellent specimens of the woodcutting of the time. A fac- simile i here given of the one which represents the city of Rhodes durin the siege. l^oudto tKOoaic $mpitf(umvlme %ioimn2 fteger,3tmw fciK4&89ccccjKvj.&iAJ^.i0cfe$ KAOlilllK O'-'-ii OF THE WOODCOT BSIN's"" WOODCOT CHAPTER VII. 1480—1522. eparations of Mahomet for a new siege — His death — Flight of Djem to Rhodes — His departure for France — His removal to Rome, and death — Death of D'Aubusson — History of the relic of the hand ol St. John the Baptist — Succession of D'Amboise, Blanchef orl , and Carretto — Usurpation of Selim and extension of his empire — Accession of Solyman — Death of Carretto and elec- tion of L'Me Adam — -Description of Rhodes in 1521 and at present — Fall of Belgrade — Preparations for defence — Detail of the garrison and of the Turkish force — Arrival of the Ottoman army at Rhodes. ie sultan consoled himself for the unfortunate issue of i I enterprise against Rhodes with the idea that his own 1 3sence was necessary to insure the success of his arms. [3 at once commenced preparations for the assembly of a i :sh force, with which he proposed to renew in person I) attack on the island. This news filled the minds of lb fraternity with dismay. The ramparts behind which by had made so gallant a stand were in ruins, their : asury exhausted, and their ranks woefully thinned. A p siege must, they felt, end disastrously for them, this juncture, as though to add to their calamities, I lodes was visited by a succession of violent earthquakes, Siompanied by a tidal wave. Several of the principal t Idings in the town were overthrown, as well as large 164 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. masses of the ramparts which had been shaken ai rendered insecure by the battering they had undergor Such a complication of disasters might well have dismay the stoutest heart ; it required all the fortitude even D'Aubusson to bear him through the crisis. Desperate as the situation was, the Grand-Master co tinued to press forward such restorations as his limit means permitted. Had the sultan lived to carry out project, he would have been met as boldly and resisted firmly as his lieutenant had been. That such resistar could have been for the second time successful wj under the circumstances, hopeless ; but he would ha entered the city only when it was in ruins, and over i lifeless body of the last of its defenders. Providentia" for the Order, this sad catastrophe was averted, Mahomet was suddenly seized with a colic, and died Nicomedea on the 3rd May, 1481. Grreat as had been successes, the haughty emperor scorned to enumerate the and directed the following simple epitaph to be placed his tomb : " My intention was to have captured Ehot " and subdued Italy." The death of the sultan was hm with joy throughout Europe, and nowhere more so t] at Rhodes, where a sense of relief pervaded every bos( Public thanksgivings were offered up in the convent] church for the death of this most formidable foe. It on that occasion recorded with natural exultation t] the conqueror of so many provinces had never succee< in wresting one single fort from the possession of fraternity. Mahomet's sudden death brought with it the resuh common in Eastern empires — a disputed succession betwj his two sons, Bajazet and Djem. The struggle did last long, and ended in favour of the former. Djem, THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 165 d taken refuge in Caramania, solicited the protection of e Order, and demanded a safe conduct from D'Aubusson | allow him to proceed to Rhodes. This was granted, d he was met at Corycus by the grand-prior of Castile, 10 accompanied him to the island. Every preparation d been there made to receive him with due honour. A dge covered with tapestry was thrown out to permit n to land from his galley on horseback. Upon the )le he was met by the Grand-Master with his suite, and is escorted he proceeded through the town to the auberge France, which had been prepared for his reception. It was a great triumph for the knights that within so )rt a time after their destruction had been decreed by sultan they should be thus receiving his son as a asioner on their bounty. They were, however, far too valric to allow a trace of such feelings to appear, and em found himself treated with the same deferential spitality as though he had been a powerful monarch tead of a destitute fugitive. It was in vain, however, it they sought to divert his mind from the danger with ich he felt he was surrounded. From the fraternity he sw he had nothing to fear ; still he saw that, in spite of the precautions D'Aubusson might take, he was sur- mded by a population many of whom would not scruple any act of treachery against his person. He was well are that his brother Bajazet would willingly bestow pie recompense on any one who should remove so lgerous a rival from his path. Filled with dread of lie such result, Djem suggested to the Grand-Master It he should be permitted to retire to France, where danger would be less. lii this juncture ambassadors sent by Bajazet from Eistantinople arrived at Ehodes with pacific overtures. 166 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. There can be no doubt that the presence of Djem Rhodes had much disquieted his brother, who felt that ij would be constantly liable to the risk of the rival claii which that prince, supported by the Order, might pi! forward. This embassy, so contrary to Mussulman prid added to the alarm of Djem, and he became more tha ever anxious to quit the island. D'Aubusson, with h usual diplomacy, arranged matters so as to satisfy bot sides. He secured for his protege a revenue of 35,0Cj gold ducats (about £15,000), and Bajazet covenanted i pay the knights an annual sum of 10,000 ducats, in con pensation for the extraordinary expenses they had incurre during the war with his father. Upon these terms pea< was concluded. It has been alleged as a reproach D'Aubusson that the allowance to Djem was in realii paid to the Order as a bribe for his safe custody. ThJ however, was not the case ; the whole amount was regi larly remitted to the young prince, and expended by hi partly in the maintenance of his household, and partly : support of the envoys he was constantly despatching 1 the different courts of Europe. At the same time the is no doubt that the payment made to the Order, althoug nominally a reimbursement of the cost of Mahomei is attack, was in reality a tribute to prevent any hosti 1 action being taken in support of Djem. Matters being thus arranged, the young prince eij en barked on the 1st September, 1482, on board one of t] f largest galleys in the fleet of the Order, with a suital) it escort commanded by two knights of high rank, a} set sail for France. He had intended to proceed ! f once to the court of the French king, and endeavour j ii enlist the sympathies of that monarch on his beha! fc Charles VIII. did not feel disposed to interfere in 1 to THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 167 tout, and received the envoys of Djem with studied Idness, declining a personal interview. Disheartened at is conduct, the prince retired to the commandery of )urgneuf , the residence of the grand-prior of Auvergne, lere he whiled away his time in such rural sports as 9 place afforded. He was, however, a personage of too much importance the political interests of Europe to be permitted to inain undisturbed. The princes of Christendom began court the possession of one whose name would prove )h a powerful auxiliary in a war against the Turks. lots were therefore set on foot in various quarters to ithdraw him from the protection of the Order. At the ne time designs of a baser nature were concocted at the ligation of Bajazet, aimed at the young prince's life. gilant indeed was the watch which his escort were npelled to maintain to protect their charge from the empts both of friend and foe ; and these precautions ve been distorted into an accusation that Djem was all I time a prisoner. That he was carefully guarded was doubt a fact, but that this duty was performed in a tuner honourable to the fraternity and beneficial to nself is proved by the following letter on the subject iressed by him to D'Aubusson : — " Most kindly and aithf ully have I been served by the said knights, without eing able to testify my gratitude in the slightest degree y remunerating them in the manner I should most rdently have desired. With the warmest and most ffectionate cordiality, I beg of your very reverend ardship kindly to look upon them all as persons eculiarly commended to you by your love to me. I will link every favour and benefit which you bestow on them s conferred by your condescension on myself personally." 168 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. This letter was written on the 27th October, 1494, afte his abandonment of the Order's protection, and remove to the papal court. The Pope had long been urgent that Djem should bi transferred into his hands, and had tempted the youn, prince to exchange the protection of the knights for hi own by the offer of placing him on the Ottoman throne D'Aubusson knew that it would have been safer for Djerf to remain the guest of the fraternity, but he was not in position to thwart the wishes of his ecclesiastical superio when supported by Djem himself. The transfer wa effected with great splendour in the month of Marcl 1488, the king of France being a consenting part) From that moment all connection between the fraternit; and the young prince was at an end, nor can it be in an way held responsible for the miserable fate which beft him at the hands of Alexander VI., who shortly aftei wards succeeded to the chair of St. Peter. The new Pop is generally supposed to have poisoned Djem, in order t secure the payment of 300,000 crowns offered to him fo the purpose by Bajazet. This miserable catastrophe caused the most poignan anguish to D'Aubusson, and the disgrace which the foi murder cast on Christianity affected him deeply. Froi this time may be dated the commencement of that declin which soon brought the noble old man to his grave He had long taken a leading part in all the delicat negotiations carried on between the princes of the Wei and the Turkish court, and in the year 1485 received froi the Pope the hat of a cardinal, coupled with nominatioi to the post of papal legate. He bore a part in the politic of Europe far more influential than his position woul< have apparently warranted, and was universally admitted t THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 169 one of the greatest soldiers and most prominent statesmen his age. When the Pope organised a league of all the .ding cowers of Europe against the Turks, DAubusson uimously elected to the chief command of the net forces, and althcuigh the enterprise was rendered Iten trough the conflicting interests of its members, his inointrent marked the high estimation in which he was I the year 1499, an envoy was sent to Ehodes I m Hory VII., king of England, with a very flattering tcthe Grand-Master, accompanied by a present of mch prized for their pure blood. They were i the letter to have been reared in the island of Und to have been called Eburi. The king at the pe sent several pieces of artillery for the defence ' «, which he requested might be placed under the i the English knights. gth, on the 30th June, 1503, D'Aubusson breathed 1 at the ripe age of eighty years. His loss was Melt, not only by the members of the fraternity, H'.sby the inhabitants generally, to whom he had jehimself by the justice of his rule and the liberal 1 invariably maintained towards them. He had 1}* 'baton of Grand-Master for a period of twenty- I ! -s, and this lengthened period was marked by the I ! magnanimity, piety, and heroic deeds with Vas adorned. Beloved by his Order, revered by e aces of Em-ope, respected and dreaded by the Whom he had worsted in the field or baffled in om, munificent^ his public acts, as the numerous iifoundMions, and other charities which he estab- sly ra«4e, affable and gracious in his demeanour lose/with whom he was brought into contact, he ■smies, save those whose misdeeds had merited 170 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. his chastisement, or in whose jaundiced eyes the m existence of such virtues was in itself an offence. It was during his rule that the relic so highly prij by the knights was first brought to Rhodes. 1 A:; D'Aubusson had arranged his treaty with Bajazet, monarch, anxious to testify his gratitude, presented Grand-Master with t he righ t hand of St. John the Bap; which had fallen into the possession oFTiis father at capture of Constantinople. This hand, which was enclq in a casket of Cyprus wood, lined with crimson vel and studded with precious stones, was thus address " Bajazet, king of Asia and emperor of emperors, to "very wise and illustrious Grand-Master of Rhodes, Pt "D'Aubusson, most generous prince and father of a "glorious empire." Few of the relics which during middle ages were scattered throughout Europe can have t" authenticity traced with such minuteness of detail as The body of St. John the Baptist had been buriec I in town of Sebasta, after his beheading by Herod. St. kin stated to have been very desirous of removing the s^or and, joining with some of the other disciples of Sle'Jo they, under cover of night, opened the grave, but findii impracticable to remove the whole body without diifcov* they severed the right hand, which they considered most sacred portion, as having been employed in baptism of our Lord. St. Luke carried the band] Antioch, and when he left that city for Bithjnia placed the relic in charge of the church he had esfeblisi there. The hand remained at Antioch until the jeigij Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who bribed a deacoE of church to steal it and bring it to Constantinople, vheij was placed in the church of St. John. It remained th#e ui the capture of the city by Mahomet, when, owing to THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 171 «iie of its casket, it was put in the sultan's treasury, ■slice it was taken by Bajazet for presentation to ■Lubusson. the new Grand-Master was Almeric D'Amboise, grand- er of France. The nine years of his sway were marked I a series of naval combats, in which the Order reaped ifoh distinction. He also completed the gateway that 1 bears his name. Newfon thus speaks of this structure : l< he castello is entered from the west by a noble gateway, Jommenced by the Grrand-Master D'Amboise, from whom this gate takes its name. Over the door within Jjn ogee frame is a slab of white marble, on which is Ijulptured in relief an angel, holding the escutcheon of • ^Amboise, with the inscription, ' Amboyse, MDXIL' : lb completion of this gateway must have been the last Dortant act of the Grrand-Master, as he died on the November, 1512, at the age of seventy-eight years, ■oh and deservedly regretted. . Has successor, Gruy de Blanchefort, who at the time of nomination was residing in his grand-priory of ^vergne, died on the passage to Rhodes, off the island of iite. As soon as the intelligence reached the convent "11 knights assembled for a new election, and we find it i )rded that there were at the time resident in the island h knights, divided in the following manner: — Of the mue of France, 100; Provence, 90 ; Auvergne, 84; 4 tile and Portugal, 88 ; Aragon, 66 ; Italy, 60 ; Eng- ifi, 38 ; and Gfermany, 5. These were in addition to *1 plains and serving brothers. Fabrizio Carretto, the con- I tual bailiff of the tongue of Italy, a knight who had flatly distinguished himself in the late siege, was ijainated to the vacant office. 1 7 ery important changes had of late years been taking 172 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. place in the East, which threatened the island of Rhc with a renewed attack from the Ottoman power. Sel the youngest of the three sons of Bajazet, inheriting the warlike aspirations of his ancestors, and a« unscrupul! as he was ambitious, murdered his father and two el brothers, and having thus cleared the way, mounted throne without opposition or fear of rivalry. Turning attention first against Egypt, he in the course of four y overran that country, including the province of Syria, then commenced formidable preparations for the redudj of Rhodes ; but whilst thus occupied he died suddenh malignant cancer, thus affording the fraternity a res;j from their anxieties. His only son Solyman, who ascenl the throne, was destined during the course of his 1 reign to become the most illustrious of that race of of of Cyprus wood in very fine condition. The four ' oms were evidently for the sick, and the open galleries ' r the convalescent to walk in. In one of the vaulted Magazines in the basement the chain which served to 4 tDse the entrance to the harbour was formerly kept, and ' is seen by Ross in his visit in 1843. He describes it ! 750 feet in length, each link being \\ feet long, 'ince his visit it has been removed to Constantinople. Ipe hospital was commenced by Villeneuve, and com- 1 eted by the Grrand-Master Fluvian, and seems to have ' en well planned for its purpose." uch were the leading features of the Castello, so far as h r can be judged from what still exists; and it is t: age how little injury has been done to the decorations 178 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. by the Turks, who have been the possessors of the city fc upwards of three centuries. Nothing in the way emblazonment has been wilfully damaged; even tl crosses have been left intact. The chapel of Our Lady of Filermo was undoubte( the most important and interesting building left by tl fraternity outside the city of Rhodes. , It was built contain a picture of the Virgin Mary, supposed to ha 1 been from the brush of St. Luke, which they held especial reverence. In an arched crypt, about 20 f( long and 8 feet broad, are the remains of a large numl of frescoes, the work of a member of the Order who been a pupil of Cimabue. To the east of this crypt sto< the church itself, of which only the ruins of a porti< remain ; but from these it may be seen that the builc was grand and important, and probably richly sci tured and ornamented. It consisted of two long nav! separated by a row of fluted columns, whose capiti carried the vaulted roof, which was groined. Behind naves, and connected with them, are the remains of sacristy, also divided in two. From traces still to be it may be gathered that the building was constructed serve for purposes of defence. During the two centuries in which the knights w<; settled in Rhodes the manufacture of faience was mi encouraged. This pottery is still greatly sought and is known as Lindos ware ; it partakes somewhatj the character of Majolica. Cotton stuffs enibroidere< silk were also a staple trade of the island. The cotij and silk were both produced there, and the embroid* material in the form of curtains, cushions, and ol furniture was much prized. It is supposed that the si worms were fed on brilliantly coloured flowers, ther^ THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 179 i parting to the silk natural dyes which resisted the lling action of light. It is impossible now to trace the principles of govern- 1 3nt adopted by the knights towards the native popula- 1iu It can only be surmised that, since no tradition mains'" of dislike to their memory, their rule was pro- 1 bly fairly lenient. It must, of course, be assumed that, 1 ing as they did in a condition of constant warfare, 1 3 island was more or less in a state of siege ; still, the ] ople apparently nourished under a government which, i rigid, seems to have been just. In the absence of any cect testimony, we may argue favourably from the ( traordinary fidelity of the peasantry during the two 1 lg and perilous sieges, when their privations and suffer- tbs were very great. The enormous increase in the ] pulation of the island may also be taken in proof of the laeficence of the government. Tradition records one £rnirable regulation made by the fraternity. A certain ] rtion of the grain harvest was taken from each farmer, sd stored in the granaries of the fortress. Should a ^ ge take place, this provision sufficed to feed the popula- tjn; but should the year pass in peace it was returned i act to the owner, and a corresponding portion of the i\w crop taken in its stead. By this simple means the f 'tress was kept permanently provisioned. There can be if question of the religious toleration of the knights. J ring, as they did, in the midst of a population mostly pfessing the Greek faith, it would have been difficult, if i f L impossible, for them to have kept the inhabitants loyal kl they not remained on good terms with the Greek I esthood. It is one of the few cases in which members c the Roman and Greek faith have been cooped up within I -h narrow limits, and yet have maintained friendship. 180 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. The Order coined its own money from the earliest thru of its settlement in Rhodes. It is impossible now compile a complete list of the various pieces issued, but th silver coins are known to have consisted of crowns, ducats and florins. The earlier ones carried on one side a cross, or the other a kneeling knight. Later on they bore the arm of the Grrand-Master. Thus we find coins of Elyon d| Villeneuve representing him kneeling before a cross ; oi the other side a fleur de Usee cross. On one side the legem Fr. Elyon De Vittanova M.R.; on the other, Ospital 8. id Ieros : Rodi. Coins struck by D'Amboise bore on the onl side the arms of that Grrand-Master with the legend 1 Emericus Damboise Magn. Mag. R., and on the other th lamb of St. John with the words Agn. Dei Qui Tottis Pecc Mun. Mise No. Those issued by L'Isle Adam bore hi head with the words F. Phus De Life Adam M. Hospl Hieri M. ; on the reverse his arms with the motto B Mihi Virtutem Contra Hostes Taos. Such was the state of the island of Ehodes during tl last year of the Order's sway, when L'Isle Adam sm ceeded to the supreme dignity. He was at the tin, residing in his grand-priory, but, sensible of the impor ance of the crisis and the imminence of the danger whic threatened the convent, he set sail at once for Rhode He arrived there in safety, after having incurred son peril from the opposition of the corsair Curtoglu, wl endeavoured to intercept him on his voyage, but failed 1 the attempt. The emperor Solyman had just broug? the siege of Belgrade to a successful conclusion, and w once more turning his attention to that dream of lie father's ambition, the capture of Rhodes. Selim's la words to him had been : " You will be a great ai " powerful monarch, provided you capture Belgrade ai THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 181 drive away the knights from Bhodes." The recollection lat the forces of his ancestor had been driven in con- ision from its shores only rendered the project all the .ore attractive in his eyes. In addition to the desire hich he naturally felt to remove the stigma cast on the urkish arms by the former failure, it would be to him a i:eat enhancement of glory to succeed in an undertaking . which so mighty a monarch as Mahomet had failed. : In this view he was warmly seconded by many of his >urtiers, chief amongst whom were his brother-in-law Oustapha and the corsair Curtoglu, both of whom trusted derive wealth and distinction from the enterprise, heir counsels, which accorded so well with the promptings ' his own ambition, decided the emperor to carry out the xrject, and he at once commenced the necessary prepa- tions. L'Isle Adam, on his side, exerted all his energies— resist the attack manfully. Envoys were sent to the irious courts of Europe to implore assistance in a strug- e, the result of which must prove a matter of so great . lportance to Christendom. Unfortunately, the emperor •larles V. and the French king Francis were too deeply Lgaged in their own broils to give any heed to the cry hich arose from the shores of Ehodes. The comman- ?ries had already furnished such contingents as it was in eir power to contribute, and it became clear to L'Isle idam that he would have to trust for success far more the spirit of his troops than to their numbers. Only te of the numerous missions was prosperous — that to india, which he had intrusted to Antonio Bosio, a serving other of considerable talent and sagacity, and related to e celebrated historian of the Order. This able negotiator cceeded in bringing back with him not only an ample pply of stores, but also 500 Cretan archers, in those 182 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. days highly esteemed for their skill with the crossbo He had likewise attracted into the service of the fraternit the Venetian engineer Grabriel Martinigo, whose repu tion as a master of his science stood so high that hi presence in Rhodes was hailed with enthusiasm. Martinigo was so much impressed with the devotion am zeal which he noticed on every side that he applied to th Grand-Master for admission into the Order. As he w; able to afford the necessary proofs, he was professed and once named a grand-cross, the whole charge of the forti cations being vested in his hands. Various additions we: at his suggestion made to the defences : the gates we: covered with ravelins, casemates were constructed in th flanks of the bastions, and the counterscarps were mined various places. Within the town, barricades were erect in the principal streets, in order *to protract the conte even after the ramparts had fallen. L'Isle Adam now caused a careful inspection to made of his little garrison. The members of each lang were drawn up in front of their respective auberges, full; armed and accoutred, each being inspected by a knight a different larigue. The total strength of the force prov to be 600 knights and 4,500 men-at-arms. In addition these regular troops, many of the inhabitants had enroll themselves into a body of volunteers, and were form into battalions. The sailors of the galleys were landed, and composed a naval brigade ; whilst the peasan who flocked into the town from the surrounding count: were made useful as pioneers, performing most of t manual labour, which the small number of the tro rendered them unable to execute for themselves. It has already been shown what portion of the gene line of works was appropriated to each langue. It rem THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 183 ily to say that the reserve was divided into four bodies, mimanded respectively by the chancellor d'Amaral, who as to support the quarters of Auvergne and Germany ; Le Turcopolier John Buck for Spain and England ; the rand-prior of France, Pierre de Cluys, for France and astile ; and the grand-prior of Navarre, George de "orgut, for Provence and Italy. The tower of St. Nicholas as placed under the command of Guyot de Castellan, a light of Provence, and was garrisoned by 20 knights id 300 men-at-arms. The number of English knights present at the siege has )t been recorded. The following names only can be aced, viz. : — John Buck or Bouch, Turcopolier. Nicholas Hussey, commander of the tower of St. Mary. William Weston, commander of the English quarter. Thomas Sheffield, commander of the palace postern. Nicholas Farfan, in the suite of the Grand-Master. Henry Mansel, do. do. John Ranson or Rawson. William Tuest (? West). John Baron. Thomas Remberton or Pemberton. George Asfelz. John Lotu. Francis Buet (? Butt). Giles Rosel (? Russell). George Emer (? Aylmer) . Michael Roux. Nicholas Usel. Otho de Montselli or Monteilli. Nicholas Roberts, who wrote an account of the siege to & earl of Surrey (now among the Cotton MSS.). 184 THE KNIGHTS OY MALTA. Although there is no record of the deaths of any of the* except Buck and Mansel, it is probable that the majorit of them lost their lives, as it is stated that, owing to tl numerous casualties in the langue of England, the defent of the tower of St. Mary had eventually to be transferre to knights of other langues. Meanwhile, every preparation for the commeneemei of the siege had been completed by Solyman. Mustapl pasha had been selected leader of the land forces, all Curtoglu, as admiral of the fleet, had the arrangemei of transport. The strength of the Ottoman army somewhat difficult to determine. Vertot and most of tl other European historians place it at 140,000, suppL mented by 60,000 peasants from Wallachia and Bosni who were to carry out the construction of the siege work: These figures sound incredibly large in comparison with garrison of under 7,000 men of all ranks. "When we loci to the Turkish historians the matter does not becoir ; much clearer. Ahmed Hafiz speaks of 40,000 rowers ft the galleys, with 25,000 infantry on board; but the figures only refer to the force which originally starte from Constantinople, and take no account of those whic the sultan afterwards brought with him when he pre ceeded in person to Rhodes. The naval armamei numbered, according to Hafiz, 700 sail, of which 50 were galleys. Early on the morning of the 26th June, a signal froi, St. Stephen's hill conveyed intelligence into the city thi the Turkish fleet was in sight. It was within the octal of the feast of St. John, during which it had always bee the custom in Rhodes for a procession to pass through tl principal streets of the town. L'Isle Adam, anxious i calm and reassure the terror-stricken population, directe THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 185 t|it this procession should pursue its usual course, 8'hough the hostile fleet was at that moment studding tb horizon. The procession over, high mass was cele- bited in St. John's church. At its conclusion the (jand-Master, mounting the steps of the altar in the r^sence of the assembled multitude, poured forth a prayer I behalf of the people committed to his charge, that the /mighty would deign to give them fortitude to defend lis holy religion ; that the fire and sword, the slaughter ad rapine, with which they were menaced, might through Is infinite mercy be averted. L'Isle Adam was not only 09 of the first soldiers and trusted leaders of the day, he vis at the same time eminent for his fervent piety and lb earnestness of his religious zeal. When, therefore, on t!s eventful morning he thus consecrated his cause to leaven, and appealed to the Most High in touching Explication against the foe by whom his city and Order \ro menaced, all felt that under the guidance of such a tLn they were in good hands, and that if it were decreed tiit they should prosper, none could better carry the fiat i:o effect. The religious ceremony concluded, the garrison were elected to repair to their respective posts ; the gates were filit, the bridges raised, banners were hoisted on the v ious bastions, and all stood awaiting the first scene of 1 s bloody drama. The Grand-Master, clad in magnifi- c Lt gilt armour, rode at the head of his guards with three lights beside him, one bearing the grand standard of U Order, the second the banner presented to D'Aubusson the Pope, and the third a flag emblazoned with his oin coat of arms. This latter was borne by a young I glish knight named Henry Mansel, who was killed liy in the siege. 186 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Not a man, woman, or child on that eventful mornir remained within doors. Every point from whence tl motions of the hostile fleet could be observed was throng< with anxious gazers. Many there were amongst th crowd, men whose hair time had sprinkled with silw who, looking back through a long vista of years, con call to mind a scene very similar to that on which the 1 eyes were now bent, when forty-two years since their se had been covered with the fleet of that proud empi between themselves and which an undying hatred w ever burning. Then the Grod of battles had declared i their side, and they had triumphed gloriously. He h: enabled them to hurl back the ruthless invader from the shores, and the bones of thousands who had once muster in that proud array lay whitened beneath their soil. T husbandman still, in the cultivation of his land, every nd and again turned up some relic to remind him of th strife of which he was so justly proud ; and amidst thci verdant plains with which the city was surrounded mar a patch of green more brilliant than the rest was point out as the spot where lay one of those numerous mass of slain, buried in haste and confusion after the retreat their companions. With all these memorials of tb former victory before their eyes, with the knowledge th the Rhodes of to-day was far more powerful and capal of resistance than that which had maintained itself successfully forty years before, with the strains of mart music filling the air and exhilarating their hearts, wi the summer sun flashing its rays upon many a knight crest and broidered pennon, it was natural that th should enjoy a sense of confidence amounting to exult tion, and that they should look with a feeling well ni| of certainty for the moment when the foe, once mc ; THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 187 roiling in dismay from their ramparts, should seek an iiiominious safety in flight. Some there were, however, whose hearts, in spite of all tke brilliant auguries of success, were rilled with dread. ley well knew that the might of Mahomet was, even at it zenith, far inferior to that of the emperor who now oirtipied his throne. Solyman's career had, to the present n-ment, been one unbroken series of triumphs; the a ny which was about to pour its numberless battalions npn the shores of their island far surpassed that which fcpy had before successfully resisted, not in mere numbers oly, but in every detail of its equipment, and was led b generals trained to victory beneath the redoubted bmer of their sultan. Under these conditions it might v|U prove that the constancy and bravery even of the kights of St. John would be unavailing, and that they n^ht live to see the day when the Moslem standard sjuld wave over those ramparts whereon they were now s nding, and which had been maintained for upwards of Ip hundred years in proud and honourable security. CHAPTER VIII. The Second Siege of Rhodes, 1522. Commencement of the siege — Plot by a female slave within the citj Construction of cavaliers — Mining operations — Assault on t tower of St. Mary — Repeated attacks and their repulse — Accuj tions against the chancellor D'Amaral — His trial and executi — Negotiations for surrender — Terms offered by Solyman — Th acceptance — Close of the siege and surrender of the island. The disembarkation of the besieging army, whi extended over several days, proceeded without interru tion from the defenders. Numerous tempting oppc tunities for striking a blow had during this time pi sented themselves, but the chief difficulty under whi L'Isle Adam laboured was the paucity of his garriso and any such efforts must have involved a certain amou of loss. Considering the enormous disproportion betwe the Turkish forces and his own, no comparatively min advantage could compensate for any diminution in 1 own strength ; the Grand-Master was therefore obliged Curb the ardour of his followers, and to permit advancl to be made which, had his numbers been greater, would have been able to check. All preliminary measur having been taken, the Turks broke ground, under eo?j of a cannonade, with the aid of the Wallachian peasar THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 189 v' ! )m they had brought for the purpose. The knights, >i their side, harassed the working parties in every Ksible way, and greatly impeded the work of the be- i;ers, vast numbers of the defenceless pioneers falling riinis to their fire. horn the very commencement disaffection had shown t If in the Turkish army, and there had been much ♦eictance on the part of the janissaries to engage in the ^ration. The failure of the former siege was well own to them, and the story of the almost superhuman rour displayed on that occasion by the knights of I John had lost none of its terrors by constant repe- :ion. They were well aware that since that day much ill been done to strengthen the fortress, and they looked am Rhodes, defended as it was by such a frowning crss of ramparts and batteries, and held by the lion b rts before whom their forefathers had so often recoiled, i; almost impregnable. The ill-success of their first dempts in pushing forward the siege works, and the fcrful losses inflicted upon the miserable pioneers, coni- pted their disaffection. Murmurs and remonstrances n became loud throughout the camp, and it was with diculty that the troops could be induced to advance to vat they considered certain destruction. Pir Mehmed p;ha (called in most of the European histories Pyrrhus I ; ha), a general and counsellor in whom Solyman I ced the greatest confidence, deemed it necessary to r >ort this disaffection to his master, informing him that r thing short of his immediate presence on the spot odd control the turbulence of the mutineers. Solyman Hi from the first intended to take part in the siege in I "son, but this message hastened his movements, and he 8| n appeared on the scene at the head of a large body 190 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. of troops.* By a judicious mixture of clemency an severity, he rapidly restored the spirit of his army; an the late mutineers, ashamed in the presence of the sultan of the murmurings and insubordination in whic they had so lately indulged, now became fired wit an anxious desire to distinguish themselves and mer his approbation. Meanwhile, a plot had been discovered within the cit; the details of which had been arranged by a Turkic female slave. She had devised a scheme, in conjunctio with some of her fellow-slaves, for setting fire to tl town at several points simultaneously, and giving a( ; mission to the besiegers during the confusion that woul ensue. She had succeeded in establishing communication with the Turkish leaders, and the hour for the atteni] was fixed, when, by some inadvertency on the part of or of the confederates, the plot was discovered. The col spirators were seized, and subjected to torture, und<' pressure of which a confession was wrung from a concerned, excepting only the dauntless woman who ha; originated the scheme. She stoutly maintained her inn<, cence, and, her constancy remaining unshaken to the las she suffered the extreme penalty of the law without bavin uttered a word to inculpate herself or others. Of hi * The Turkish account of the sultan's arrival at Rhodes diftY somewhat from the above, which is taken from the narratives of t: European historians. According to Ahmed Hafiz, the force which fix landed only consisted of the troops usually carried on board the flei together with the Wallachian peasantry. The sultan advanced -I land at the head of the main army, and the fleet, having returned Asia Minor for the purpose, conveyed them to Rhodes. The date his landing is uncertain, but it must have been about the midd, of July. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 191 lilt, however — if such an attempt can be called guilt on tp part of one in her position — there can be no doubt, tkr severed limbs were exposed on the ramparts, where tpy served as a warning to deter others similarly situated fm any further projects of the kind. Suspicions of treason throughout this siege appear to ] ve been very prevalent, and the rumours to that effect ■Lien were constantly circulating engendered a universal i ling of distrust highly prejudicial to the maintenance j discipline. Many of these suspicions were groundless ; Hi, no doubt, there lurked within the walls an amount c treachery sufficient to account for their existence. A J wish doctor had been sent to Rhodes as a spy by the s.tan when first preparing for the expedition, and he, i was afterwards discovered, maintained correspondence 'sth the besiegers, whereby much valuable information p s conveyed to them. It was by his suggestion that the r irkish artillery was directed against the campanile of H. John's church, from which elevated spot the besieged Id been able to overlook the whole Turkish camp, and I trace their operations in the trenches. A few days' jactice at this conspicuous target sufficed to achieve its (erthrow, and the knights were deprived of a post of servation which they had found extremely useful. The few sorties which the garrison had been per- i.tted to make during the construction of the trenches Id much impeded the operations of the Turks, but tese successes had not been gained without loss. The i feeling which prompted L'Isle Adam to refrain from i y attempt at checking the disembarkation of the Turks nde him now resolve to abandon all further attacks. 1 ie Turks were thus able to complete their works without «'y other hindrance than that caused by the artillery, 192 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. which Ahmed Hafiz admits was worked with wonderfi accuracy. The cessation of these sallies prevented th capture of any more prisoners, and L'Isle Adam wa consequently no longer able to ascertain what was goin on in the enemy's camp. In this dilemma, a party c sailors undertook to supply the want. They dresse themselves as Turks, and left the harbour during tfc night in a small boat. Speaking the enemy's languag with facility, they coasted along the shore, and proceede fearlessly into the midst of the Turkish camp. Thenc they succeeded in inveigling two genuine Moslems in! their boat, and carried them off into the town. Tl prisoners were taken to the top of St. John's tower, whic had not yet been demolished, and there they wei questioned by Martinigo and two other knights. The were given plainly to understand that on displaying tl least hesitation or prevarication they would be hurle headlong from the dizzy height on which they stoor Under the pressure of this menace they disclosed all the knew, and the order in which the besiegers' forces we] posted was ascertained. Between the shore of Archand bay and the bastion of St. John were the troops (j Pir Mehmed, to his left was the division of Anatol commanded by Cassim pasha, then that of Mustapl pasha, next to whom was Achmet pasha, whose divisic reached as far as the Amboise gate, the circuit beir closed towards the north by the troops of the Begli- Bey of Eoumelia, and the janissaries under their chi Baly Aga. Solyman had established his head-quarters c St. Stephen's hill. The sultan had not long continued the direction of siege, when he discovered that from the level of ground on which his trenches were formed he could g THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 193 i command over the defences. To obviate this difficulty ] directed two large cavaliers to be raised, one in front ( the bastion of Italy, and the other between the posts c Spain and Germany. As the sites selected for these vrks were completely swept by the guns of the tvvn, and as, from the rapid manner in which the (.eration was pushed forward, it became evident that fc nothing of more than ordinary importance was in pgress, every available battery was called into requisi- t n, and the losses sustained by the hapless pioneers were pdigious. Solyman, however, held the lives of these psants in no esteem, and so, although heaps of slain r. irked the progress, the mounds continued to rise until B length they dominated over the ramparts in their Jbnt. This is what Ahmed Hafiz says on the subject: ' J"ehmed pasha, without loss of time, directed Mustapha ' >asha to have a number of sand-bags filled, and to have * hem piled up as close as possible to the fortress, in order * o raise redoubts which should reach the height of the 'rest of those works, for in this manner only did he hope k o be able to carry them. The infidels, doubtless under- * tanding the design, concentrated all their fire on the % workmen, but their shot had no effect in the soft earth, ' filing, it is true, some persons, but not damaging the ' nounds, which soon reached the level of the parapets, * o that the defenders could no longer man them with ' mpunity." It is easy to see from this account that the sughter of the Wallachians made no impression on the 1 torian ; some persons, it is true, were killed, but the rsing of the mounds was the main object, and that was fcj: impeded. Meanwhile a heavy fire was brought to bear against the t . er of St. Nicholas, but without much success, the o 194 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. artillery directed against the besieging batteries h Martinigo utterly crushing them. A more general dis tribution of the Turkish guns was then directed, an( for a whole month the town was enveloped in a circle Oj fire. The bastions of St. Mary and Italy eventuall; began to show signs of the vigour with which they wer being attacked ; but wherever this was the case th defenders repaired the damages almost as rapidly as the; were caused. In all directions new ditches were sunl and behind them retrenchments were raised, encirclin the vulnerable points. Solyman at length perceived th against antagonists such as these a simple war of artiller might last for ever, and he therefore determined to ha^ recourse to mining. Shafts were sunk in various position and galleries driven from them beneath the princip bastions. Martinigo had foreseen the probability of th mode of approach, and the numerous contrivances whk he had prepared materially aided him in opposing it. Unfortunately, two galleries which had been drive beneath the bastion of St. Mary eluded his vigilance, ai the first warning the defenders of that post received w an explosion which threw down the entire salient of ti work. A battalion of Turks, who had been drawn i within their trenches, at once dashed forward with a wi shout of triumph, and, mounting the still smoking breac gained the summit before the defenders had recover sufficient presence of mind to withstand the onslaugl Here they planted their victorious standard, and, flush with success, pushed forward with redoubled ardour secure the remainder of the work. They were, howevy; brought to a check by the retrenchment behind, while t> knights, now recovered from their momentary confusi(j. opposed a steady and obstinate resistance. At this oriti«l THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 195 picture the Grand-Master made his appearance on the line. He had been engaged at mass in the chapel of St. ) irv of Victory, and the alarm caused by the explosion 1 tl arisen at the moment when the officiating priest had i oned the prayer Deus in adjutorium meam intends. " I • ccept the augury," said he; and turning to his followers ] added, " Come, my brethren, let us exchange the sacri- 4 ice of our prayers and praises for that of our lives, and k ?\ us die, if Grod so will it, in defence of our faith." Imsed by this exhortation, they rushed to the scene of BJife, and hurled themselves into the midst of the con- t iding battalions. Foremost in the fray was L'Isle Adam, 1 gigantic frame conspicuous amidst his compeers, as armed t;1i a short pike he dashed at the foe, and by word and d>d encouraged his followers to drive them back. A iv moments of desperate strife sufficed to attest the B priority, both moral and physical, of the knights of St. Jan. Cowering under the withering storm, the Turks, no 1< ger able to advance, nor even to maintain themselves vere they were, gradually gave way until they were *n back in confusion over the breach which they had I shortly before surmounted in triumph. Mustapha ] ha, whose division had furnished the storming column, m watching the fortunes of the day from the advanced lies, and had been congratulating himself upon the i< a that Rhodes was won. He was not permitted long t< indulge in this pleasant dream, and his fury as he Id his battalions fleeing tumultuously from the scene o strife knew no bounds. Hastily drawing his scimitar, h rushed upon the foremost of the fugitives, cut down al with his own hands, rallied the remainder, and led tlm back once more to the attack. The advantage, h /ever, had now been lost, so that it was not possible to 196 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. restore the fortunes of the day. Bravely he strove to penetrate within the ruined rampart, but in vain. The breach was now crowned by men well able to maintain it, and the baffled and discomfited columns of the Moslem were eventually forced to retire to their trenches. It would be a tedious task to describe the constant succession of assaults by which Solyman endeavoured to regain the advantage lost on the first attempt. In eacl, case the means employed both in the attack and defence were much the same. The sudden alarm, caused either bj the explosion of a mine or the rush of a storming column the hasty call to arms, the ringing of the bells, whereby the impending danger was notified to the garrisoi generally, the onset of the Moslem, the firm stand of th knights, the war-cry ringing out on either side, the roar o artillery, the rattle of small arms, the flashing of Greel' fire and hissing of the seething pitch poured on the foe a they clambered over the breach — such were the usus concomitants of the scene; what need, therefore, to repea the tale ? The results are the only points of red importance, and these were invariably the same ; thoug the assaulting columns numbered thousand and tens c thousands, selected from the flower of the Ottoma army, whilst the defenders consisted of but a handfi of Christians, harassed and exhausted by their pr< vious efforts, still the swarms of the infidel were invai ably forced to recoil from the impassable barrier. It is thus that Ahmed Hafiz describes some of the assaults : — " The Mussulmans descended into the ditc " carrying their firearms with them, whilst the be " marksmen fired on all who dared to show their hea " above the crest of the parapet. Clinging to the walls li. "polypi, the assailants mounted steadily under the storm THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 197 P fire and steel which rained on them from the ramparts; the ' noise of musketry, the discharge of cannon, the cries of the ' combatants filled the air with a confused tumult. Not fc content with receiving the victorious* with fire and steel, ' the besieged also poured on them cauldrons of boiling 'pitch and tar. The brave soldiers of Islam fell by ' hundreds, and the angels opened the gates of Paradise to ' their souls, for from the summit of the fortress were 'hurled masses of rock and of metal upon the ladders 1 crowded with men. By midday the number of the dead ' had become so great that it was necessary to suspend the 1 attack. The corpses of the Mussulmans were so numerous ' that they were huddled into trenches without counting ' them : but (rod certainly kept a pitying record of the ' number of the faithful whom He that day received into 4 Paradise." And again on another occasion : " In obedience 1 to the orders given, the victorious of Islam rushed to the f assault full of ardour. The fight was bloody. The dead ' of the Mussulman army fell like rams destined to the ' sacrifice under the terrible fire of the enemy's guns. The ' number of the wounded was untold; still the fortress ' resisted the heroic efforts which were made against the ' infidels, so that, exhausted, at length the victorious of ' Islam were compelled to retire." Once more : " The divi- ' sion of Mustapha pasha having completed a mine, fired it. * The damage done was considerable. All the infidels who ' defended this post were hurled up into the third heaven, ' and their souls were plunged into hell. A large piece of ' wall having fallen, the road was open for the victorious. ' They threw themselves into the ditches, strove bravely to ' mount the breach, and fought like heroes. Yain effort ! * Hafiz always speaks of the Ottoman forces as "the victorious," ven when impartially recording their failures. 198 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. "They were forced to retire, leaving the ditch choked wit] "the dead and inundated with their generous blood." It was thus that on the 13th, 17th, and 24th o September the most furious attempts were made to carr the town. Upon the 13th the attack was on the Italia quarter. On the 17th the English bastion of St. Mar withstood the violence of the assault, the Turcopolie John Buck falling victoriously at the head* of his langm Upon the 24th, in accordance with the proposals of Pi; Mehmed, the attack was made simultaneously on all side* Even this gigantic effort failed. Although the besiegei were enabled to gain a footing on the rampart at seven points, the success was in every instance but momentary and the impetuous onset of the defenders ended b restoring the fortunes of the day. The sultan had erecte a scaffold, from the summit of which to witness the assaul; and he had fired his soldiery with a promise of th plunder of the entire city. This offer and the knowledg that they were fighting under the eye of their sovereig had roused them to the utmost pitch of enthusiasm, J the assailants were stimulated with the hope of gain an the prospect of distinction, the defenders on the other han were nerved to the combat by their religious devotion an the energy of despair. Solyman had consequently tH mortification of witnessing from his post of observr tion the utter discomfiture of his forces. Sounding retreat, he returned to his tent, and in the bitterner of his disappointment resolved to wreak his vengeance o those who had originally counselled the expedition. P Mehmed and Mustapha were both condemned to deatJ and it required the strongest efforts on the part of tt other leaders to obtain a reversal of the decree. The, were eventually banished from the camp and compelle THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 199 ) return in disgrace to Asia. The pirate admiral ;iirtoglu underwent the degradation of corporal punish- lent on the poop of his own galley, on the ground that he ad neglected to aid the land forces by making a naval iversion. Whilst the garrison were thus successfully maintaining eir resistance, the first seeds of those disastrous results hich eventually led to the loss of the town began to show hemselves. Although before the commencement of the terprise it had been reported by commissioners appointed o inspect the stores that there was ample powder for a twelve aonth's siege, it soon became apparent that the supply rould before long fall short. In addition to the powder q the magazines, there were large stores of saltpetre v T ithin the town, and L'Isle Adam promptly established a rianuf actory of gunpowder. Even with this aid it soon )ecame necessary to practise the most rigid economy in he expenditure of ammunition, and the efforts of the garrison were much impeded by this vital want, furiously enough, we learn from Ahmed Hafiz that a dmilar difficulty arose in the besiegers' camp, and that heir operations were for some time suspended whilst a portion of the fleet was engaged in fetching further supplies. Treason also shortly began to display itself. The ncident of the female slave already recorded had created i dread of some similar attempt recurring, and every one was on the alert. At length the Jewish doctor, who had contrived to maintain a correspondence with the Turkish .eaders throughout the siege, was detected in the act of dis- iharging a treasonable letter into the enemy's camp, attached :o an arrow. The evidence against him was positive and conclusive ; he was nevertheless subjected to torture. Under 200 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. its influence lie confessed to having informed the enemy of the scarcity of ammunition, together with many other details tending to induce them to continue the siege. His fate was such as he richly deserved, but the mischief he had caused was not to be remedied. It is not surprising j that in their desperate position the garrison should lend a ready ear to tales of treason. It was evident to all that spies were in the town ; everything that occurred was made known to Solyman, who altered many details of his attack in consequence. They knew not where to look for the traitor, and each one glanced fearfully at his neighbour as I though feeling that no one was to be trusted. At this crisis suspicion was directed against some of the chief dignitaries by a Spanish pilgrim, a woman of great reputed sanctity, who had lately returned from Jerusalem. She traversed the streets with bare feet, denouncing the I leaders, and asserting that the calamities then befalling the town were due to the vengeance of Grod called down) by the iniquities of some of their principal chiefs. No! names were mentioned, but the general suspicion being thus turned in a particular direction, it required but little to create a victim. "Whilst the ferment was at its height, a servant of the chancellor D'Amaral, named Blaise Diaz, was detected on the bastion of Auvergne with a bow in his hand. As this was not the first time he had been seen under similar cir- cumstances, he was arrested and brought before the Grand- Master. By his instructions the man was interrogated before the judges of the castellany, and under the influence of torture averred that he had been employed by his master to discharge treasonable correspondence into the enemy's camp. D'Amaral was arrested and confronted with the accuser, who repeated the charge. No sooner THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 201 flls the name of the chancellor bruited abroad than rmbers rushed forward eager to add corroborative testi- E>ny. His arrogant conduct had created him enemies h every sphere of life, and now when suspicion had fallen D him all were ready to lend a helping hand to effect his detraction. A Greek priest deposed that he had seen the cmcellor with Diaz on the bastion of Auvergne, and that fo latter had discharged an arrow with a letter attached to it The statement was also recalled that, at the election of lisle Adam, D'Amaral had asserted he would be the last Gand-Master of Rhodes. On this testimony he also was s rjected to torture, which he bore with unflinching forti- He, asserting that he had nothing to reveal, and that at (A close of a life spent in the service of his Order he would n; disgrace his career by the utterance of a falsehood to rt some considerably later period. Even if it could be trad back to the siege of 1522, there is nothing to conift it with D'Amaral. He was one of the committee to reji on the quantity of powder within the fortress, but ijl nowhere alleged that he had charge of it. At all eve:S, had a large quantity been stored in these vaults at a m when its scarcity was so well known, there must have bn many persons acquainted with the fact who would all 11 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 203 en parties to the treason, if treason there were. It seems i| the whole that the chancellor D'Amaral fell an unfor- inate and, as far as history can judge, an innocent victim 1 popular clamour. Meanwhile the sultan was weighing in his own mind ulvisability of abandoning the siege, and this design he i.ght have carried into effect had he not been informed by I Albanian deserter of the state of destitution to which town was reduced. This intelligence prompted him to ]rsevere, and Achmet pasha was appointed to the com- imd of the forces. Under his orders several fresh ilts were made, and in every case successfully resisted. Jiy by day the breaches became wider and the ramparts 1 s tenable, the defenders fewer, and their vigour more and i )re exhausted. Hope had given way to despair, whilst prospect of relief from Europe grew less and less; still opposition remained as stubborn as ever, and Solyman 1 ^an to fear that he would only enter the ruined city a Len the last of its garrison had fallen. For six months had hurled all the gigantic resources at his command ist its bulwarks ; 60,000 men, it is computed, had fallen ; sword and pestilence; and yet he found himself Jicing step by step, only to meet ever-renewed oracles. / Then, too, he could not expect that succour for the s be- •1 would be much longer delayed. Owing to the r declined to receive, and Monilio was informed that ill attempted any further parleying he would be fired I No sooner, however, had it become noised abroad that I subject of capitulation had been mooted from the Ottorn camp, than a movement was started in the town to enf )e its acceptance. There were not wanting those amoist the citizens who preferred life to the glory of furthei e- sistance, and they commissioned their metropolitan to ire upon the Grand-Master the necessity of treating with ie enemy. L'Isle Adam now found that it did not depend onl; * himself and his knights to continue the defence to ^ last. Without the concurrence of the townspeople I would be impossible, and that concurrence the arctabi; I assured him he could not obtain. A council was ther( I summoned, and a deputation appeared before it, to pre ni a petition, signed by the principal inhabitants, in \n they implored the Order to provide for the safety of i' 11 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 205 I es and children, and to rescue from the profanation of I infidel those holy relics which they all held in such uli veneration. The petition closed with a threat that if L knights neglected to comply with its request the in- i; itants would feel themselves bound to secure by their lb efforts the safety of those dearer to them than life. )i hearing this petition, L'Isle Adam called on Mar- iigo and the prior of St. Grilles to report on the state of ■ fortress. Thereupon the engineer rose and asserted on li honour and conscience that he did not consider the )be any longer tenable ; that the slaves and other pioneers ■I been all either killed or wounded, so that it was no oger feasible to muster sufficient labour to move a piece )iirtillery from one battery to another; that it was im- ;vsible without men to carry on the necessary repairs to :1 ramparts; that their ammunition and stores were 3: austed ; and, lastly, that the enemy were already estab- ii ed within the lines at two points, from which they ■Old not be dislodged. He was therefore of opinion lit the city was lost, and should be surrendered. T13 prior of St. Gtilles corroborated this statement in wary particular. Che debate was long and stormy. Many were desirous emulating the self-devotion of their predecessors by bying themselves beneath the ruins of Rhodes. Had 1 knights not been encumbered with a large and defence- u population this line of policy would have been adopted. A it was, however, there were others who felt that by si'h a decision they would be dooming to destruction those ■jo had stood by them faithfully through the long strug- gi, and who were now entitled to consideration at their I ids. Moreover, the question was not in reality within t;ir power to decide. Should they protract the defence, 206 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. would the people stand tamely by and acquiesce in the own destruction? If the town were to be yielder they would obtain far better terms from the sulta by acting in concert than if he knew there were divisioi in their councils. It was therefore decreed that the ne: offer of parley should be accepted, and that the Grant Master should be authorized to secure the best conditio] procurable. The chiefs of Solyman's army were too desirous putting a stop to the fearful effusion of blood which k now been going on for six months, and of obtaining po session upon almost any terms of the city, which seemed it were to recede from their grasp as they advanced, keep the inhabitants long in suspense. Upon the 10 December a white flag was hoisted on the top of a chur< standing within the Turkish lines, and this was at on answered from the town. Two Turks then advanced fro the trenches, and were met by Martinigo and the prior St. Grilles. They tendered a letter containing the cone tions offered by the sultan. In consideration of the insta surrender of the town, he was prepared to permit t Grand-Master, with his knights, and such of the citizens all ranks as might wish to accompany them, to leave t town unmolested, taking with them all their personal pi perty. Those who elected to remain were guaranteed t undisturbed exercise of their religion and freedom frc taxation for five years ; the churches were to be protect from profanation, and all property secured from pillai The letter concluded with the most fearful threats if the terms were not accepted. The council at once despatch an embassy to the Turkish camp, consisting of Antho Grollee, the standard-bearer of the Order, and a Rhodi named Robert Perrucey. On the following day Solynu THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 207 ■kitted them to an audience, and a truce for three days i^reed on. d this juncture, and whilst the terms of surrender were ■kg discussed, a collision occurred between some portion if he garrison and the Turks, in which several of the aier were killed. It is not clear how this arose. Hafiz sties that on that night a relieving force of fifteen galleys ■ arrived in the harbour, and that the attack was made ■ them. No allusion to such a reinforcement is made by u of the other historians ; nor is it easy to see from w >nce they came. Be this as it may, the outbreak brought I truce to a premature close, the batteries re-opened fire, n ; everything was replaced on a hostile footing. Some pi.oners who fell into the hands of the Turks had their iters, noses, and ears cut off, and in that miserable plight were sent back into the town with a message that pill was the treatment the besieged might now expect at ■ hands of the sultan. The recommencement of hos- ti ies was followed up by an assault on the retrenchment oithe Spanish bastion, still held by the knights. This K place on the 17th December, and the struggle was -•ctinued throughout the day, the Turks being once more wsted and forced to retire. On the following day tly were more successful, for, the assault being renewed, 1 y gained undisputed possession of the entire work. "nable to control the panic of the multitude, L'Isle Aim was now compelled once again to open negotiations. F sh envoys were despatched to Solyman with carte blanche tc-nrrender the town on the best terms they could secure. 8«vman received the messengers in his pavilion in all the spndour of imperial pomp, and consented to renew the ■ rs he had previously made, which were at once accepted b\he envoys. To insure the due execution of the treaty, 208 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. the Turkish army was to be withdrawn from the vicinit of the town, and only a select body of janissaries won] enter the gates and take possession on behalf of the sultai On their side the knights were to yield up peaceable posse sion not only of the city, but of all the islands dependei on Rhodes, as well as the castle of St. Peter at Budriv on the mainland. Twenty-five knights, of whom U must be grand-crosses, and a similar number of citizen were to be given as hostages for the due execution of t! treaty ; and as soon as these made their appearance in tl. Ottoman camp, the aga of the janissaries, with the specific number of troops, entered the town and took formal posse sion of it. This event took place on the 20th Decembt 1522. It seems, from the narrative of Ahmed Hafiz, th Solyman made his first entry into Rhodes on Christma day, and he thus describes the event : — " Then the sublin ' sultan, preceded by the second regiment of janissarie ' and by his banners, which were adorned with fringes ' gold, escorted by 400 of the Solouk bodyguard, by fo \ 6 Solouk chiefs, by four Kehayas, and forty Odobachis, *j ' robed in white, their turbans glittering with rich jewe 6 entered the town to the sound of salvoes of artillery, ai ' in the midst of a dense crowd. The rest of the bodjM ' guard, the musicians, the officers of all the various cor]; ' followed the glorious Padishah, crying ' Allah, Allah ! 1> j ' Thy will the glorious scimitar of Mohammed has captur ' this proud fortress.' In this manner the sultan went ' far as the temple of San Grivan (the church of St. Jo] ' and there, where the infidels adored an idol, he, the bless ' conqueror, addressed a prayer to the true Grod." sultan made a second entry on the 29th December, w Hafiz thus describes : — " The sultan entered the town THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 209 "fie gate of Kysil Capou (the St. John or Cosquino gate) "rith the same pomp as on the first occasion ; he visited 'iie harbour, and admired the massive chain which closed '!, and the engines of war which the infidels had made k se of during the siege." Kfter this second visit, L'Isle Adam received a noti- fi'tion, through Achmet pasha, that he should forthwith pr his respects to the sultan in person. Unwilling as h was to submit to what he considered an act of dome measure atoned for the previous slight, and he le! the imperial presence with every mark of respect. Vb sorrow of the veteran, so natural on abandoning the rished home of his Order, touched the sultan greatly, he could not forbear exclaiming to his vizier, " It is ' bt without some feelings of compunction that I compel I lis venerable warrior at his age to seek a new home." I ) interview is thus narrated by Hafiz : " On the 31st 'iecember the chief of the fortress, Mastori Mialo [a ; rruption of Meghas Mastoris, or Grand-Master] , having * )tained permission, came to take leave of the sublime * itan at a divan. The sultan desired to make him a gift 210 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. " of a large number of ingots of gold, precious stones, ai " other valuable offerings, and renewed his permission tl " the Order might make use of the galleys and other " which had belonged to them, on condition, as he add( " with tears in his eyes, that the next day should i " them quit the island. On this the chief of the infid " withdrew with a pensive mien, and left for Frengistar That sad event took place on the evening of the January, 1523 ; and thus the island of Ehodes, af ' having remained for two centuries in the occupation the knights of St. John, once more reverted to the pcrcj of the Moslem. To the nations of Europe this loss | a subject of the deepest shame. Apathy and indiffere] had been suffered to continue during the six w< months that the struggle lasted, and its unforti issue remains a blot on the history of the sixte* century. To the knights of St. John the event hi with it no such memory of disgrace. The gallan'i which had so long withstood overwhelming odds everywhere recognized and enthusiastically hailed the admiring nations. As the struggle progressed, ;i its ultimate issue became more and more certain, gazed with astonishment and awe upon that toucl scene of heroism and endurance. When at length, from their home, sadly reduced in numbers, and in prospects, the relics of that gallant band wand* westward in search of a new resting-place, they everywhere greeted with the warmest welcome, feeling of all was well expressed by the em] Charles V., who, on hearing of the disastrous issu« the siege, turned to his courtiers and exclaimed, " Ti " has been nothing in the world so well lost as Rho< CHAPTER IX. 1522—1565. I irture of the Order for Candia, Messina, and Civita Yeccliia — i L'Isle Adam visits Madrid, Paris, and London — Malta ceded to the Order — Its antecedent history — Tripoli — Its disadvantages and dangers-*— Description of the harbours of Malta— Settlement of the convent in the Bourg — Death of L'Isle Adam — Election ;of Dnpont, St. Gilles, and D'Omedes — Turkish descent on Malta — Destruction of the English Icing ue — Election of La Sangle — Fortification of Senglea — Accession of La Valette — Preparations i by Solyman for an attack on Malta — Description of its garrison and defences. [EN L'Isle Adam and his knights quitted Rhodes, * thousand of the inhabitants elected to follow their unes into exile rather than remain under the sway he Turk. Whilst on their way to Candia a violent m overtook them, and several of the smaller craft 8 lost ; others were only saved by throwing overboard little property which the unfortunate refugees had ued from the town, so that, when the scattered fleet ssembled at Spinalonga, there were many in it • were reduced to actual beggary. The governor of dia welcomed the fugitives with the utmost hospitality, assisted them in refitting and, as far as possible, uring the damages caused by the storm. When was accomplished, L'Isle Adam selected the port of 212 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Messina as the next point of rendezvous. The lar vessels proceeded there direct under command of William Weston, who had been elected Turcopolier! place of Buck, killed during the siege ; the Gra Master himself, with the mass of his followers, pursuj their course more leisurely. In token of the loss Order had sustained, he substituted for the White C: banner an ensign representing the Virgin, with her d; son in her arms and beneath it the motto, " Affl " spes mea rebus" The Grand-Master was welcomed by the Sicilian autl ities with the same hospitality as had been displayed b Candia, and the viceroy announced that the empir invited the fraternity to reside in the island as lonps convenient. The plague, however, having broken m amongst the exiles, they were transferred to the guUbf Baise, whence, when the pestilence had subsided, ijll proceeded to Civita Yecchia. Here they remained f< a period of nearly eight years whilst efforts were b(.g made on all sides to procure for them a new hce. During this interval L'Isle Adam visited France, Sgl and England, arriving in the latter country in the wier of 1526. He spent some days at the grand-prior; in Clerkenwell, and paid his respects to Henry VIII. : i)f whom he was received with the utmost cordiality, and he king made him a gift of artillery to the value of 20 f crowns. At length it was determined by the emperor V. to offer the fraternity the islands of Malta an dependency Grozo, coupling the proposal with the con that the city of Tripoli on the north coast of Africa s be included in the gift. Although the knights much have preferred not being hampered with the THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 213 ■pjt, they were not able to induce the emperor to with- djw the condition, and were reluctantly compelled to acppt the gift with its encumbrance. An act of donation reived the imperial signature at Syracuse on the 24th ]k|rch, 1530, by which Charles vested in the Order of St. Jim the complete and perpetual sovereignty of the islands o^Malta and Grozo and the city of Tripoli, together with ai their castleg and fortresses. The principal conditions aliened to the gift were that the knights should never i ke war against the kingdom of Sicily, that they should i mally present a falcon to the viceroy as an acknow- kgment, and that the nomination to the bishopric of ^ lta should be vested in the emperor from amongst tlee candidates to be selected for the purpose by the i nd-Master.* Such were the terms on which Charles >i rendered these islands, then almost valueless, to a miunity whose indefatigable perseverance and lavish iiditure were destined to convert one of them into ■ most powerful fortress in Europe. When all .preliminaries had been adjusted, L'Isle Adam sail from Syracuse with the leading dignitaries of the Ciler, and landed in his new home on the 26th October, 1 30. The first view which greeted the wanderers was reassuring nor attractive. Accustomed as they had to the luxuriant verdure of Ehodes, they were but ilprepared for the rocky and arid waste which met their g^e in Malta. Few persons who now behold the island, tniing as it is with the commerce of Europe and Asia, 1 'senting a busy scene of wealth and prosperity, with I massive defences rising in frowning tiers around its b 'hours, can picture to themselves the desolate and This act of donation still exists in the palace at Malta, and is s tod by the emperor Yo el Rey. 214 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. unprotected rock which fell into the possession of till Order of St. John in the year 1530. The antecedent history of Malta is not important atj may be very briefly narrated. It was originally coloni; by the Phoenicians, and in many parts it is still rich remains of that people. About 755 B.C., the Grreels returning from the siege of Troy, overran the Mec( terranean, founded some cities in Calabria^ and, among' other acquisitions, established themselves in Malta, drivii, out the Phoenicians. Prior to this event the island hi been known by the name of Ogygia, which was ncj changed into that of Melitas. It remained in undj turbed possession of the Greeks for 200 years, after whij the Carthaginians succeeded in wresting it from th» hands. In the second Punic war Sempronius drove cj the Carthaginians, allowing the Greek inhabitants remain. The island was attached to the government Sicily, being ruled by a pro-prsetor. Whilst unc Roman sway, Malta attained a high pitch of civilizati 1 and refinement. Situated in the centre of the Medit ranean, within a short distance from the shores of tk continents, it speedily became a thriving mart for mi of the commerce of Rome. Its manufactures of cotl! and linen, and its public buildings, chiefly temp| erected in honour of its favourite deities, were jus 1 ; celebrated throughout that part of the world. On division of the Roman empire, Malta fell to the lotj Constantine, and from that moment its decadence be^ In the fifth century it was seized successively by Vandals and Goths, and although eventually Belisa: drove out the barbarians and once more restored Roi dominion, the island never recovered its former perity. In the early part of the ninth century THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 215 l^acens exterminated the Greek population, and estab- 1 ied a Moslem government dependent on the Emir of Hly. Much still remains that is Saracenic both in 1 ilding and language to mark this period of occupation. bleed, the Maltese as a race may be said to this day t partake more of the Arabic than the Italian type I the close of the eleventh century, Count Roger th* rnian expelled the Saracens and established a princi- lity in Sicily and Malta, which was converted into monarchy under his grandson. From that time the land followed the fortunes of the kingdom of Sicily ... trough many changes of dominion, until at length 1th fell into the possession of Spain after the tragedy < the Sicilian Vespers. Its decadence during these successive stages had been (iitinuous, and when the emperor handed it over to . Isle Adam there was not much ' left to tempt the itpidity or aggression of neighbouring powers. It con- ined neither river nor lake, and was very deficient springs. Its surface was "almost bare rock with but tie earth, and its vegetation in consequence poor and significant. Scarce a tree was to be seen throughout e island, save a few caroubas and shumacks, the eye aming in vain for a patch of green to relieve the glare the white rock. The wretched villages in which the habitants dwelt, termed casals, partook of the general r of poverty and misery. Its western side was rugged id inhospitable, offering no shelter to shipping or even boats; but the east and north were broken up into imberless creeks and harbours, some of which were of ifficient capacity to afford anchorage to the largest fleets. This was indeed .the great point of attraction to knights. They had for so many years looked to 216 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, maritime enterprise as the principal source fr>m when their wealth and prosperity were to be der ved ; t had made their name so widely known and so highl esteemed in the waters of the Mediterranean, that th were not prepared willingly to resign the posit on whi their naval superiority had given them by the establis ment of a new home in any locality which did n< afford facilities for pursuing their favourite calling. Thi and this alone, was the motive which induced them accept the island of Malta as the site of their conve: Nature had clone everything, both in the central positi of the island, and in the configuration of its easte] coast, to render it suitable for naval enterprse, ai L'Isle Adam determined to strain every nerve to reme( the numerous disadvantages under which it other laboured. It would have seemed a sufficiently desolate outlook i the Order had it received these islands without enc brance, but the emperor had insisted on the occupati of the city of Tripoli as an absolute condition of th' transfer. The report of the commissioners despatched inspect this new acquisition w r as eminently discouragi Situated at a distance of more than 200 miles from Mai and siuroundecl by piratical enemies, it was not o scantily fortified, but seemed incapable of being mi strengthened, as the sandy nature of the soil rende: the erection of ramparts and the sinking of ditche matter of much difficrdty. It was to be feared, the fore, that the garrison would run great risk of be overwhelmed before succour could reach them from Mai Having, however, no option in the matter, they w compelled to accept this unwelcome addition to th responsibilities with all its disadvantages. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 217 The first care which occupied L'Isle Adam on his ;il in Malta was the selection of a suitable and ( fensible position for his convent. The fortifications uich he found existing were of the most paltry de- B iption. The Citta Notabile, the chief town, situated ( the summit of a hill in the centre of the island, \ s, it is true, surrounded by a rampart and ditch, but ( so poor a character as to be almost worthless. The < ly other attempt at a defensive work was a little fort ( led St. Angelo, which, although considered the main ptection to the island and its harbours, was very i'ble, and only armed with a few small pieces of cillery. In order the better to comprehend the locality here i:erred to, and the additions which were made under Be directions of the Grand-Master, it will be well to eter into a short description of this portion of the and. The main harbour is divided into two parts I an elevated and rugged promontory called Mount fleberras. The height of this tongue of land is such as t give it command over all the surrounding points. The i -tern of the two ports thus formed is, in its turn, divided ■to three creeks by two minor promontories which jut At from the mainland on its eastern shore. Of these Iro peninsulas, the one nearest the entrance of the rbour was that on the point of which stood fort Angelo. Behind the fort, and extending back as r as the mainland, was a small town called the Bourg ; other promontory was called St. Julian, and was >t in any way occupied. The western harbour, which "1 not present such facilities for safe anchorage as |e main port, contained within it an island which eatly reduced its value. It was further much sub- 218 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, divided by the sinuosities of its coast line. On this si< there was no attempt at any work of defence, or ev habitation. The practised eye of L'Isle Adam at once perceiv< the advantages of the position of Mount Scebe dominating as it did both harbours, and, owing to i formation, secure from attack except- on the land si' Here he naturally thought of establishing his conve and fortifying the promontory, but the funds necessa: for such an undertaking were not forthcoming. T Order had for the preceding eight years led a wanderi life, accompanied by a large body of Khodians to t number of nearly 4,000. Most of these had subsis mainly on the charity of the fraternity, which was d tributed to them under the name of bread of Bhod This expenditure had seriously impoverished the tre sury, so that L'Isle Adam now found himself absolu* unable to carry out any work of magnitude, even thou of vital necessity. He therefore decided upon establish^ himself, as a temporary measure, in the fort of St. Ange and fixing the convent in the adjacent Bourg. S additions to the defences of the fort as his ni permitted were at once constructed, and a line intrenchment was drawn across the head of the, ' p montory where it joined the mainland, so as to end the Bourg and cover it as far as possible from neighbouring heights. It was whilst thus engaged that L'Isle Adam brou his long and glorious life to a close. A violent fe induced that end which he had so often braved, always escaped, at the hand of the Moslem. On 22nd August, 1534, he expired, aged .upwards seventy years, to the intense grief of the wh THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 219 cinmunity. Never was chief so sincerely mourned ; tl heroism and grandeur of his character were such tit the clouds of adversity only set it forth in greater re. The gallant defence of Rhodes, although ending i the worst disaster that had befallen the Order since t ? loss of Jerusalem, has been so imperishably connected \^h his name that he has gained more renown by his ( iduct during that calamitous epoch than many a ssful leader. Amid the long list of Grand-Masters se names have been written on the page of history, i lie have excelled, and but few have equalled, John "fliers de L'Isle Adam. Peter Dupont, a member of a Piedmontese family, 1 - elected to fill the vacant office. He was a man of l >at age at the time of his nomination, which he only E vived little more than a year. During his brief rule 'cessful expedition against Tunis was carried out by m emperor Charles, in which the knights bore an i portant part. The northern coast of Africa, abutting on the Medi- I ranean, had been first occupied by the Arabs during (& latter part of the seventh century. The country Id since then become gradually subdivided into several hgdoms, of which Morocco, Algiers, and Tunis were most important. These principalities were now in- Ibited by a mixed race composed of Arabs, Moors, I d negroes, and until of late years had not interfered . the politics of Europe, their very existence being Hie known and as little cared for. At the commence- nt of the sixteenth century, however, a revolution Ipk place which materially altered their position. Two 1 others, named Horuc and Hayraddin, Turkish inhabit- ! ts of Mitylene, prompted by a love of adventure, 220 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. had joined themselves to a band of pirates. Thei daring and skill in this new calling soon raised thei to the command of the force, which they graduall augmented until they became masters of a fleet c twelve galleys. Calling themselves the friends of th sea and enemies of all who sailed thereon, they scoure the Mediterranean, and rendered their names terribi in every part of its waters. They were known by th surname of Barbarossa, from the redness of their hai: Increasing in ambition as their power extended, the at length seized upon Algiers, murdered the king, an Horuc, the elder, established himself on the vacai throne. At his death he was succeeded by his brotli( Hayraddin. The latter, not content with the positio he had gained, rendered himself also master of tl neighbouring kingdom of Tunis. Charles V., alarme at this rapid concentration of power on the part < Hayraddin, undertook an expedition against him in h newly- acquired kingdom and succeeded in expelling hi; ; therefrom, replacing on the throne the monarch wl, had been dispossessed by the pirate. In this operatic the knights of St. John greatly distinguished thei] selves, and returned to Malta laden with substanti: marks of the emperor's satisfaction. They arrive there in time to see the last of their chief, who di( shortly after. He was succeeded by Didier de St. Grilles, a Fren knight, who never reached the chef-lieu aftei nomination, but died at Montpellier, where he residing for the benefit of his health. The vacaii gave rise to a warm contention in the choice of successor. The Spaniards, whose influence in the vent had of late wonderfully increased, owing to THE KNIGHTS 0F MALTA. 221 jlver of their emperor, were determined that a knight of their own tongue should P e chosen, and in spite of tii opposition of the French $*% succeeded in carrying tLir point by nominating John D'Omedes, of the tongue cJAragon, to the post. This knight had greatly distin- ■ ished himself during the ^ege of Ehodes, where he 3d lost an eye whilst defending tne Spanish quarter. During these years the condition of the city of ■ ipoli had never ceased to cau se anxiety. Though every- i had been done that t he limited means of the <-der admitted, the place wa* sti11 Dut f eehly fortified. i eh succeeding governor, a s ne returned to Malta, pressed on the council the necessity of taking further ps to strengthen the pla 3e - These representations came at length so urgeni that the Grand-Master ..pealed to the emperor citlF to assist in increasing power or to permit the kpights to abandon it. In ply the emperor announced his intention of leading in ■rson an expedTtion against Algiers, still the strong- »ld of Barbarossa. He tn tsted by crushing him to sure the safety of Tripoli' and at the same time ■lieve his own maritime adjects from an incubus liich had long weighed up 011 them. The disastrous suit of this attempt, which ended in the almost entire - of the fleet in a storm, a 3 we ll as of a large portion : the land forces, rendered r the onerous post of goven lor a knight of the tongue t Provence called John de J* Valette, a name which ibsequent events rendered c ne of tlie most illustrious i the annals of the fraternity- Even at tha t time he ad much distinguished hitrM 1 in numerous cruising speditions against the Turks- The fate of Tripoli was 222 THE KNIG HTS 0F MALTA . destined, however, to be postponed until after La Val had been relieved from its government. Meanwhile the convent at Malta itself had a na escape from capture. Ba r ^ arossa had ^ed at f< ons tinople, and his lieutenant, Dragut, was appointed to t command of the Turkish, fl e et. Enraged at the 1< of the fortress of Mehedi a? i n the s i ege f w hi cu f knights had borne a leadii lg part> the sultan pre pared i expedition for the purpose f driving the fraternity fro their new home at Malta. Neither time nor means we available for D'Omedes to. p i aee the island in a prop- state of defence. When, th . ere fore, the Turkish fleet, un anc t the siege was begun i due form. Dragut made tl e g rea test possible efforts, an the works were pushed foi warc i w ith the most ominoi THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 223 i >idity. Treachery within the town aided the designs of tpse in its front, and eventually La Vallier was forced to t at for a capitulation. The most honourable terms were £ mted, but when the time came for their fulfilment they vre basely violated, and the garrison, with most of the i labitants, were made prisoners. The general feeling at t b loss of Tripoli was so very bitter in Malta, that when Vallier arrived there, after having been ransomed by I • French ambassador at the Porte, he was stripped of h habit and imprisoned. Whilst these events were taking place, the course of the 1 igious revolution in England, which had been for a long me seething, reached its climax. The quarrel between king and the Pope had already assumed the most ireatening aspect even before the death of L'Isle Adam, i <1 fears for the security of the English langue had em- rtered the last moments of that venerable chief. Since en matters had rapidly developed, and the Reformation d become an accomplished fact. An institution like the der of St. John, maintaining fealty to the papacy, was t likely to remain long undisturbed under the new 'lime. Henry VIII. , even before his quarrel with the )pe, had shown a strong inclination to interfere in the ;fairs of the fraternity in England ; now the moment id arrived when, a plausible pretext was afforded for izing its property. There still exists in the Record Office of Malta a jcument dated 7th July, 1538, addressed by the king the Grrand-Master, which deals fully with the subject, begins by styling Henry the supreme head of the nglican church and protector of the Order of Bt An of Jerusalem. It then goes on to declare — 1. That r himself and his successors he gives licence to brother 224 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. William Weston, grand-prior of the priory of England, to confer the habit and receive the profession requisite to admit such English subjects as may desire to enter the Order under the usual conditions, provided always that such postulant shall have been previously required to take an oath of allegiance to the said monarch as his supreme lord, in accordance with the form duly instituted for that purpose, which oath the king exacts from all his subjects, whether lay or clerical. 2. That any person] nominated by the Grand-Master in council to a com- mandery situated within the limits of the kingdom: of England shall of necessity obtain a confirmation of his appointment from the king. Such newly-appointed commander will be required to pay the revenues of the first year, accruing from his commandery, into the king's treasury, nor will his nomination to the commandery 1 be ratified until he shall previously have taken the oath of allegiance, and paid the said year's revenue, or at all events have given due security for its future payment. 3. It shall not be lawful for the Order oi St. John to make eleemosynary collections (as alluded to in Chap. IV., under the title of confrarid) within the realm of England, unless in virtue of a royal warrant.' which warrant shall contain the express clause thai; such collection was not made in pursuance of any bull from the Roman pontiff, but under letters patent ema- nating from the king of England. 4. Those brethren holding or hereafter promoted to commanderies withir the realm of England shall, after payment of the first year's revenues into the king's treasury, transfer those of the second year to the treasury of the Order for the *al maintenance and support of the convent, with thq! ration of such annual tithes as the king retains tc THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 225 mself from all the commanderies within his kingdom. Those brethren holding or hereafter promoted to mmanderies within the realm of England shall not cognize, support, or promote the jurisdiction, authority, nk, or title of the bishop of Rome. 6. That every year chapter of the priory shall be held, in which all crimes mmitted by the fraternity within the realm of England all be examined into and duly punished ; and if any Pending brother shall consider himself aggrieved by the atence of the chapter, he shall appeal either to the 3ar of the king or to the conservator of the privileges the Order of St. John duly appointed by the king. A very cursory study of these clauses will show both e subtlety and rapacity of those by whom they were I awn up. The fifth clause was in itself amply sufficient prevent any member of the Roman Catholic Church . >m holding office or emolument within the kingdom ! England; but, as though the monarch feared lest the mibers of the Order might be possessed of consciences I fficiently elastic to take the oath, he secures for himself j ample provision from the revenues of the com- nnderies, payment of which would be enforced even i on the most compliant. Had the knights of St. John 1 3n in the habit of yielding any annual tithes or < ltributions to the See of Rome, it would have been It natural that the king of England, when he assumed t himself the papal functions within his realm, should I the same time have transferred to his own treasury such payments. This, however, had never been the < e. From the earliest period of its institution the brother- 1 )d had been exempted by papal authority from any c nand for ecclesiastical tithe or contribution, and this I mption had been continued and confirmed from time to Q 226 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. time ever since. Henry, therefore, in exacting the paymei of tithes, was arrogating to himself a privilege such I had never been assumed by the pontiffs of Rome, eve in the days of their most dictatorial authority. It is greatly to the credit of the langue that they not permit the natural desire of retaining their lar| possessions in England to outweigh their sense religious duty. Hard as the terms were which Hei was endeavouring to impose on them, they were su< as many men would have deemed preferable to absoli confiscation ; but the Order of St. John was not prepare to admit any such compromise between its duty and interests. It had been reared in the bosom of the Chum of Rome, it had been nurtured by the protection each successive pontiff, and now that a storm had bi over the head of the father of the Church which fair to deprive him of the spiritual allegiance of important section of his flock, the knights were prepared to abandon his cause for the sake of retaini] their worldly advantages. The terms offered by Hei were peremptorily declined, and the langue of Engla] which had been so long considered one of the bright* adjuncts of the Order, and of which the historian B< an Italian, and therefore an unbiassed witness, recorded " Cost ricco nobile e principal membro come so " era stata la verier abile lingua d J Inghilterra" was losl the fraternity. A general sequestration of its prop< took place, accompanied by much persecution. S( perished on the scaffold, others lingered in prison, the remainder, homeless and destitute, found their to Malta, where they were received with all brothei kindness and consideration. By an Act of Parliam* dated in April, 1540, all the possessions, castles, mam THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 227 lurches, houses, &c, of the Order of St. John were vested the Crown ; out of this revenue pensions to the noiint of £2,870 were granted to the late Lord-Prior id to other members of the institution. The. close of the rule of D'Omedes was marked by e addition of several considerable works to the defences Malta. A commission, which had been appointed to vestigate the subject, reported that, although the Bourg as enclosed by a rampart and ditch, it was nevertheless mmanded by the rocky extremity of the peninsula of ;. Julian, which ran parallel to that on which stood the stle of St. Angelo. They, therefore, strongly urged .e necessity of establishing a fort on this promontory, 'ount Sceberras also required occupation so as to deny an terny the use of the harbour on the other side, called the .arsa Musceit, or Muscette. Their recommendations on is head included the occupation of the entire peninsula, it the funds in the treasury did not admit of so extensive work. Forts were, however, erected at the extremity each promontory ; that on Mount Sceberras being lied St. Elmo, and that on the peninsula of St. Julian, :. Michael ; their further recommendations as to an crease in the works of the Bourg and St. Angelo were so adopted. In order to carry out these additions with the greater gour, the three commissioners each took charge of a parate portion of the works, and, assisted by other Lights, pushed forward the construction with the ut- ost rapidity. Don Pedro Pardo, a celebrated Spanish gineer, designed the forts, to the rapid completion which every one devoted his utmost energies. The iliffs and other grand-crosses contributed the gold ains from which the insignia of their rank were 228 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. suspended, as also a large portion of their plate ; oth( knights followed their example, subscribing liberally froi their private resources. The galleys were retained port, so that their crews, principally slaves, might employed in the building operations. The result m so satisfactory, that in the month of May in the followi] year, 1553, the forts of St. Michael and St. Elmo a] the bastions at the head of the Bourg were complel and armed. D'Omedes died on the 9th September, 1553, at tl advanced age of ninety, and was succeeded by the gran( hospitaller, Claude de la Sangle. During the first ye? of his rule an evanescent prospect sprang up of tl revival of the English langue. The death of the yoi king Edward VI. having placed his sister Mary the throne of England, she, being a zealous Rom? Catholic, despatched ambassadors to Malta to treat f( the resuscitation of the langue, promising at the sa] time a restoration of its sequestrated lands. To this pi position the council of the Order naturally assented, ai for a few brief years it seemed as though it was aboi; to resume its former status. But this was not to h The death of Mary crushed all the rising hopes of tl fraternity, for on the accession of Elizabeth it was aga suppressed in a still more formal and complete manne The successful forays which the galleys of Malta carrit deemed sufficient, as the whole peninsula was much ;posed to the neighbouring height of Coradino. To medy this La Sangle constructed a bastioned rampart ong the side of the promontory facing those heights, id he enclosed its neck in a similar manner. This ork he carried out mainly at his own expense. The aternity, in grateful commemoration of the fact, named e enceinte thus formed and the town which rapidly rang ujd within it after its public-spirited chief. From at day it has been known as the He de la Sangle, since alianized into Senglea. La Sangle died in 1557, and was succeeded by John irisot de la Valette, who, during the last year of his •edecessor's rule, had filled the office of lieutenant of |.e Mastery, holding at the same time the grand-priory St. Grilles. His name of Parisot was derived from his tker's fief, but he is far better known to posterity by e family name of La Valette, which his deeds have ndered so famous. He was born in the year 1494, of a )ble family of Qnercy, and entered the Order at the age twenty ; he had been present at the siege of Rhodes in >22, and followed the fortunes of the knights through eir various wanderings after the loss of that island. ideed, it is recorded of La Valette that from the day his first profession to that of his death he never once ft the convent except when cruising with the fleet. His ccesses as a naval commander soon singled him out am among his compeers, and he had by his own unaided erits raised himself step by step through the various gnities of the Order until he now found himself 3cted its forty-seventh Grand-Master. Many important advantages were about this time 230 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA gained by the Spaniards on the north shores of Afriu in all of which the knights had borne a conspicuous m The Moors appealed to the sultan for aid, and suggest that he should wreak his vengeance on the Order its island home. At this crisis an event occurred whic though apparently insignificant, sufficed to determine enraged sultan on immediate action. The Maltese gallei had succeeded after a severe struggle in capturing a Turl galleon, armed with twenty guns and manned by 21 janissaries. This galleon was the property of the cl eunuch of the sultan's harem, and several of its fair inmai held shares in this valuable cargo, which Spanish historic have estimated at over 80,000 ducats. All the power the seraglio was therefore exerted to induce Sol; to avenge the affront by a signal chastisement ; and t] attack on Malta, when pleaded for by bright eyes and re lips, was at length decreed. He determined, as a fittii close to that long and glorious reign, which had eai for him the title of Magnificent, to drive the knights their new acquisition, as he had in the commencement his reign driven them from Rhodes. His preparations this undertaking were made upon a most formidable sc* and the attention of Europe was speedily drawn to \ast armament collecting in the port and arsenal Constantinople. The uncertainty as to its destinati filled the maritime provinces of the Mediterranean alarm, and on every side precautions were taken defence in case of need. La Valette who, in accordance with the practice his predecessors, always maintained spies in Const* tinople, soon discovered that Malta was the point attack. He at once despatched emissaries to the coi of Europe to crave assistance; but with the exception THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 231 e Pope, who contributed 10,000 crowns, and Philip of ain, who sent a small body of troops, these appeals ere unavailing, and he soon found that it was to his Order alone that he would have to trust for the ence of the island ; still, undeterred by the lukewarm- s of Europe, he set himself to meet the storm as best might. The front of Senglea on the land side greatly strengthened, and the ditches of the Bourg e deepened. La Valette also constructed a battery three guns below fort St. Angelo, nearly on a level nth the water's edge, to flank the front of fort St. ifichael. This battery during the siege proved most aluable at a very critical moment. Meanwhile he had. summoned his confreres from all their European commanderies, and the call was obeyed with lie utmost enthusiasm. They poured into Malta from 11 quarters, and contributions were sent by those who, rom age or infirmity, were unable to render personal ervice. The Sicilian viceroy, Don Grarcia de Toledo, ,vho was on a visit in the island, pledged himself to ender prompt assistance as soon as a sufficient force :ould be collected. He left his own son under charge of he knights to gain his first experience of war in the trife about to commence. A careful examination of the brces within the city was made, and with this view a general parade of the Ungues was held, at which 474 mights and 67 servants-at-arms were present. Of these mly one was an Englishman, Oliver Starkey, Latin secre- tary to La Valette, by whose side his own remains are laid in the crypt of St. John's church in Malta. This lumber of knights was eventually increased by nearly 100 through subsequent reinforcements. The militia of j"hp island had been trained and organized into battalions, r 2*6X THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. as were also the crews of the galleys. It was founc upon a muster of the forces, that, in addition to t members of the Order, the garrison consisted of abo 1,200 regular troops, and nearly 7,000 militia a volunteers. It will thus be seen that, on the whole, Valette could count upon a strength of about 9,000 for the defence of the island. A general description of the two great ports of Malt} has already been given. It will now be well, befon. narrating the siege, to describe more particularly tin means of defence which the knights had during a period of thirty-five years been able to develop. The castL; of St. Angelo was cut off from the mainland by mean;; of a wet ditch which had been excavated through tin promontory. In addition to the castle itself, which pre sented three tiers of batteries to the entrance of tbl harbour, there was an enceinte containing four bastions; The Bourg was protected on the land side by a strong line of bastioned rampart with ditch. On its northerii side it was also enclosed with a similar rampart ; bu the line looking towards Senglea was a mere curtail without flanks. The land front of the Bourg was allottee; to the three French langiies. Grermany and Castile; divided between them the sea front, and Spain wai posted on the front facing Senglea (since destroyed ai being practically useless). The garrison of St. Angek consisted of 50 knights and 500 men, and here, as the citadel, La Valette took up his abode. The promontory of Senglea was defended by a verji respectable sea front, formed by what had original!) been the detached fort of St. Michael. The remainder of its enceinte was little more than an indented line, except on the land side, where it threw out a bastion. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 233 [ was garrisoned along its land front by the langue of jagon, the remainder of the line being taken by Italy, ad the whole being under the command of the grand- iiniiral de Monte. Fort St. Elmo, at the extremity ilount Sceberras, was on a star trace of four points, ) the seaward of which was a cavalier dominating the >rt, and on the western side a ravelin connected with ie main work by a bridge. The small garrison had >en commanded by an aged knight named de Broglio. Lt this crisis, La Valette augmented its strength by vo companies of foreign troops under the command of Spaniard named la Cerda, and by sixty knights under "Eguarras, the bailiff of Negropont, who was selected aid de Broglio under the title of captain of succours. There yet remained the Citta Notabile and the island of ozo to protect, and opinions were much divided in uncil whether to retain or abandon them. La Valette timately decided on the former course ; their garrisons ere reinforced and placed under the command of knights whose constancy and determination he knew he could nfide. The commander Romegas, one of the most daring ival captains the Order possessed, undertook the defence t the port of the galleys. This harbour was the portion water enclosed between the Bourg and Senglea, and re all the galleys were drawn up at anchor. Its trance was closed by a massive chain, which stretched )m point to point. All being thus prepared, La Valette assembled his aghts together, and, in that glowing language which is er the outpouring of real earnestness, called upon them stand firm in the good cause they had adopted at their ofession, and if they were now called on to sacrifice ^ir lives, to consider it a duty and a privilege to do so. 234 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, At the close of his address he led the way to the con ventual church, where they solemnly partook of the Hoi; Communion. As they stood round their venerable chie the remembrance of many a gallant struggle was warr within their hearts. The scenes which had been witnesses at Jerusalem, Margat, Acre, Smyrna, and Rhodes wer once more to be enacted, and the devoted band resolve with one accord that the renown of their Order shoul suffer no diminution from their conduct during th coming crisis. CHAPTER X. Siege of Malta, 1565. Lsembarkation of the Turkish force — Siege of St. Elmo commenced — Heavy battering train — Arrival of Dragut — Capture of the covered way and ravelin — First assault and its failure — Petition to La Yalette for relief — Its refusal, and consequent insubor- dination — Return to obedience — Repeated assaults — The fort cut off from succour — Dragut mortally wounded — Fall of St. Elmo — Massacre of the garrison. n the morning of the 18th May, 1565, a signal gun from Le castle of St. Angelo, answered from the forts of St. Michael and St. Elmo, announced to the inhabitants of Lalta that the enemy's fleet was in sight. This consisted : 130 galleys and fifty smaller vessels, together with a amber of transports laden with artillery and stores. The oops amounted to upwards of 30,000 men, of whom 500 were janissaries. The command of the fleet was xen to the Turkish admiral, Piali, whilst the army was d by Mustapha, a veteran general on whose skill and Ldgment the sultan placed the utmost reliance. Aiter some little cruising backward and forward, the urks eventually disembarked partly in the Marsa Scirocco id partly in St. Thomas's bay, whence they at once Ivanced upon the town. Counsels were divided in their mp as to the course to be pursued. Before leaving 236 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Constantinople, Solyman had instructed both Mustap 1 and Piali to pay the utmost attention to the advice of t corsair Dragut, who was to join the expedition after landing. As he had not yet arrived, Piali was of opiniments almost single-handed the rush of the enemy til he was supported from within, St. Elmo would on it day have fallen. The most powerful efforts were ide on either side : the knights striving to retake the relin, and the Turks to complete the capture of the •t. Neither were successful ; the besiegers were enabled complete their lodgment in the ravelin, but could t gain any further ground. On the following morning, the Turks, stimulated by dr recent successes, made a determined dash at the fort, iving to carry it by escalade. This was an operation likely to succeed against such men as those who were intaining St. Elmo ; their ladders, moreover, were : long enough to reach the crest, still they struggled with the most invincible resolution. Here and there ?urk, more daring or more agile than his fellows, would ;ain a momentary footing on the parapet, but before comrades could support him he w T as hurled headlong vnwards. Boiling pitch and wildfire streamed upon f mass congregated in the ditch, huge pieces of rock re dropped on them, and all the savage ferocity of war s let loose. The castle of St. Angelo was thronged h anxious spectators, eagerly straining their eyes to cover the issue of the fight. Amidst the roar of fiillery, the volleys of arquebuses, the screams, shouts, I yells of the combatants, little could be distinguished to rk how the tide of battle turned, as a dense canopy of Dke hung over the fort, only rent at intervals by the hes of the guns. It was not until the sun had declined towards the west that they were able to discover the I state of the siege. Finding all efforts to carry the 240 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. fort unavailing, a retreat was then sounded, and the Turks withdrew sullenly to their trenches, whilst the* gazers saw with joy that the White Cross banner still floated over the fort and cavalier. As soon as the darkness permitted, La Valette sen boats from the Bourg to remove the wounded, and tcj replace them by a second reinforcement, commanded bj a knight named Miranda. He had recently come froir Sicily, in company with a messenger sent by Don Grarcia to inform La Valette that he would himself arrive ir Malta by the middle of June if the Grand-Master woulc send him the fleet of galleys then cooped up within th< port. La Yalette was grievously disappointed at tfy condition with which the viceroy had hampered his pro mise of aid. To despatch the galleys thus demanded h would be obliged to man them with their crews, whos< services within the fortress were urgently required. Sue! a diminution of his scanty garrison could not for ; moment be thought of, and La Valette sent off ai appeal for unconditional assistance. Meanwhile he spared no effort to prolong the defenc of St. Elmo. Now that the covered way and ravelin hac fallen into the possession of the enemy, it was difhcul for the garrison to find shelter from the pitiless store of missiles that rained upon them. Had it not bee: for the promptitude with which La Valette poured hi. reinforcements into the fort, its defenders would hav melted away before the murderous fire of the besieger; In this emergency Miranda proved himself a valuabl acquisition, and his ingenuity was displayed in tb numerous devices by which he succeeded in seeurin cover from the Turkish artillery. Meanwhile the fii from the large batteries, which played upon the expose I THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 241 arps of the work, had gradually reduced them to a ate of ruin. The bravest now felt that enough had een done to retard the capture of the crumbling fort, id that the time had arrived when, unless they were to b buiied beneath the ruins, they should be withdrawn, id the post abandoned to the enemy. The reputation of Medrano being such that his report ould be free from all suspicion of panic, he was selected return to the Bourg and explain to the Grand-Master e desperate state of affairs. La Yalette could not but ^1 that all had been done which ingenuity could devise protract the defence, and that the fort had been main- ined against overwhelming odds with the utmost con- I'mcy. It was also evident that if the lives of the : rrison were not to be deliberately sacrificed, they should ] w be recalled ; still, he could not bring himself to direct 13 abandonment of the place. By its maintenance, the , c ge of the Bourg was being deferred, and the time plonged during which the succours so anxiously ex- pted from Sicily might arrive. So much, indeed, hung ion the issue, that he felt compelled to suppress all flings of compassion, and leave his brethren to their f e by maintaining St. Elmo at all costs until it should V captured by force. He therefore directed Medrano t return to his post, and point out to his comrades the I -olute necessity for their holding out to the last ex- tmity. When this stern decree became known, the gTison perceived that they were being deliberately s rificed for the general safety ; loud and angry were exclamations of astonishment and indignation which ase on all sides. This insubordination did not find r.t merely in idle murmurs. That same night a pltion was forwarded to the Grand-Master, signed by 242 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. fifty-three of their number, urging him to relieve thei instantly from their untenable post, and threatening, ii case of refusal, to sally forth and meet an honourabl death in open fight rather than suffer themselves to b. buried like dogs beneath the ruins of St. Elmo. L Valette was highly incensed at the insubordinate ton of this document. Fearful, however, lest the recusani should in reality execute the threat they held out, being anxious to prolong, if only for a day, the retei tion of the fort, he despatched three commissioners inspect and report on its condition and power of furtli( resistance. On arrival, two of the three, struck by the demolitic which met the eye on all sides, decided unhesitating] that the place was no longer tenable. The third, Italian named de Castriot, was of a different opinio: He stated that although the fort was unquestionably a shattered state, still it was, he thought, feasible means of further retrenchments to maintain it. Tl tatement appeared to the malcontents little better the' an insult, and high words ensued, de Castriot asserti that he was prepared to back his. opinion by personal conducting the defence. This offer raised such a stoi of indignation, that a general tumult seemed about break forth, when the governor, with much presence mind, caused the alarm to be sounded, on which ea one rushed instantly to his post, and the irritating c( ference was brought to a close. The commission* returned to the Bourg, where de Castriot still maintain) the views he had put forth, and requested leave enlist a body of volunteers, with whose aid he guaranty to maintain St. Elmo against any odds. This gall* offer met the ideas of La Valette, and permission Monument of Sir William Weston, formerly in St. James's Church, Cler ken well. [ To face page 342. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 243 ranted to de Castriot to raise his corps. Meanwhile, a jtter was forwarded to the garrison of St. Elmo, in- arming them of the steps that were being taken, and ating that they would shortly be relieved from their osition. The consternation caused by this letter was great, as reiy one felt it would be impossible to accept the offer of ifety thus ignominiously tendered. They had requested amission to abandon the fort, but were not prepared to [eld their places to others. An earnest letter was there- ire instantly forwarded to the Bourg, imploring pardon •r their mutinous conduct, and pledging themselves, if lowed to remain at their post, to hold it to the very st. This was all that La Valette desired, and he felt the )fence of St. Elmo was now safe in their hands. Cou- nting himself, therefore, with sending a further strong inforcement into the work, he prepared to await the ;ue. These incidents had occurred on the nights of the >th and 14th June. At length Mustapha gave instructions for a general mult. During the whole of the 15th June the Turkish cillery played so furiously that the defenders were able to repair any of the damages; this cannonade, A'ards evening, was further increased by fire from i 3 fleet. Confident of carrying the fort on the following rced to recoil, and the mass of killed and wounded ith which the breach lay strewn marked at once the gour of the assault and the desperate gallantry of • the 3fence. Whilst this main attack was going forward on the land ont, two separate attacks were being made to carry the ork by escalade, one on the side of the Marsa Muscette, |ie other on that of the grand harbour. The first was pulsed without much difficulty; the other, however, was i by a forlorn hope of thirty men, who had bound them- lves by an oath either to carry the fort or perish in the tempt. They made their rush at the parapet, planted eir ladders in full view of St. Angelo, and, followed by column of janissaries, had well-nigh effected a footing, len the guns of that work opened on them. La Valette, 10 had been watching the conflict from his post of ■ servation, at once saw the desperate character of the ; sault, and directed his fire on the column. The result ' is that the storming party was thrown into confusion, " j ir ladders destroyed, and the fanatic leaders having all 246 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, been slain, the remainder abandoned the attempt, an( retired into their trenches. Still the main attack continued to rage with unabate( violence; fresh battalions were hurried in succession to th( foot of the breach, and as constantly driven back. Tinw after time, shouts of encouragement and admiration we] borne across the harbour from the anxious spectators wk crowded the ramparts of St. Angelo, and as these cheering sounds reached the harassed combatants at St. Elmo, the; were nerved to redouble their efforts. ' For six hours tin storm was sustained, and yet the assailants had failed tc penetrate at any single point. At length the intolerabL heat, combined with the exhaustion of so lengthened struggle, rendered further operations impossible, an( Mustapha was reluctantly compelled to sound a retreat On hearing this a loud shout of victory arose from the heroic band, and a responsive echo came floating over tl waters from their brethren in the Bourg. Great as had been their success, it had been dear! purchased — 17 knights and 300 men having fallei Chief among the former was the gallant Medrano, wl was killed in the act of wrenching a standard from tl grasp of a Turkish officer. His corpse was removed wi< all honour into the Bourg, where it was interred in vault in St. Leonard's church, set apart for the dignitari* of the Order. The loss of the Turks has not been records but it must have reached a very high figure. Eaked they had been throughout the day by the fire from Angelo, and exposed on all sides to that from St. El itself, it is impossible that the struggle could have b< maintained for so many hours without fearful havoc their ranks. As soon as night had set in, boats were oi more despatched from the Bourg with reinforcements THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, 247 o remove the wounded. A most generous rivalry had prung up in the garrison of the Bourg, each striving to brm one of the succouring detachment. Although it was lear to all that the post they craved was almost certain Leath, the brave volunteers crowded forward, and La Palette's only difficulty was whom to select when all ppeared so eager. The choice was, however, made, and he fort once more placed in as favourable a position for lefence as its desperate condition permitted. In the Turkish, camp anxious consultations were held s to the steps to be taken to bring this protracted siege o a conclusion. Dragut, who appears to have been the nly commander of any real talent, pointed out that as Dng as the garrison of the Bourg was permitted to keep Lp communication with St. Elmo, and to pour in fresh »odies of troops after every assault, the knights would »e able to prolong the defence indefinitely. Under his dvice, therefore, the headland opposite point Dragut iras occupied with a battery. He also extended the renches in front of St. Elmo well across the promontory owards St. Angelo, and here he raised another smal] lattery, which effectually swept the water and the landing t the rocks beneath the fort. The construction of these rorks was attended with great loss of life, the pioneers eing fearfully exposed to the fire from St. Angelo. unongst the casualties was Dragut himself, who was truck on the head with a fragment of rock, and mortally bounded. By dint of perseverance the lines were at 3ngth constructed, and on the 19th of the month the ivestment was completed, so that the garrison of t. Elmo was from that time cut off from all further enforcement. 1 ; For three days more, vis;., the 19th, 20th, and 21st June, 248 .THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. an incessant fire was kept up from the thirty-six which were now mounted on the Turkish batteries, an with the earliest dawn of the 22nd a fresh assault bun on St. Elmo. Exhausted though its defenders were wit constant watching, short of ammunition, and exposed on; their ruined ramparts to the deadly fire of the Turkish marksmen, they still met the foe with the same indomit- able resolution as ever. Three times was the attempt renewed, and as often successfully repulsed ; but on each occasion that gallant little band became still furthei reduced, and the prospect of continued resistance more and more hopeless. In breathless suspense La Valette, from his post of observation, watched the scene of strife, and great was his exultation when once again he heard the sound for retreat issuing from the midst of the Turkish host. Again had the Moslem recoiled from thai; blood-stained rock ; still was the White Cross bannen waving proudly from its summit, whilst the slender relics of its noble garrison once more raised a feeble shout oi victory. It was, however, their last expiring effort. Be- girt by foes on every side, cut off from all support, anc reduced to little more than half their original number 1 they felt that their last triumph had been gained, anq that the morrow's sun must see the standard of the infide waving over the ruins of St. Elmo. In this desperate emergency an expert swimmer con-, trived to carry a message to La Valette, of the truth o: which he was, alas, too well assured. All that hurnai; effort could accomplish had been done to hold that vita, point. Its defence had been protracted far beyond wha*; even the most sanguine could have anticipated, and no^ there remained not the shade of a doubt that it wantec but the light of another day to insure its destruction THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 249 A Valette felt, therefore, that the moment had arrived lieu, if it were not too late, the remnant of the garrison lould be withdrawn from their post, and the ruins of k. Elmo abandoned to the enemy. Five large boats were 3spatched with a message to the governor, giving him Tinission to abandon the fort, and retire with his gallant ttle band into the Bourg. The permission came too te. La Valette had sternly refused all suggestions of LiTender whilst the road for retreat was still open ; he id deliberately chosen to sacrifice the brave defenders of :. Elmo for the sake of prolonging the siege, and now he as unable to recall the flat. In vain did the relieving •rce attempt to approach undetected the rocky inlet here the mouth of the subterranean communication lay dden, and from whence the ruined fort loomed indis- actly in the darkness of the night. The wary Turk too rely suspected that a last effort would be made to ve the victims whom he now held within his grasp, Ld his watchful sentries gave speedy intimation of the )proach of the boats. The alarm was sounded, and the ttery which Dragut had constructed to sweep the point >ened with deadly precision. Thus discovered, it was of urse manifestly useless to persevere in the attempt, and Xh heavy hearts they were compelled to return to the 3urg, leaving their comrades to their fate. Anxiously had the attempt been watched by the garri- a, and when the fire of the Turkish battery told them at it had been perceived and foiled, they felt that was over. Silently and solemnly they assembled in e little chapel of the fort, and there once more confessed eir sins and partook of the Holy Eucharist for the last ' ae on earth. It was a sad and touching sight, that mid- : 'jht gathering around the altar of St. Elmo's chapel. 250 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Scarred with many a wound, exhausted with days of stri and nights of vigil, every hope of rescue abandoned, th little band of heroes stood once again, and for the la time, consecrating themselves, their lives, and their swor* to the defence of their faith and of their Order. It only within the last few years that this chapel has bet discovered. It is a small casemate on the right of tl entrance, with no light save that which is derived fro an open archway at the back. There are recesses for U altars — one at the back and the other in the centre of tl left side. Enough remains of one altar and of t ecclesiastical decorations to mark its original purpot These had all been covered in, and an intermediate flo had hidden the roof. It is now restored, and forms \ object of the deepest interest to those who know | touching history. The religious ceremony concluded, they proceeded take such measures as were still within their power retain the post to the last moment, and then to sell the lives dearly. Such of their number as were too severe wounded to stand, caused themselves to be carried to tj breach, where they were placed on chairs, so that thj might meet their fate sword in hand, and with their fad to the foe. With the first glimpse of dawn, the Turks, who til been anxiously awaiting its appearance to seize thjj prey, rushed fiercely at the breach with frantic shou. Baffled in so many previous attempts, their rage had 9 creased with each new disaster, and now every passion * their hearts was aroused to avenge the fearful losses th r had sustained. For four long hours the strife raged wik r round that fatal spot, and although each moment lessen! the number of the defenders, still the dauntless remna' THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 251 )od firm. At length, incredible as it may seem, the irkish force, exhausted with its efforts, once more ispended the assault. No shout of triumph at this lexpected respite arose from the ranks of the garrison, :»r did any encouraging voice find its way across the ■ iter from St. Angelo. Only sixty men, mostly wounded, : tnained to dispute the entrance of the foe, and to their ; [perishable renown be it told that it was from the almost diausted efforts of those sixty men that the Turkish dumns had recoiled. The knights took advantage of the interval to bind up • eir wounds and prepare for a renewal of the conflict. ' le governor, who was still among the survivors, perceived at the handful remaining within the fort must be over- " lelmed by the first rush of the enemy. He therefore : called the few defenders of the cavalier to reinforce the lender remnant, trusting that his abandonment of that < minating point might remain unperceived, at all events Ir some time. But in this he underestimated the glance of Mustapha. That chief had been too often ')rsted in his attempts on St. Elmo not to maintain a • itchful eye upon all that was passing within its ruins. . e detected the movement at once, and despatched a body I janissaries to occupy the abandoned work. This done,, gave the signal for a renewal of the assault. The 'fenders were taken by surprise, and before they had ' ae to rally the fort was lost. All combined action was w over, and it only remained that the last scene should enacted of that sad tragedy which has cast such a :3lancholy interest over the name of St. Elmo. No quarter was asked or given. Desultory combats in ' rious parts of the enclosure took place, until the last of ■3 besieged had fallen. A few of the Maltese soldiery,. 252 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, then, as now, expert swimmers and divers, succeeded making good their escape to St. Angelo, amid a storm missiles. Another body of nine men were saved fr( death by falling into the hands of Dragut's com These pirates, realizing the fact that a live Christian was more valuable article of merchandise than a dead one, ai actuated rather by a love of gain than by such f anatici as stimulated the other Turks, preserved the nine m< they had captured for the purpose of utilizing them galley-slaves. The tattered White Cross banner was to] ignominiously from its staff, and on the 23rd June, tl eve of the festival of St. John, the standard of the Mosle was reared in its place. The natural ferocity of Mustapha's character had b< aroused to the utmost by the desperate resistance he h encountered. Even the senseless and bleeding corpses the enemy were not sacred from his revengeful mali< He directed that the bodies of the knights should selected from amongst the other slain, and thai their he* should be struck off and set up on poles looking towan St. Angelo. The trunks were then fastened on plai extended in the form of crosses, the same emblem beii deeply gashed upon their breasts. Thus mutilated, th( were cast into the harbour, and the action of the carrying them across to St. Angelo, its garrison aroused to a frenzy of indignation by the sad spectad The poor disfigured remains were reverently raised fr( their watery bed, and as it was impossible, in their tin condition, to identify them, they were all buried togetl in the conventual church of San Lorenzo. The revenj taken by La Valette was unworthy of his character as Christian soldier ; he caused all his prisoners to be decapi ated, and their heads fired from the guns of St. Angelo. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 253 The intelligence of the capture of St. Elmo was promptly claveyed to the wounded Dragut, who lay at the point of (ath in his tent. A gleam of satisfaction passed over jfe countenance of the dying man, and, as though he had ] gered upon earth only to assure himself of the success ] had so materially assisted to obtain, he no sooner heard t3 news than he breathed his last. His loss, which in ' elf was a great blow to the Turks, was by no means the ■incipal price they had to pay for the purchase of St. !.mo. From first to last, no less than 8,000 of their mber fell in the attack. The loss of the Christians jiounted to 1,500, of whom 100 were knights and 30 irvants-at-arms of the Order. Thus fell that ruined bulwark, after a siege of upwards a month, shedding even in its loss a bright ray of glory er its heroic defenders. Though Mustapha had achieved 3 object, yet much precious time had been sacrificed, and ere can be no doubt that the protracted resistance of St. Lmo was the main cause of the ultimate failure of his terprise. The losses the Turkish army had sustained, vere though they were, counted but little in Mustapha's lculations compared with this great and unexpected iste of time. He was thus taught the resistance he must :pect in every subsequent stage of the undertaking, and en his bold mind quailed beneath the difficulties with liich his path was still beset. Well might he, standing )on the ruins of the fort he had gained at such an outlay, Ld gazing at the lofty ramparts of St. Angelo, whose 3rs of batteries were still crowned with the White Cross inner, exclaim, in an agony of doubt and perplexity, What will the parent cost us, when the child has been purchased at so fearful a price?" CHAPTEE XL Siege of Malta, 1565 — continued. Arrival of a reinforcement to the garrison — Investment of the Boi — Transport of galleys across the Isthmus — Attack on Sengles Breach established on the post of Castile — Repeated assaults both points — Exhaustion of the garrison — Arrival of a succourii; force from Sicily — Close of the siege — Causes of the successf: defence. The festival of St. John the Baptist, on the 24th Jim was celebrated by the inhabitants of the Bourg wit very gloomy feelings. The sad tragedy enacted at tl capture of St. Elmo had struck dread into the hearts i all, and the horrifying spectacle of the headless an mutilated corpses, which greeted their sight on the fir dawn of their patron saint's day, increased the genen despondency. On the other hand, the camp of the Turl was filled with sounds of rejoicing at the victory. Tl Marsa Muscette was now open to their fleet, and a lorj line of galleys, gaily decorated, rounded point Dragi in triumph to the strains of martial music, and can; streaming in succession into the newly-acquired have: The works of St. Elmo were dismantled, and its gui despatched to Constantinople as a proof of the succe that had been achieved. Mustapha now turned his attention towards the ne\ THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 255 d far more formidable undertaking which still awaited m. The lines which enclosed the two peninsulas had en strengthened as much as time and means would rmit. The lengthened period spent by the Turks before . Elmo had not been passed in idleness by La Valette. en and women, high and low, the noble and the peasant, e knight and the soldier, all had laboured with energy d good, will at the work. A floating bridge was thrown ross the inlet between the two peninsulas, and thus ompt communication was established between the Durg and Senglea. The garrison of the Citta Notabile is reluced to reinforce that of the towns, and all ivate stores were seized for the public use. Mustapha's st operation was to complete the investment, which ) did by constructing trenches traced so as to stretch om the Coradin hill to that of Bighi. Before, how- er, this had been done, four galleys from Sicily had ached Malta and landed their forces on the north of e island. This body consisted of 42 knights, 20 ^ntlemen volunteers from Spain, 11 from Italy, 3 from erniany, 2 from England (named Edward Stanley and )hn Smith), 56 gunners, and 600 infantry. Taking ivantage of a thick mist, an event most unusual at at time of the year, the little force succeeded in pass- g the Turks, and entered the Bourg on the 29th me. This reinforcement, slender as it was, greatly ised the spirits of the garrison, whilst the Turks 3re proportionately depressed. They soon learnt that esh troops had entered the Bourg, and their fears •eatly exaggerated the number. Rumours also reached em of the large preparations going forward in Sicily, so at they felt they might at any time be called on to eet a new enemy. 256 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. This dread led Mustapha to try the effect of a parlej and for this purpose he sent an envoy into the town. Tl defiant reply returned by La Valette showed him tfoi he had nothing to gain by negotiation, and that if tt fortress was to be won it must be by force of arms alon He therefore pushed forward his siege works, and early July had completely invested both the Bourg and Sengle The first point selected for attack was the spur bastion \ the extremity of the fort of St. Michael touching tl harbour, which was open to assault by water. As it w£ impossible to bring his galleys to the point by the ord nary channel through the entrance of the grand ^arbou owing to the fire from St. Angelo, he determined on tbj adoption of a novel expedient. From the upper extremii of the Marsa Muscette to the head of the other harboi across the isthmus of Mount Sceberras, the distance is nC great ; he therefore caused a number of galleys to b transported by land across this neck and re-launche under the Coradin hill. This laborious service was pei formed by Christian slaves, and in a few days La Valetl beheld no less than eighty vessels floating in the uppe; portion of those waters, the entrance to which he had s sedulously guarded. The Grand-Master took every precaution to avert tli impending storm. The seaward ramparts of St. Michae 1 were strengthened, additional guns were planted, and as last step a strong stockade was constructed in the wate running from the spur of St. Michael to the neck of th; peninsula parallel to the line of ramparts, and con sequently facing the Coradin hill. This stockade wa formed of strong piles driven into the bed of the harbour and connected by chains passing through iron rings fixe" into the head of each. Large spars were also lashed fror; THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 257 Lie to pile, and a barrier thus constructed which would aterially impede a boat attack. A similar obstacle was ected in front of the posts of Germany and Castile. This lork could of course only be carried on by night, but the Maltese divers completed it in an incredibly short time. jistapha was dismayed at perceiving so formidable an im- ^diment rising, and anxious, if possible, to prevent its com- etion, he selected a number of the most expert swimmers his army, whom he provided with axes and despatched r its destruction. The Maltese divers met this attack j a similar sally ; they dashed into the water with their rords between their teeth, and gained such a complete astery over their opponents that but few succeeded in turning to the opposite shore. Everything being at length ready, and the batteries tying effected practicable breaches, it was determined deliver assaults simultaneously on the spur and on the ud front of Senglea. Hassan, the viceroy of Algiers, n of Hayraddin Barbarossa and son-in-law of Dragut, iio had just arrived with a strong reinforcement, was imed for the command of the land attack, whilst his 'iitenant, Candelissa, led that upon the spur by water. At a given signal, early on the morning of the 15th dy, the action commenced by the advance of the Turkish •tilla. Its progress was enlivened by the strains of irtial music, and the sun on that summer's morn flashed ►on many a glittering weapon, and lighted up many a y and fluttering pennon. In advance of the squadron me a boat containing two Tirrkish mollahs, who recited >m the Koran such texts as were most likely to arouse e enthusiasm of their followers. When they neared e scene of strife these holy men cared no longer to upy their conspicuous position, but, resigning their 258 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. place to others, wisely returned to camp. Candelissa' first attempt was on the stockade, through which endeavoured to force a passage. The barrrier was, how ever, too strong, and the intervals too small for him t he able to push his boats through ; he was also too muc galled by the fire from the ramparts to permit of Ir remaining long in front of it. Plunging therefoi into the water, which reached to his neck, he mac his way through the stockade, and calling on his men I follow, waded to the shore, where he drew his sword ai dashed at the breach. At this moment, unfortunately, a store of combustible which had been accumulated on the rampart for the of the defenders, suddenly became ignited and explode killing and wounding many of the bystanders. All for a time in confusion, and when the smoke cleared aw£ the Turks were found established on the summit of tl breach. Rallying his forces, the commander Zanoguei who held the post, dashed into the middle of the euei and a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. Long and despei was the struggle, but at last the weight of numbers pi vailed as more and more of the assailants penetrai through the breach, and the defenders began to way. Mustapha, who was watching the course of events the Coradin hill, determined to complete the success, overcome all further obstacles. He therefore despatcl a body of 1,000 janissaries in ten large boats to sup] the assaulting column. To avoid the difficulty of stockade they steered well round to the northward, thus exposed themselves to the fire of St. Angelo, which the original attack had been screened by the ppj of Senglea. It has already been mentioned that La Vale THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 259 ad constructed a small battery for three guns a fleur d'eau pon the rocks at the foot of St. Angelo for the express orpose of flanking the spur of St. Michael. The knight i command of this post, when he saw the advance of the ostile force, loaded his guns to the muzzle with grape, kusket shot, and other missiles, and waited quietly until ;ie boats had approached within easy range. Then the itteiy belched forth its fire at a distance of little more ban 200 yards, lashing the surface of the water into a :>am with its iron hail. The result was awful ; the boats lere all crowded together, and the discharge had taken feet in their midst. Nine out of the ten sank instantly, id such of their occupants as were not killed were seen niggling in the water. The loss of the Turks by this ow has been variously computed at from 400 to 800 en, and for days after the bodies of the killed floated on e water, where they were seized by the expert Maltese immers, who reaped a rich harvest from the plunder and on them. Meanwhile La Valette had despatched a powerful rein- rcement from the Bourg by means of the floating bridge, d this succour reached the scene of action at the moment len the Turks were paralysed by the incident they had , st witnessed. Its appearance at this critical juncture < tided the fortunes of the day; with fierce shouts the ights dashed at the enemy, and drove them headlong over b breach. Even Candelissa, whose reputation for courage d till then been above suspicion, was seized with ] nic, and was one of the earliest to turn his back on the | 'lie of strife. He hurried ignominiously into the first 1 it, and was followed by such of his troops as were able Wee more to scramble through or over the stockade. The J nainder fell almost unresisting victims to the fury of the 260 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. besieged. Their cry for quarter was met with the stern reply, " Such mercy as you showed to our brethren shall be meted out to you." From that day these acts of vengeance were called St. Elmo's pay. In this struggle the young son of the viceroy of Sicily was killed. Hi untimely fate, whilst fighting for a cause in which he hac no personal interest, created a universal feeling of deep regret, even the stern and impassive La Valette himsel exhibiting the most poignant sorrow at his loss. Whilst Candelissa had been thus engaged, Hassan ha( on his side made several desperate but futile attempts t«j penetrate into the defences on the land front of Senglea Wherever the assaulting columns showed themselves the; were met by an impenetrable array, which no efforts couL dislodge. Hassan soon found that he was now fightin: an enemy very different in stubbornness and determinatio: from any with which he had hitherto been brought i contact ; and at length, exhausted with his fruitless effort: he was compelled sullenly to withdraw his troops an acknowledge the bitterness of defeat. Thus ended th, memorable day. Nearly 3,000 of the flower of the Otti man army perished, most of whom were either janissari or corsairs, whilst the loss of the defenders did not exceqi 250. Amongst these, however, besides the son of t$ viceroy, was the commander Zanoguerra, who fell at tl' moment of victory. Mustapha now saw that still greater exertions we necessary to atone for his failure, and he conceived that would be advisable to take advantage of his vastly superi forces by carrying on an attack against Senglea and tj> Bourg simultaneously. He retained the direction of h> former in his own hands, whilst he confided the latter f the admiral Piali. Candelissa, whose conduct in the 1$ THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 261 ssault had not raised him in public estimation, was placed a charge of the fleet, with directions to cruise off the nouth of the harbour and intercept any attempt at re- oforcement. This division of command created great ivahy and emulation, as each felt that if he, were he fortunate man to gain a first footing within the nemy's defences, the whole glory and reward of the xpedition would fall to him. Piali therefore determined ) push forward his attack on the Bourg with the tmost vigour. A battery had already been constructed n Mount Salvator, which played on the post of Castile nd on part of that of Auvergne. To this Piali added nother still larger on the bluff of Bighi, containing both uns and mortars. He thus enclosed the post of Castile etween two fires, and soon reduced its ramparts to ruins. Lt the same time he advanced his trenches, so that he was uite close to the bastion by the time matters were ripe )r a storm. Mustapha meanwhile had abandoned all further at- smpts on the spur, owing to the stockade, and directed is efforts solely against the land front. On the 2nd aigust, being anxious, if possible, to forestall the opera- i r ons of Piali, he delivered an assault at the point where lassan had failed. For six hours the struggle was bstinately maintained ; five times were the Turks driven ■om the breach, and as often rallied by their indomitable eneral. At length he was compelled to abandon the ttempt, and the wearied garrison were once more per- ritted to enjoy a brief repose. | Piali was on his side ready to assume the offensive a 3W days later, and on the 7th August an attack was lade on both points simultaneously. That on the post i Castile failed signally ; but Mustapha was on his side 262 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. more successful, and after a desperate struggle drove the defenders from the contested rampart. At this crisis, J when all seemed lost, and a few moments more must have | decided the fate of Senglea, he, to the amazement of the combatants, sounded the retreat. This step on his part appeared at the time inexplicable, but its cause was really very simple. The commandant of the Citta Notabile having heard the firing, and rightly conjecturing that the Turks were delivering a fresh assault, determined to create a diversion. The little party he sent out found the Turkish camp unguarded, and fell at once upon the sick and wounded who were lying there. Shrieks and yells resounded on all sides, and a panic spread through the army. It was supposed that the relieving force from Sicily had landed, and that its advanced guard was already on them. The intelligence reached Mus-i tapha in the thick of the contest at Senglea, and at the very instant of victory he saw the prize torn fromi his grasp. An immediate retreat was sounded, and he! assembled his disheartened troops to meet the new enemy, supposed at that moment to be in their rear. To his astonishment and rage, when he reached the scene of action he discovered the true state of the case. The little party having attained their object, and created a; diversion, wisely retired in time, and Mustapha found,: to his unspeakable indignation, that he had abandoned a victory already in his grasp on a false alarm. From this time he resolved to carry out his purpose rather by the harassing frequency of his attacks than by theiif intensity. Almost every day, therefore, witnessed a repetition of the struggle in one or both directions, 1 which, after more or less persistance, was invariably driven back. After each of these victories, however, La THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 2(33 r alette beheld his numbers steadily diminishing*. His ioughts turned more and more anxiously towards the dief expected from Sicily, where his ambassador was usily engaged pleading his cause. It is very difficult > account for the dilatory conduct of the viceroy at lis juncture. It is well known that he was warmly Inched to La Valette and the Order. He had even ltrusted his son to the knights through the perils of the ege ; it cannot, therefore, be supposed that he was [different to the fate of the island. It must be pre- imed that in his delay he was acting under the secret rders of Philip. At length, after repeated remonstrances •om La Valette' s envoy, and a long and stormy meeting r council, specially convoked for the purpose, an assur- ice was forwarded to the Grand-Master that if he could )ld the fortress till the end of August he should most >sitively be relieved by that time. Meanwhile the daily assaults continued without inter- ission. On the 18th August both points were, as usual, tacked ; but the attempt on the post of Castile was rferred for some time after that on Senglea had been >rnmenced, partly with the hope of inducing some of s defenders to withdraw to the assistance of their friends, id partly to enable Piali to spring a mine which had ith incredible labour been driven through the rock meath the bastion. Finding that the delay did not mpt any of the knights to leave their station, Piali -•ed his mine, and a large extent of rampart was thrown |)wn by the explosion. In the panic that ensued the sailants made their onset and established themselves on .e bastion. The alarm spread instantly, and the great bll of the conventual church pealed forth to notify the ril. All was fear and confusion, and but for the pre- 264 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. sence of mind displayed by the Grand-Master at thai critical moment, the place must have been lost. Hastily seizing a pike, he rushed to the scene of action, calling on his brethren to die manfully where they stood, desperate encounter ensued, in which La Valette wa wounded; but he succeeded in his object; the breach waj retaken and cleared of the enemy. The 19th, 20th, and 21st each beheld an assault oi some point, and although on every occasion it faile< the steadily diminishing numbers of the garrison prove* clearly that they would be unable to sustain many morj such efforts. Whilst the besieged were being reduced this pitiable condition, that of Mustapha and his fon was becoming but little better. The incessant attacl he had persisted in making had, it is true, harassed thj besieged beyond all endurance ; but their constant faili at the same time produced the worst possible effect upoi his own troops. He had lost the flower of his arnr partly on those deadly breaches and partly by pestilem The power of the sun in Malta during the months July and August is very great, and at all times likell to produce disease, unless the most stringent sanitai precautions are insisted on. The Turkish camp h* remained stationary for two months, and, as is w( known, the habits of Easterns are not sufficiently cleai to stave off sickness under such conditions. It is n( therefore, to be wondered at that by this time a larj proportion of the force was laid low. Long and anxious were the consultations betwec Mustapha and Piali. The former, who felt that reputation, nay, most probably even his life, depen( on the successful issue of the enterprise, strongly urj that the army should, if necessary, winter on the islai THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 265 it Piali declared that he could not allow his fleet to In such a risk ; he announced, therefore, that as soon the summer began to break up, he should quit Malta id return to Constantinople, with or without the army. ustapha felt greatly dismayed at this opposition on the nt of his coadjutor, but he retained the secret of his tspondency within his own breast. Instructions were iiied for a fresh general assault on the 23rd August. >me friendly hand among the besiegers shot into the wn an arrow with a paper attached, on which was ritten the single word Thursday. The hint was sufh- mt, and a council of war was summoned to deliberate >on measures of defence against an attack which seemed ie\y to prove more than usually vehement. It was 'ongly urged that both Senglea and the Bourg should 1 abandoned, and all efforts concentrated in maintaining e enceinte of St. Angelo. The Grrand-Master would >t listen to this proposal, and to show that he was 'termined to yield to no such idea, he withdrew the ilk of the garrison of the castle to reinforce those of e two towns. Early on the morning of the 23rd the sault took place as anticipated. Every member of the rder whose wounds did not positively incapacitate him ft the infirmary and resumed his post on the shattered mparts. Tet even with this aid, the number of the tenders had dwindled to a comparative handful. otliing but their indomitable spirit and the demoraliza- m of the Turks could have enabled them to maintain successful resistance before the overwhelming odds ought against them. Once again, however, they were ctorious, and the baffled Mustapha was compelled to itkdraw his troops, now utterly cowed, from the scene their latest failure. 266 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, For a week after this defeat the Turks attempte nothing further, but contented themselves with keepin up a sullen cannonade. At length, on the 1st Septembe Mustapha once more essayed his fortune. It was, how ever, in vain ; a spirit of despondency had spread itsel through the ranks of the Moslem, and they loudL demanded to be carried away from the dreaded spc : where so many of their comrades had found a blood grave, or were dying of pestilence like rotten sheep. ]j was not by men imbued with such feelings as these th& victory was to be snatched from the determined an now desperate garrison. Mustapha's quailing and reluctar battalions recoiled almost without a blow from the fin front maintained against their advance. The feeblenesi of this last effort spread the greatest exultation amongei the besieged ; they began to hope that they should bj able alone and unaided to drive the enemy from thei; shores, and they almost ceased to wish for that relievin force whose coming had till then been so anxiousl; looked for. This long-delayed aid was, however, at length on itj way to the rescue. After an attempt which was rendered futile by a violent storm, the viceroy set sail from Syraj cuse for the second time on the 6th September, an< anchored that same night to the north of the island The next morning he landed the force, consisting of 8,50i| men, of whom 300 were members of the Order, ii; Melleha bay, and, having witnessed the commencemeni of its march towards the Citta Notabile, he returned U Syracuse for the remainder of the army, consisting o: 4,000 additional men. The news of this advance reachec; Mustapha whilst still plunged in despondency owing t(| his latest failure. Rumour had, as usual, greatly magnified THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 267 Le numbers of the reinforcements, and lie began to fear st he should be surprised in his intrenchments and his oops cut to pieces. He consequently gave the order »r immediate embarkation. The artillery and stores were moved from the batteries, and throughout the night of L e 7th September his soldiers laboured far more zealously carrying off their guns than they had done in originally nding them. The sounds of departure were not lost on L6 inhabitants, and with glad hearts they listened to the •nstant rumbling of wheels which marked the movement. With the dawn of the next day the actual embarkation hgan. St. Elmo was abandoned; all the lines and itteries, which it had taken so much time and so arful an expenditure of blood to construct, were relin- dshed. La Valette's measures, on this joyful morning are as prompt and decisive as those of Mustapha had •en injudicious. The whole town poured into the inches, and in a few hours the labour of months was ^stroyed. The banner of the Order was once more iumphantly raised on the ruins of St. Elmo, and Piali is driven to hurry his departure from the Marsa Mus- tte, now no longer a safe shelter. The embarkation was rely concluded when Mustapha received more accurate telligence as to the numbers of the relieving force, is proud spirit recoiled at the thought that he should us hastily have abandoned his position upon the approach a body of troops so far inferior in number to his own. council of war was promptly summoned, when it was cided by a slender majority to disembark the troojDs and I vance to encounter the new enemy. A body of 9,000 3n was therefore landed in St. Paul's bay, to the north the island, and pushed forward to meet the relieving n ce now lying between it and the town. 268 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. The viceroy had placed his army under the command c an Italian officer named Ascanio Corneo, and to hii La Valette sent timely notice that a body of Turks ha once more landed and would probably advance agains him. Corneo forthwith took up a strong position in froi of the casal of Nasciar, where he purposed to await tl approach of the Turks. He had, however, those with hi] who could ill brook such a defensive policy. A body d 200 knights, each with several followers, had been forme into a separate battalion. These men w^ere burning i cross swords with their hated enemy, and to avenge tl. loss of so many of their comrades who had fallen in tl defence. No entreaties, no commands, could restrain the impetuosity. Corneo, perceiving that he could not hoi them back, decided that he had better adopt an aggressrv policy. No sooner had the Ottoman army reached tl foot of the hill on which he was posted, than he ordered general advance. Down rushed the battalion of knight their brandished weapons gleaming in the sun as thoug eager to be bathed in the blood of the enemy. Tl Turks at once turned and fled. In vain did Mustapl strain every nerve to rally his flying soldiers ; the univers; terror was too strong for him to withstand, and he wa carried away by the stream. On came the pursuer heedless of aught but revenge ; every precaution w neglected, all discipline lost ; even their very armour wi cast aside that they might act with the more vigour. I tumultuous disarray they reached the shore, and strove t prevent the embarkation of the Turks. Here, howeve* they were checked by Hassan, who with 1,500 men w* covering the landing-place. They would inevitably hat been cut to pieces had not Corneo quickly made h appearance with the main body of his troops. Then a THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 269 as speedily over ; the Turks were driven on board their illeys, and the island at length cleared of all its foes. The siege was now at an end ; the shattered remnants of iat powerful army which a few short months before had uded with all the pomp and circumstance of war were ending their way homeward to Constantinople, there to ieet the angry frowns of a sovereign who, till that Dur, had scarcely known defeat. It now only re- tained that the victors should advance upon the town id greet their friends in the Bourg. A joyful meeting it as between those enfeebled war-worn soldiers and the allant comrades who had come to their rescue. Their -an and haggard faces, attenuated by vigils and hard- lips, were lighted up with the proud consciousness of the lorious victory they had gained. Their ruined and lood-stained ramparts could tell a tale of heroism and ndurance that would long linger in men's minds. As riend met friend and was clasped in fraternal arms, each sit that another triumph had to be emblazoned on the anner of their Order, before which all previous victories ?emed poor and trivial. Well might La Valette be xcused the natural exultation of the moment when he irected that from that day the Bourg should receive the /ell-earned title of Citta Vittoriosa. The troops which accompanied Mustapha to Malta had 'riginally consisted of upwards of 30,000 men, mostly )icked from the flower of the Ottoman army. The uccessive reinforcements brought by the corsairs Dragut ind Hassan had increased that number to nearly 40,000. )f this force only 15,000 survived to return to Constan- inople. On the other hand, the original garrison of the ortress had barely reached 9,000 men. The reinforce- ment received shortly after the fall of St. Elmo added only 270 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 700 to their strength. Of this small body but 60 1 remained unwounded. The process of exhaustion ha been carried on by Mustapha almost to the point at whic he aimed. His own forces, however, suffered so rnuc' from both sword and pestilence, that when the critics moment arrived he was unable to reap advantage froi the weakness of the enemy. The defence of Malta has justly been considered one c the most brilliant feats of arms recorded in the annals d the sixteenth century, and the historian naturally seeks t trace the causes of so glorious a victory. Much may tj attributed to the jealousy which existed between th ; military and naval commanders of the Turkish armamen = The engineering tactics of the Turks were throughoi faulty in the extreme. Dragut was also undoubtedly i the right when he asserted that Mustapha should haV made himself master, in the first place, of the Citta Note bile, so as to secure his rear from disturbance, whilst thl garrison would have been cut off from the assistance i 1 derived from the place during the early part of the sieg( Still, when full weight has been given to the errors of th Ottoman tactics, much remains to be assigned to the heroi and indomitable spirit of the garrison and its chief. I was indeed fortunate for Malta that at a moment whe its inhabitants were called upon to maintain so desperate defence, they were governed by a man who was eminentl qualified to guide them victoriously through the crisis There was a stern impassiveness in La Valette's temper^ ment, a steady and firm resolution which marked hoi utterly he excluded all personal feeling from the guidanc; of his actions. His cold and uncompromising sacrifice d the defenders of St. Elmo, in order to insure the pro; longation of the siege, marks the character of the mar THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 271 hilst the obedience to death which he extorted from that allant band, even after they had broken into open mutiny, roves the extraordinary ascendancy he had gained over leni. The crisis required a man who could subordinate 1 considerations of feeling to that of duty, and in La alette was to be found one capable of the sacrifice. He ad also the faculty of arousing in others that deep 4igious enthusiasm which pervaded his own life, and the leanest soldier imbibed from his chief a lofty determina- on to conquer or to die, which was the great secret of lis stubborn and successful resistance. The Order was, moreover, most ably seconded and lpported by the bravery and resolution of the Maltese Jiabitants. It must be borne in mind that the bulk E the soldiery was composed of the native element. Had lis failed, no individual heroism on the part of the knights )uld in the long run have secured success. The Maltese, henever they have been tested, have shown themselves eady and resolute soldiers, and on this memorable occasion ere not found wanting. No single instance is recorded iroughout the siege in which they failed to do their duty, ad on many occasions — notably when the Turks attempted ) destroy the stockade of Senglea — proved themselves ipable of the most devoted heroism. It is necessary to well somewhat strongly on this fact, because most of the arratives of the siege having been compiled by writers in le interest oi the Order, everything has been sacrificed to Id to its glory. The history of the struggle must in istice be indissolubly interwoven with that of the Maltese Lhabitants, and they have cause to this hour to remember ith f eelings of pride and satisfaction the noble deeds of leir ancestors in 1565. The 8th of September, the day on which the siege was 272 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. raised, was always subsequently celebrated with grea rejoicings by the knights. It was already a high f estiva of the church, being the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin but from the year 1565 it became to them the moy important anniversary in the calendar. On that day i solemn mass was celebrated for the souls of those who ha< fallen. The names of such amongst them as had attains to any dignity in the fraternity were registered in th records of the conventual church. The following is th number of knights of the various langues who fell :— Provence, 29 ; Auvergne, 13 ; France, 30 ; Italy, 79 Aragon, 31 ; Germany, 9 ; Castile, 26. The total wa therefore 217 out of 516 who are known to have bee: present. Only three Englishmen took part in the sieg( viz., Edward Stanley, John Smith, and the knight Olive Starkey ; and neither of these was killed. The heroic spirits who conducted the defence have Ion, since returned to dust, and the names, even, of but to many have been lost to the world; but the memory c their great deeds remains as fresh and green as thoug it were a thing of yesterday, and the island of Malta i never mentioned, even in the present age, without recallin to the mind the picture of the scenes enacted there durin the summer of 1565. English hearts and English sword now protect those ramparts whereon the ensigns of th Order of St. John fluttered ; and should occasion eve demand the sacrifice, the world would find that the bloo of Britain could be poured forth like water in the defenc of that rock which the common consent of Europe hi intrusted to her hands. CHAPTEE XII. 1565—1680. reneral exultation at the successful defence of Malta — Rumours of a new Turkish expedition — Death of Solyman — Commencement of the city of Yaletta — Death of La Yalette, and accession of de Monte — Transfer of the convent to Yaletta — Battle of Lepanto — Election of La Cassiere — Sedition against him — Building of St. John's cathedral — Election of Yerdala — Arrival of the Jesuits — Alof de Yignacourt — The Malta aqueduct — Election of Lascaris — Battle of the Dardanelles — Commencement of the Floriana enceinte- 1 — the Brothers Cottoner — Sir John JSTarbrough's visit to Malta — Construction of the Cottonera lines and Fort Eicasoli — Death of Cottoner — Decadence of the Turkish empire and of the Order. Iurope had looked on with breathless interest whilst le siege of Malta was going forward, and prayers were ffiered in many a Christian congregation for the success : the Cross against the Crescent. When it became aown that that success was assured, the universal exult- ion was unbounded. The king of Spain sent a special nbassador to Malta with congratulations, who bore with m as a present from Philip a magnificent sword and miard, the hilts of which were of chased gold studded ith gems. At Rome a general illumination of the city stifled to the joy of the inhabitants. The Pope offered i Valette a cardinal's hat, a dignity which had in T 274 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, previous years been accepted by D'Aubusson. La Valette however, considering that bis position was already abov( that of a cardinal, declined the offer with due expressions of gratitude. Meanwhile, the rage of Solyman, upon learning th( disgrace which had befallen his arms, was extreme Tearing the despatch into fragments, he pledged himsel to lead another expedition against the island in person Preparations were instantly begun in the arsenals o Constantinople, and every nerve was strained to collec such a force as should effectually wipe away the staii cast upon the military renown of the empire. In thi crisis, La Valette, feeling that he was no longer able t« oppose force by force, decided upon having recourse fc stratagem to avert the danger. He availed himself of th services of some of his spies in Constantinople to set fir to the grand arsenal of that city. Large stores of gun ; powder had been accumulated for the purposes of th approaching expedition, the explosion of which utterl wrecked the dockyard and the fleet which was being ther equipped. This blow put a complete stop to the entei prise, and the death of Solyman, which occurred o: September 5th, 1566, prevented any renewal of th attempt. All immediate danger being thus at an end, the Grand Master turned his attention to the restoration of h: ruined defences. The siege had clearly demonstrate the importance of fort St. Elmo ; La Yalette determinec therefore, not only to restore and develop it, but also t carry out the project, so often before mooted, of occi pying the entire peninsula with a new town and fortres: Experience had shown that the Bourg, or, as it was no^ called, the Citta Vittoriosa, was but ill suited for the heac THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 275 quarters of the convent, and no other spot afforded so many advantages for the purpose as Mount Sceberras. The expense, however, would be enormous, and foreign assistance was absolutely necessary. The Order at the moment stood very high in the estimation of Europe, and such liberal contributions were on all sides promised for the new scheme, that La Yalette was enabled at once to undertake it. He therefore summoned the most able angineers in Italy to discuss the design. Matters being thus prepared, the 28th of March, 1566, vvas selected as the day on which the first stone of the lew city was to be laid. The name given to it was Valetta, and the ceremony of inauguration was performed fiith the utmost pomp. At an early hour La Valette left Yittoriosa in solemn procession, accompanied by all the ^rand-crosses and other functionaries of the Order. They vere preceded by the clergy, at whose head was Dominick jubelles, bishop of the island. Arrived at Mount Sceberras, the Grand-Master took up his station beneath i pavilion erected for the purpose on the appointed ate, and there performed the ceremony of laying the irst stone at the corner of St. John's bastion. Loud rang he trumpets to announce the auspicious fact to the housands congregated round the spot, but louder far han the shrillest note of the clarion burst forth the shout vith which that enthusiastic multitude hailed the event, .t was indeed the commencement of a new sera, during vhich the island was steadily to rise in importance, until t attained a foremost rank amongst the strongholds of Europe. The foundation of the city was not effected with- •ut considerable opposition, and La Yalette was frequently ailed on to defend the prudence of the undertaking. 276 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. The Grand-Master, was, however, firm in his determi nation to prosecute the work, and it was pushed braveh on ; ditches were quarried in the soft rock, and with th stone thus raised the ramparts were constructed. For th first year nothing was attempted but the fortifications no one being willing to build within the enceinte unti its defence had become somewhat assured. The papa engineer, Francesco Laparelli, had the general control assisted in all details by Jerome Cassan, the resident en gineer of the Order. La Yalette watched the progress o the work with the keenest anxiety, taking up his abode i: a wooden hut on the spot, and spending his days i: the midst of the workmen. All the leading towns c Sicily, and even of Italy, were ransacked fther side was Castile. St. Elmo itself was garrisoned by letachments from all the langues, as was St. Angelo. Their 280 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. old posts in the Bourg and Senglea were retained in addition to the new lines. Each langae also erected for itself an auberge as it had done at Rhodes, and these are still the most imposing buildings in the city. The year 1571 was marked by the glorious victory which the combined Christian fleet gained over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto. In this action only three Maltese galleys were present, under Pietro Giustiniani, the whole expedition being under the command of Don John of Austria. The three Maltese galleys were on the extreme right of the centre division. Aluch Ali, the viceroy of Algiers, who had been manoeuvring against the right wing, had succeeded in penetrating between it and the centre, and had thus gained the rear of the Christian line at a point in the immediate vicinity of Griustiniani's galleys. Perceiving that they flew the White Cross banner, he at I once dashed at them. The undying hatred to the Order common to the corsairs of Algiers was burning in his bosom, and he thought that he now saw his enemies delivered into his hands. The three Maltese galleys were no match for the division he was leading, and for the: moment they were cut off from support. The struggle was fierce, for the knights fought with their usual impetuosity. Maxwell, in his life of Don John, gives a most graphic account of this incident. He says, " The " knights and their men defended themselves with a valour " worthy of their heroic Order. A youth named Ber- " nadino de Heredia, son of the Count of Fuentes, signally "distinguished himself; and a Zaragozan knight, Grero- nimo Ramirez, although riddled with arrows like another, " St. Sebastian, fought with such desperation that none of "the Algerine boarders cared to approach him until they saw that he was dead. A knight of Burgundy leaped' u u THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 281 ! :< alone into one of the enemy's galleys, killed four Turks, j'and defended himself until overpowered by numbers. ; '0n board the prior's vessel, when he was taken, he him- ' self, pierced with five arrow wounds, was the sole sur- ' vivor except two knights — a Spaniard and a Sicilian — 1 who, being senseless from their wounds, were considered 4 as dead." Aluch Ali succeeded for the moment in capturing the trior's galley, and having secured its banner, he took the ressel in tow, hoping to make his way out of the battle, vhich by this time he saw was lost. Fortunately his nanoeuvre was perceived by the squadron of reserve, which lad not yet been engaged, and its commander at once )ore down on him to intercept the movement. Aluch Ali, to avoid being himself captured, cut the galley adrift. Che rescuers found on her deck, the bodies of no less than •500 Turks who had been killed whilst boarding. The •esults of the victory were such as completely to annihilate he naval power of the Turks for many years. De Monte died in 1572, and the vacancy was filled by he election of John L'Eveque de la Cassiere, conventual )aihff of Auvergne, and grand-marshal of the Order. Che rule of this Grand-Master was an gera of tarbulence md confusion from beginning to end. An altercation vhich he had with the bishop of Malta, touching the extent >f the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the latter, led to the ntroduction into the island of the Inquisition, whose hief, under the title of grand-inquisitor, became ever iter a source of discord and uneasiness. Instead of two here were now three heads in the island, and although )oth the bishop and inquisitor acknowledged the supre- nacy of the Grrand-Master, yet by their acts they lmost invariably proved that that recognition was more 282 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. nominal than real. Disputes also arose with the republic of Venice and with the king of Spain, the latter inter- fering most unwarrantably with the patronage of the langue of Castile. In addition to these external quarrels, a spirit of turbulence also developed itself within the> convent, which the arrogant temper of the Grand-Master was not calculated to allay. Matters at length reached such a crisis that an open mutiny sprang up against La Cassiere. A public meeting was held in which it was declared that the Grand-Master was, from age and infirmity, unable to continue in the active exercise of his functions, and he was called on to nominate a lieutenant. La Cassiere, who although old was still in full vigour both of mind and body, rejected the suggestion with disdain; on which the mutineers once more assembled, and decreed that he should be deposed and placed in confinement in' fort St. Angelo. This resolution was at once carried into effect, and the aged Grand-Master, surrounded by his rebellious confreres, was, conveyed through the streets like a criminal to his appointed place of imprisonment. The greatest indigna-' tion was excited in the papal court at these lawless pro- ceedings, and an envoy was despatched to Malta to investigate the matter. By his advice La Cassiere was summoned to Rome, as were also the leaders of the mal- contents. The Pope, after inquiry, decreed the restora- tion of the Grand-Master, who, however, did not survive; to resume the active duties of his station. He died in? Rome on the 21st December, 1581. It was during his rule that the church of St. John the Baptist was erected in the new city, and became the con-< ventual cathedral. The expense of its construction was entirely defrayed by La Cassiere out of his magisterial' 1 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 283 evenues, and he further endowed it with an annuity of ,000 crowns. By a decree of the first chapter-general Leld after the erection of the church, a separate chapel 7as assigned within its precincts to each langue. These kapels form the side aisles, and are filled with stately aonuments erected in honour of members of the various ymgues. The entire pavement is one of the most beauti- ul specimens of mosaic work in Europe. It is composed f a succession of records to the memory of the most elebrated among the bailiffs, grand-crosses, and com- landers. It glistens with an endless variety of coloured aarbles, representing the blazonry of the arms of the Uustrious deceased ; jasper, agate, and other similar ostly stones being plentifully introduced. The treasury f the church was enriched with numerous valuable gifts, lie quinquennial offerings of the Grand-Master and other ignitaries. In addition to the magnificent reliquary nclosing the hand of St. John, there were silver statues f the twelve apostles, an exquisite golden chalice pre- 3nted to L'Isle Adam by Henry VIII., the sword and oniard presented to La Valette by Philip II., numerous rosses and censers in gold and silver, together with 3veral large candelabra of the latter metal. The chapel f the Virgin was lighted with a lamp suspended by a lassive chain, the whole of solid gold, and several of the ltars were richly decorated and adorned with costly essels. Below the church La Cassiere caused a crypt to e constructed, to which he transferred the remains of /Isle Adam and La Valette, and it is there that these vvo heroes now rest beneath handsome monuments rected by him. At the foot of the tomb of La Valette .e the remains of Oliver Starkey, his faithful Latin ^cretary, and the last Englishman who held the office 284 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. of Turcopolier. The Latin inscription on the tomb of La Yalette is from the pen of Starkey. La Cassiere was succeeded by Hugh Loubenx de Yerdala, bailiff of Provence, and grand-commander. It was during his rule, in 1592, that Grargallo, bishop of Malta, sum- moned the Jesuits to the island. There they speedily established themselves, and in their turn formed a separate jurisdiction of their own. Malta was from this time destined to be the seat of four distinct religious powers — the bishop, the inquisitor, the Jesuits, and the Grrand- Master — whence arose endless disputes and jealousies, which much aided in aggravating the discord between the rival nationalities of France and Spain. Yerdala has left several memorials of his sway in the fortifications he constructed in the island of Grozo, and by the erection of a country residence near the Citta Notabile for the use of the Grrand-Master, which has always borne hisj name. He was the first chief who held the office of Turcopolier in connection with that post./ The Pope felt that all immediate prospect of a feturn of the English nation to Roman Catholicism was at an end, and that there was consequently no hope of an early revival of the langue. To prevent the ancient dignity belonging to the conventual bailiwick of England from becoming, altogether lost, he attached it to the Grrand-Mastership, so as to preserve it intact until brighter days for the langue should arise. The successor of Yerdala was Martin Grarces, the castellan of Emposta. He was seventy years of age at the time of his election, and during his brief rule of six years no event of importance occurred. He was followed, in 1601, by Alof de Yignacourt, who thus became the fifty-secondj Grrand-Master. Several naval exploits of more or less THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 285 mportance graced the annals of his rule. Successful lescents were made on Barbary, Patras, Lepanto, and Liango; Laizzo and Corinth also witnessed the daring nroads of adventurous knights, who returned from these various expeditions with a vast amount of booty, and the )agnio of Malta was in consequence stocked with a large tdditional number of slaves. That these exploits bore in any appreciable degree on he general issue of the struggle between the Christian and he Moslem is more than can be asserted. The time when he knights of St. John were content to expend their mergies and shed their blood simply in defence of their :aith, without regard to gain, had passed away. Now they 10 longer sought in open field to crush the foe against vhom their profession engaged them to maintain a constant varfare. Looking rather to their personal enrichment han to the public advantage, they strove by isolated blundering exploits to obtain for their convent and them- ;elves a rich reward. The name of de Vignacourt has in Malta become nseparably connected with the aqueduct which he caused o be made. Destitute as the towns of Valetta and 7ittoriosa are of all natural springs, the inhabitants were compelled, before his time, to depend for their water iupply entirely upon excavated tanks, and in the event of i dry season suffered greatly. To obviate this evil, le Vignacourt constructed a very fine aqueduct, carried )rincipally on arches, which brought water into Valetta Tom some springs in the Benjemma hills. This aqueduct s upwards of nine miles in length, and carries the water nto every part of the city, supplying numerous fountains vhich succeeding Grand-Masters have erected in conve- lient localities. 286 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. The same fate befel de Vignacourt as that which struel down La Yalette. He received a sunstroke whilst hunting in the month of August, 1622, and died a few weeks after at the age of seventy-five. His successor, Louis Mender de Vasconcellos, only survived his election six months being nearly eighty years old at the time of his nomination It seems that at this period it was the practice of the fraternity to elect the most aged knights to the supreme control, with a view to the frequent vacancy of the post A more suicidal policy could scarcely have been conceived Men worn out by a long life of excitement and enterprise could hardly be expected to retain sufficient energy tc conduct with prudence and skill a government fraught witt so many difficulties both from within and without. "Where inflexible determination and vigorous promptitude in action were the essential requisites to a successful administration, these feeble and decrepit veterans, sinking into theii dotage, were utterly useless. It is mainly owing to this fact that during the seventeenth century the power of the Grand-Masters and the vitality of the Order itself suffered so rapid and marked a diminution. In pursuance of this short-sighted policy, Vasconcellos was followed in 1623 by Antoine de Paule, grand-prior of St. Grilles, who was seventy-one years old. He, however, disappointed general expectations by living to the age of eighty-five. Throughout his rule expeditions similar in : character to those under de Yignacourt constantly took place. Useless for all national purposes, and partaking; largely of a piratical character, they served only to irritate the Turks without enfeebling their power. The knights' of Malta were gradually degenerating into a race very similar in character and pursuits to the robber hordes who 1 swarmed within the harbours of Algiers and Tunis. The THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 287 worldly prosperity, however, of those over whom they held sway was materially increased, and the influx of wealth, consequent on the many rich prizes they annually seized, raised the island of Malta to a position of opulence and commercial importance to which it had for centuries been \i stranger. In tire year 1632 a census was held, and the [lumbers then recorded amounted to 51,750 souls. When L'Isle Adam, a century earlier, had first established his convent home there, the population barely exceeded 17,000. Antoine de Paule died on the 10th June, 1637, and ( ivas again succeeded by an aged knight. This was John Paul de Lascaris, castellan of the langue of Provence, who was seventy-six years old when elected, in spite of which he held his office no less than twenty-one years, lying at the extraordinary age of ninety-seven. During lis rule the battle of the Dardanelles was fought by the combined fleets of Venice and Malta. This was the most mportant naval victory which had been gained over the Turks since that of Lepanto. In a contemporary news- Daper, published in London, called the Mereurius Politicijs, i full account of this action is given, from which the Allowing extracts are taken : — " The navy of the 'republick was composed of twenty-eight great ships, 'twenty-four galleys, and seven galeasses, to which 1 was joyned the galleys of Malta, commanded by the 'lord-prior of Roccelia. The navy of the republick ' kept in the narrowest part of the channel, so that the urks could not come forth without accepting the attel which was offered." " The battel being thus egun, the captain-general, Laurence Marcello, accom- anied with the general of Malta, came up, inter- ingling with the rest of the Venetian commanders, nd vessels fell to it pel-mel. After the Turks had 288 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA, ac( ' used their utmost endeavours to avoid the fight, bei 6 hemmed in by the Venetian fleet, and having no pla 6 left to escape, they were forced to fight with the mor( ' eagerness, because they had lost all hope of making i ' retreat, and so commended their safety to the conflict ' whereby they gave means to the Venetians the more ' to exalt their triumph and glory over their enemies, all ' the enemy being totally routed by the sword, by Are ' and by water ; the captain, Bassa, only saving himseli ' with fourteen galleys ; which hath crowned the republic! ' with one of the greatest victories that ever was heard ' of in former times. The number of the enemies' dead; ' cannot be known nor discovered among so many ships ' and galleys taken and consumed by fire and water, ' About the shore there were seen huge heaps of dead ' bodies, and in the bay of a certain little valley there ' appeared so great a quantity of carcasses that it caused, 1 horror in the beholders. The number of Christian ' slaves freed on this occasion is near upon five thou- ' sand." " The Venetians having reserved some oil- ' the enemies' ships of all sorts in memory of thej ' successe, besides eleven which those of Malta had taken,; ' it was resolved upon to burn the rest." " The valour, ' courage, and magnanimity wherewith all the Venetians ' and Malteses did behave themselves on this occasion ' may better be understood by the action than by dis- course." The lord-prior of Eoccelia here alluded to was Gregory Caraff a, grand-prior of La Rocella, a member of the langue of Italy, and afterwards Grand-Master. During the sway of Lascaris a great development of thej fortifications of Mount Sceberras took place. The city of; Valetta had hitherto been protected by a line of ramparts,, THE KNIGHTS 0F MALTA. 289 vhich cut off the lower portion of the peninsula from the mainland. Not deeming this single line a sufficient lefence on the land side, the only direction from which an ,ttack was to be feared, Lascaris engaged an Italian ngineer named Floriani to design a new enceinte. This cheme met with warm opposition from the council, who hought the original trace sufficiently strong ; but, in pite of all protests, Lascaris adopted the project, which ras pushed forward with great vigour during the re- mainder of his life, after which it was suspended until the ear 1721, when it was finally completed. The suburb ontained between the two lines has received the name f Floriana, after its designer. Malta is also indebted to this Grand-Master for the plendid public library, which he established in 1650, and rhich gradually increased until it attained proportions xceeded by few similar institutions. This rapid augmen- ition was the result of a decree that on the death of a night his books should not be sold with the rest of his roperty for the benefit of the treasury, but should be 3nt to the public library, either to swell its extent, or, in le case of duplicates, to be exchanged. This collection is tuated in a very fine building, erected for the purpose by iascaris. It is particularly rich in old and rare volumes, 5 well as in illuminated missals and manuscripts. After the death of Lascaris, in 1657, several rapid langes of Grand-Masters took place, marked by no events E importance. Martin de Eedin, grand-prior of Navarre, is successor, died in 1660 ; after whom came Annet de lermont, bailiff of Lyons, who only enjoyed his position »r three months, when he was in his turn replaced by ut fyre and smoake for almost two hours." The behaviour of the townspeople seems to have been aost courteous, as witness the following entry : — " August 2nd, 1675. — This cytty is compassed almost leare round with the sea, which makes severall safe arbours for hundreds of shipps. The people are generally xtremely courteouse, but especially to the English. A lan cannot demonstrate all their excellencys and inge- uitys. Let it suffice to say thus much of this place, viz. : lad a man no other business to invite him, yet it were ufficiently worth a man's cost and paines to make a oyage out of England on purpose to see that noble cytty f Malta and their works and fortifications about it. everal of their knights and cavaliers com on board us, six t one time, men of sufficient courage and friendly car- nage, wishing us good successe in our voyage, with whom had much discourse, I being the only entertainer because could speak Latine, for which I was highly esteemed, ad much invited on shoare again. " August 3rd. This morning a boate of ladys with their msick to our ship's syd, and bottels of wine with them, 'hey went severall times about our ship, and sang several )ngs very sweetly ; very rich in habitt and very courteouse i behaviour, but would not com on board though invited ; 292 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. but having taken their friscs, returned as they com. After them com in a boat four fryars, and cam round about our ship, puld off their hatts and capps, saluted us with congjes, and departed. After them cam a boat of musitians, played severall lessons as they rowed gently round about us, and went their way. "August 4. — This morning our captain was invited to dine with the Grand-Master, which hindered our departure. And now wee are preparing to sail for Trypoly, Deu& vortat bene" Here the worthy chaplain, in his excitement, drops into poetry — " Thus wee, the Assistance, and the new Sattee, Do steare our course poynt blanke for Trypoly ; Our ship new rigged, well stord with pigg and ghoose-a Henns, ducks, and turkeys, and wine cald Syracoosa." Cottoner was very desirous of rivalling the fame oi Lascaris by adding something important to the defences of the island, and for this purpose he invoked the skill of the celebrated Italian engineer Valperga. "With hif assistance, and under his direction, a stupendous work wa*, commenced, sweeping round in rear of the two penin- sulas of the Bourg and Senglea, so as to enclose them anc a large extent of ground behind them in one vas* enceinte. This line, which forms a complete semicircle is little short of three miles in length, and includes nine bastions, with two demi-bastions at the extremities. Th first stone was laid by Cottoner in the bastion of St Nicholas on the 28th August, 1670, with great pomp, anc the work thus commenced was pushed forward rapidly For ten years was the building carried on under the ey of the Grand-Master, who felt his honour intimately boun< up with the fortification to which he had given his name and at his death the ramparts had throughout been raise< THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 293 d the level of the cordon. By this time the treasury was lmost exhausted, and his successor suspended the work. Vhen the island fell into the possession of the English the nes of Cottonera were still unfinished. Indeed, it was ot until some twenty-five years ago that the design, ltered to suit the exigencies of modern warfare, was eally completed. Many additions were also made by Jottoner to the defences of Floriana which had not been ompleted by Lascaris, and to increase the protection of be grand harbour a new fort was erected on the extreme oint at its eastern entrance. This was called fort iicasoli, having been constructed mainly at the cost of the night Francesco Bicasoli, from the designs of Valperga. Nicholas Cottoner died in the year 1680, at the age f seventy-three, deeply regretted in the convent, where e had been most deservedly popular. The public works rhich he carried on not only added materially to the scurity of the island, but also afforded constant employ- lent to the inhabitants, and thereby developed their rell-being. Although we shall find this prosperity con- inuing to a certain extent under his successors, still very year hastened the decadence of the fraternity, .^he want which originally called the Order into exist- nce had passed away. As long as the Turkish power ontinued to increase, and the ambitious policy of its ulers made it a perpetual source of uneasiness to Europe, o long were the knights of St. John, as its natural and worn foes, recognized as a necessity. The reign of Soly- aan the Magnificent had been its culminating point, and fter his death many causes contributed to the rapid irninution of its strength. For upwards of a century this .ecline was too gradual and imperceptible to calm the ears of Europe. Aggressions still continued, and had 294 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. to be met ; Hungary and Poland, Candia and the Levant, were still the scenes of much bloody strife and many a hardly contested fight. In most of these the Order bore its part, and bore it manfully ; but from the middle of the seventeenth century it became no longer possible to doubt the serious and rapidly accelerating reduction of the Turkish power. True, the Ottomans now and again rallied fitfully ; it was after this date that they effected the conquest of Candia, and at a still later time we find them under the walls of Yienna threatening the existence of Austria. These, however, appear to have been the last expiring efforts of their ambition ; they gradually withdrew within the limits of their own empire, and the fears of Europe subsided permanently. As a natural result of this decadence the Order of St. John also degenerated, and eventually became so effete that, when at the close of another century it was swept away, no friendly voice was raised in its behalf. CHAPTEE XIII. The career of a knight as a novice, professed knight, commander, and bailiff — The auberges — The chaplains — Position of the Grand-Master — His election, household, and revenues — The Navy — Revenues of the Order — Property and dignities of the various langues — The Hospital — Description of the establish- ment at Malta — Its regulations and staff — Criticisms of Howard. Before entering upon the history of the Order during the Last century of its existence — a period marked by but few events of importance — it will be well to break off the chain of the narrative, and give some details as to its social habits and observances in the days of its pros- perity. From the time when the first division into langues was instituted no intermixture was ever permitted between them. A postulant for admission preferred his request either at the chef- lieu, to the bailiff of the tongue of which he was a native, or at one of the grand-priories in his own country. If he sought admission as a knight of justice, the necessary proofs of nobility were demanded, after which he was accepted as a novice, and at the expiration of a year became a professed knight. The age at which a postulant was received as a novice was sixteen, but he was not required to take up his residence at the convent until he was twenty, when he was bound to proceed 296 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. thither in order to perform the military and naval duties of his position. Each completed year of such service was called a " caravan," and the number of these " caravans " required for qualification as a commander was three. In addition to these three years of active service, he was bound to reside for two more years at the convent before he could be made a commander, so that the earliest age at which he could attain to that office was twenty-five. To be made a bailiff, a knight must have been professed for fifteen years, and have resided at the convent for ten years. During this period he was attached to the auberge of his langue, where he lived at the table furnished by the con- ventual bailiff. Promotion to a commandery transferred him back again to his native province, unless he held an office at the chef -lieu of corresponding rank. He continued to reside on his commandery until he had attained such seniority as qualified him for the office of conventual bailiff, upon nomination to which he returned to the chef- lieu. The conventual bailiffs, one for each langue, resided in their respective auberges, which were large and stately buildings, erected for the purpose out of the public funds. The treasury issued an allowance to each bailiff for the i expenses of his office, and it also granted a daily ration for every person entitled to a seat at the tables he was obliged to maintain. Every member of the langae resident at the convent, whether knight, chaplain, or serving brother, had this right, excepting commanders, who held a benefice of £200 a year as knights, or of £100 a year as - chaplains or serving brothers. The allowance issued was by no means sufficient to cover the cost of these tables. It consisted of sixty gold crowns a month in money, and a daily ration in kind for each person of one rotolo of fresh i tTHE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 297 eat, or two-thirds that amount of salt meat, and on fast lays, in lien of the above, a due portion of fish, or four >ggs, together with six small loaves of bread and a [uartuccio of wine.* Members were entitled to three neals daily. The bailiff was supposed to provide only imple diets, such as these rations would afford, but it arely happened that he restricted himself within those units. The sumptuousness and prodigality of the tables ctually maintained depended on his disposition and wealth. A spirit of rivalry naturally sprang up in the arious langues, and the-bailiff who maintained his cmberge •n the most open-handed scale generally found his account a the popularity he thereby gained. Amongst the regu- ations laid down in the statutes for the maintenance of rder in the ember ges was one prohibiting the introduction f dogs, on the plea that they consumed too much food. Another strictly forbade the members from striking the ervants. These latter were generally slaves, captured airing their cruises. Doubtless the post of servant in an aberge was a far less repulsive lot than that of a galley lave chained to an oar, and was consequently sought after »y sucli captives as were of gentle birth. Hence, probably, he stringency of the regulation as to their treatment. The chaplains of the Order were received without any f those restrictions as to birth placed on the admission of be knights of justice. It was sufficient to prove that they rere of respectable origin, and that their parents had been larried. They were accepted at the age of sixteen as lerks, and were ordained sub-deacons two years after, ^hey could not attain to the rank of deacon until they rere twenty-two years of age, nor to that of chaplain *The rotolo weighed If lb., and the quartuccio was about three mts. 298 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. earlier than twenty-five. They were then available for all the religious offices of the convent, and were attached for the performance of divine service either to the con- ventual cathedral of St. John; to the household of the Grand-Master ; the Hospital ; or the auberge of their; langue ; or else they performed their caravans on board the galleys to which they were posted during a cruise. It was from this class that the prior of the church of St. John and the bishop of Malta were chosen ; the former by the Grand-Master in council, the latter by the Pope. In addition to the conventual chaplains, the Order received into the second, or ecclesiastical, division of its fraternity another class termed priests of obedience, who were not called on to reside at the chef-lieu, but performed the sacred duties of their office in the various continental grand-priories and commanderies. These priests received the emoluments of their benefices like other clergy, and; where such revenues were too small for their due and. honourable maintenance they were entitled to a further provision from the local treasury. They w r ere not eligible for either of the great offices which were appropriated tc the conventual chaplains, and they were never appointed, like the latter, to the position of commander. They were usually natives of the province in which they performed their duties, and to the langue of which they were attached. After the Order had settled in Malta, its conventual chap- lains were mainly recruited from the inhabitants of thai island, and the dignities of bishop and prior, which botifc ranked with the conventual bailiffs, were constantly held by Maltese. This, however, had not been the case al Rhodes. There the natives, belonging almost all to th( Greek church, were unable to enter the ranks of the fra- ternity, and although there was much toleration, and ever THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 299 3ordiality, between the members of the two churches, the 3rder was compelled to seek elsewhere for Roman Catholic oriests to fill the ranks of its conventual chaplains. The position of the third class, or serving brothers, las already been touched on in the 4th Chapter, and no further details seem needed on that branch of the subject. The influence and powers of the Grand-Master had gradually become much enlarged from what they had Deen in the earlier years of the institution. Peter Gerard, ;he first Gustos, or Master of the Hospital, was only the superior of a monastic establishment of but little con- sideration. Under Raymond du Puy the dignity of the )flice was greatly raised. Much wealth had poured in, ind extensive possessions in most of the countries of Europe had materially increased the esteem in which the 3rder was held, and consequently improved the social and political status of its head. He was no longer merely a nonk, the superior of a body of monks ; he was now the .eader of a select band of warriors, a corps which comprised n its ranks all that was knightly and noble in Europe. Ere long the Master of St. John became a personage of 10 mean importance, consulted and courted by the monarch, and treated by all with the most deferential respect. As time rolled on, and grant after grant was made to the Order, its wealth, numbers, and political con- sideration increased, until in the later clays of the unfortunate kingdom of Jerusalem, the chiefs of the Hospital and Temple occupied the highest position in the state after the monarch. It was in these times that the iigh-sounding title of Magnus Magister or Grand-Master was adopted. The expulsion of the fraternity from Palestine seemed it first likely to reduce, if not utterly to annihilate, the 300 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. political importance of its chief. For some years its fate for good or ill hung in the balance. The bold and successful conception of Villaret determined favourably the doubtful question, and from that time we find the Grand-Master occupying a far more influential position than even in the most palmy days of Christian domination in the East. The acquisition of the island of Rhodes i gave him at once the dignity and privileges of a ruling prince. Though his dominion was but small and his subjects few, the military colony at Ehodes was not unimportant. The powerful navy which the brethren organized, and with which they scoured the Levant, rendered most valuable assistance to the commerce of Europe. The Grand-Master, therefore, in his new rank of sovereign prince, now found himself entering into communication with the various courts of Europe some- what on terms of equality. The transfer of the convent to Malta, and the terror inspired by the establishment of the piratical kingdoms on the north coast of Africa,? enhanced this consideration. The island, when garrisoned by the knights of St. John, became an advanced post and bulwark of Christianity, protecting Sicily and Italy from the aggressions of the Moslem. The Pope and the Spanish monarch, both feeling the benefit of the services rendered, invariably treated its ruler with a con-S sideration and respect which his position would scarcely otherwise have warranted. The election of a Grand-Master took place on the third day after the occurrence of a vacancy. The qualifications; for a voter were that he must be eighteen years of age, and have resided for three years in Malta, that he had performed three caravans, and was not indebted to thej treasury in a larger sum than ten crowns. On the day THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 301 >f election the proceedings commenced with the celebra- ion of mass in St. John's church, all the electors being present. After this the members of the various tongues retired into their respective chapels, and each named :hree of its members, all knights of justice, into whose iiands it confided the further conduct of the election. After the suspension of the tongue of England, its three electors were chosen in the following manner. Each of bhe other tongues, in addition to its own three representa- tives, nominated a fourth for England. Out of the seven Ithus put forward, three were selected by the other twenty- one electors to act for the dormant tongue. These twenty-four knights then proceeded to name what was called the triumvirate, consisting of a knight, [a chaplain, and a serving brother. These three chose a fourth, the four a fifth, and so on until the original trio had been increased to sixteen, there being no restriction as to tongue or class. The sixteen then elected the Grand-Master. The revenue attached to the office amounted to upwards of £40,000 a year during the later period of its existence. This was furnished partly from pensions derived from 3ertain commanderies, and partly from customs, excise, and stamp duties in the island. The household of the Grand- Master was superintended by twelve knights, and he was attended by sixteen pages. These were received as knights of justice at the age of twelve years, and during their three years of service as pages were entirely main- tained by their friends. Although the expenses of the post were large there were always plenty of candidates, owing to the seniority gained by their being professed so young. The ceremonial of the table when the Grand-Master 302 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. dined in public was very elaborate, the grandest occasions being at the festivals of Christmas and Easter. There were also the most gorgeous ecclesiastical functions on the 24th June, the festival of St. John the Baptist, and on the 8th September, the Nativity of the Virgin, and the ; anniversary of the raising the siege of Malta. It was contrary to etiquette for the Grand-Master usually to pay visits. He was, however, sufficiently gallant to visit the three convents of St. Ursula, St. Catherine, and St. Magdalen, both at Christmas and; Easter. He was bound to inspect the Hospital periodically, and on such occasions he donned an apron, and personally distributed the portions of food. He was supposed in this manner to fulfil his functions as a knight Hospitaller. The navy of the Order was under the command of the bailiff of Auvergne as grand-marshal, the bailiff of Italy' being second in command as grand-admiral. These two dignitaries had charge of the land forces also ; indeed, the two services were so mixed up that it would have been difficult to draw any line between them. Every knight,; whilst performing his caravans, was attached to one of the battalions, either of the galleys or ships. As the two: above-named dignitaries held their offices ex-officio as heads of their respective langues, the actual duty of super- intendence would often have been but ill performed had it been left solely to them. An officer was consequently selected, subordinate to them, who exercised the real control under the title of general of the galleys. Until near thej end of the seventeenth century the fleet consisted exclusively' of galleys. It was with a navy thus composed that the knights earned that brilliant reputation which gave them! the privilege that the flag of every other nation saluted, the White Cross. Eventually, however, an addition THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 303 was gradually made of vessels of other types. The number of galleys varied greatly according to circum- stances. During trie warlike times of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries they had been very numerous, but after that they gradually dwindled, until at length only four were left. The fleet of ships had at first consisted of three, to which a fourth as well as three frigates were afterwards added. The revenues of the Order consisted of the following terns, whence its ordinary income was derived : — 1. Hesponsions. — The nature of these payments has been already described, being one-third of the net revenue for each commandery. 2. Mortuary and Vacancy. — When a commander died the net revenue of his commandery, from the day of his ieath till the 1st of May following, was paid into the treasury as mortuary. The revenue of the next year was similarly paid as vacancy. 3. Passages. — This was a sum paid by candidates for admission. The amounts varied greatly at different times. Latterly it was — for knights of justice, £100 ; chaplains, £80 ; servants-at-arms, £92. Donats paid £26 8s. 4. Spoils. — This was the produce of the effects of a deceased knight, four-fifths of which fell to the treasury, the owner being permitted to dispose by will of one-fifth 3nly. There were also sundry minor items not worth 3numerating, the above four sources providing nearly five-sixths of the total revenue. The European property of the Order was divided in the following manner : — The langue of Provence consisted of the two grand- priories of St. Grilles and Toulouse, with the bailiwick of 304 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Manosque. The grand-priory of St. Grilles containe fifty-three, and that of Toulouse thirty commanderies. The langue of Auvergne consisted of the grand-prio of Auvergne and the bailiwick of Lyons, the prio: containing fifty-two commanderies. The langue of France consisted of the three grand- priories of France, Aquitaine, and Champagne, the first containing fifty-eight, the second thirty-Qne, and the third twenty-four commanderies. The langue of Italy comprised seven grand-priories and five bailiwicks. Tlje priories were Lombardy, containing' thirty-six commanderies; Eome, nineteen; Venice, twenty- eight; Pisa, sixteen; Capua, twenty; Burletta, twelve; and! Messina, eleven. The bailiwicks were St. Euphemia, St. Stephen, Holy Trinity of Venousa, St. John of Naples, and St. Sebastian. The langue of Aragon comprised the three grand-priories of Aragon (commonly called the Castellany of Emposta), Catalonia, and Navarre. The first embraced thirty com- manderies, the second twenty-nine, and the third eighteen., The langue of Germany comprised the three grand- priories of Germany, Bohemia, and Dacia or Hungary, containing between them fifty-six commanderies. The langue of Castile and Portugal was divided into the three grand-priories of Castile, Leon, and Portugal, containing between them seventy-five commanderies. The langue of England, prior to its suppression, con- tained the grand-priories of England and Ireland, and the! bailiwick of the Eagle. Later on, in the year 1782, the dormant langue was combined with that of Bavaria, undei the title of Anglo-Bavaria. The new langue was, how- ever, exclusively Bavarian. Its two grand-priories of Ebersberg and Poland were divided into twenty-nine and THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 305 hirty-two commanderies respectively. It had also the )ailiwick of Neuberg. It will thus be seen that the European property of the )rder contained nearly 700 distinct estates, each of which naintained several members, afforded a liberal income to ts commander, and contributed its quota to that of the ^rand-prior. The balance only, after all this had been •xtracted from its -resources, fell to the treasury of Malta, during the eighteenth century this balance averaged omething like £50,000 — the gross income having mounted to little short of a million sterling. The next point of interest in connection with the )rder was its Hospital. As the fraternity owed its xistence and title to its Hospitaller functions, its arlier chiefs spared no pains and no expense to render liemselves worthy of the name they assumed. Even in be midst of the bloody wars in which the Order found "self constantly involved, and at times when its reverses ad almost threatened utter annihilation, the doors of the onvent were ever open for the reception of the weary wanderer. Should his health have given way under the ardships and toil to which as a pilgrim he had been xposed, he received within the Avails of this charitable •istitution every care and attention that Christian bene- olence could suggest. The knight returned from his eeds of daring on the battlefield, doffed his harness, rid aside his trusty sword, and, assuming the peaceful lack mantle of his Order, proceeded to devote himself to lose acts of charity which were ever being carried on ithin his convent walls. As long as the brethren miained in Palestine this state of things continued, •uring that period they had amassed from the donations id bequests of the pious enormous and ever-increasing x 306 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. wealth. This had, doubtless, brought in its train many evils and much degeneracy ; it had made them many bitter enemies, and rendered indifferent many of their warmest friends; still, we never hear among the numerous crimes laid to their charge, even by the most rancorous of their foes, that of negligence in this fundamental obligation of their profession. After their expulsion from Palestine, no doubt a change took place; established in the island of Rhodes, the great demand which had once existed for this support and hospitality fell off. There were no longer sick and weary pilgrims to cheer on their way ; the requirements of their Hospital in the island home they had adopted soon became only what the slender population in the midst of which they were living demanded. Thus we find the noble establishment, which in previous ages had called forth the enthusiastic admiration of all Christians in the Holy Land, dwarfed down to a very limited charity. The sick and needy could still procure all necessary, assistance from the Hospital, and care was taken to render it as perfect and convenient as possible, yet at the best it was but a pigmy affair compared with the magnificent establishment which the knights had reared within the precincts of the sacred city. The translation of the fraternity to Malta produced nc great change in this respect. Mindful of their old traditions, one of the earliest measures taken when fixing their convent on the rocky heights of their new home was to found a Hospital. There was already existing at the Citta Notabile a small establishment which had sufficed for the limited wants of the population prior tc their advent ; this was at once adapted to suit their tem- porary requirements. It was afterwards entirely rebuilt THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 307 )j the Grand-Master de Vilhena. In addition to that, hey founded another Hospital in the Bourg. This aiilding still exists, and is now part of the monastery of ?ta. Scholastica, the chapel being to this day used for ecclesiastical purposes. On it is the date 1533, with the rms of L'Isle Adam. On the transfer of the chef-lieu to faletta, the Hospital followed it. The selection of the iew site was most unwise, being at the lower extremity f the promontory of Mount Sceberras, not far from fort It. Elmo, where it is cut off from all the cooler breezes, jnd exposed to the south-east or scirocco wind, which in lalta is most trying and deleterious to the sick. It has eceived the unqualified condemnation of modern sanitary 3ientists ; and although we do not look for the same nowledge in the sixteenth century as in the present day, ; does seem strange that such elementary errors should ave been committed in the choice of a position, when it : ; remembered that the city was still unbuilt, and there- )re any point within the enceinte available. This building, which has been used as a military hospital I ver since the island was transferred to England, remains mch what it was in the days of the Order. It consists of ,vo squares or courts, one on a much lower level than the 'her. The far side of the lower square is prolonged in 'cie direction until it reaches a length of upwards of 500 jet with a width of 35 feet. This forms one long ward, 'he Rev. W. Bedford, in the preface to his " Regulations of the old Hospital of the knights of St. John at Valletta," says : " The first erection seems to have been the great hall, now divided by partitions which do not reach more than half its height, but containing under one roof a room 503 feet long, 34 feet 10 inches broad, and 30 feet 6 inches high. The beams of the roof appear to 308 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. " be red deal, although common report states Sicilian ches- " nut to be the wood employed in their construction. The " apartment at right angles also formed part of the same " great hall, though now divided by another partition of " about twelve feet in height. There seems to have been " a communication with the sea by means of a vaulted " passage, a portion of which, cut off by rough masonry, was! " brought to light during the sewerage excavations. At " the end of this large apartment is a small oratory, and " there are traces of an altar, above which now hangs a " large picture representing the reception of the hand oi " St. John by the Grand-Master D'Aubusson. All down " the wall on the sea side of the apartment are little re- " cesses which were used as latrines in former days. The " windows were high and small, so that the apartment " was (and is, even with its additional windows) very dull " and somewhat close. The dreariness of the room was. " relieved in former times by tapestries and pictures, the '" work of Matteo Preti and others. To those who look a' '" sanitation with the eyes of the seventeenth century, thert; " is nothing but admiration to be given to the costly, naj " lavish arrangements and service of the Hospital. Tin. " buildings were extended in 1662, and again by th " Grand-Master Perellos in 1712. In Perellos' time als* " the chapel of the Holy Sacrament was erected opposit " the ward for the dying." Such was the Hospital of the Order in Malta ; it noi remains to discuss its organization. Supreme in it governance was the conventual bailiff of France, the grand hospitaller. He nominated from amongst the knights c his own langue an overseer of the Hospital, under whos immediate charge the whole institution was placed. Th medical staff consisted of three physicians, two assistan THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 309 •physicians, three surgeons, two assistant surgeons, a lecturer 3ii anatomy, and six medical students, called " barber otti" [also a barber surgeon for phlebotomy, and an experienced ; female nurse for cases of scurvy. The physicians and f surgeons were each on duty every third month, residing during that time at the Hospital ; the assistants were pn duty every other month. The religious functions of the establishment were performed by a prior, a vice-prior, and right priests of obedience. A Greek pope also received an mnual gratuity to administer the sacrament to such of the ;ick as belonged to the Greek church. As a committee of nspection over all these officials, the Grand-Master in council appointed two " prud'hommes" or controllers of the Hospital, who were held responsible for its proper manage- nent. Among the inferior officials were a secretary to he " prad'honmies" a " clerk of the habit," or steward ; a v Under e" to take charge of the linen and furniture; a v bottigliere" for the wine, bread, oil, etc. ; two cooks, one >urveyor, and fourteen ward servants (probably slaves) ; jilso an " armor icre" who had charge of all the silver )late. This latter was considerable in quantity, most of he utensils being of that metal ; but this was less as a natter of ostentation than of cleanliness. The following ist shows of what the plate in the Hospital consisted Luring the early part of the eighteenth century : 250 bowls, >56 dishes, 1 large dish, 167 cups, 3 large basins, 12 basins, J56 spoons, 10 large spoons, 10 forks, 43 quart measures, 1 drinking cups, 1 drinking vessel, 1 casket, 13 lamps, 8 :>ots, in sizes, 4 jugs, 1 salver. The whole weighed nearly 5,000 ounces. The beds numbered 370 with curtains, -,nd 375 without curtains. The total average of sick in the iospital during the early part of the eighteenth century anged between 400 and 500. 310 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA* For the comfort of the invalids in winter, the walls of the wards were hung with woollen curtains (evidently in utter ignorance of all sanitary science) . In summer these were taken down and pictures placed in their stead. The regulations about food were these : — " The ' pried' hommes " look after the good quality of the materials used in the " preparation of the food, selecting always the best of " everything. The sick, therefore, are given the best soup, " made of fowls, herbs, vermicelli, rice, etc., and every sort " of meat that has been ordered for them, such as chickens, " pigeons, poultry, beef, veal, game, hashes, friccassees, " stews, sausages, etc., in such quantities as are necessary; " also fresh eggs, pomegranates, plums, and grapes, and " every kind of refreshment allowed to sick people ; such as " biscuits, apples, fruit, sugar, and all sorts of confectionery. " each according to his wants. Members of the Order " receive a double portion." Many articles of food con-; tained in this list appear to modern notions somewhat unsuited for the dietary of a hospital. The following statute shows that the duties of the Hospital were considered incumbent on all members : — " The training of the brethren of the Order prescribes " religious hospitality ; therefore, at the dinner hour they " must come to wait on the sick, and bring to their beds " the portions prescribed for them from the place where " the food is issued, and if the sick do not fancy what has " been prepared for them, they must exchange it with the " sanction of the physician. They must also warm up thd " portions and render all necessary assistance. But as all " being present together might create confusion, each langm " has a day assigned to it for the service of the Hospital "Provence, Sunday; Auvergne, Monday; France, Tues- " day ; Italy, Wednesday ; Aragon, Thursday ; Germany \ THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 311 ' i" Friday ; Castile and Portugal, Saturday. The novices I are bound to assist in the Hospital as above, each on the I day fixed for his langue, and that none may omit such a " proper work of charity, a check is kept by the grand- I cross master of the novices and by two commissaries, his ff colleagues, who bring with them a clerk to note the names " of those who fail to come, so as to admonish them. On Holy I Thursday the grand-hospitaller, with all the knights of I the langue of France, assemble in the room where the I Sepulchre is represented, and with exemplary charity I wash the feet of twelve poor men, to whom large alms " are afterwards given." The burial of such as died within the establishment was decently and carefully ordered. Four men in mourning robes carried the corpse to the grave ; and, with an eye to economy, the statutes specially provide that these robes I should be preserved for another time." No mourning was to be worn at the funeral of any member of the fra- ternity, either by the knights themselves or by strangers attending the ceremony. The corpse was buried in the mantle of his Order. The Hospital of St. John had, from its earliest founda- tion, been esteemed a sanctuary within which fugitives from justice might escape the clutches of the law. The exceptions to this right of sanctuary became, however, by successive decrees, so numerous, that it is difficult to con- ceive what crimes remained for which it continued to afford shelter. " No assassins shall find protection there ; nor " those who pillage and ravage the country by night, nor I incendiaries, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor conspirators, " nor those who have been found guilty of having caused " the death of any one, either by secret treachery or in cold r blood, or by poison, or by treason. No servant of any 312 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. " of the brethren shall find sanctuary there, nor thos " who have offered any violence, either to them or to o " judges or other ministers of justice, nor debtors, nor such " malicious persons as may have committed crimes within " the infirmary under the idea that it was a sanctuary;, " nor, lastly, lawyers or witnesses convicted of perjury, " nor murderers who infest the roads to rob and kill the " passers-by." It has already been pointed out how objectionable the site of the Hospital was from a sanitary point of view. The internal arrangements evidently were also not all that a strict sanitarian could desire. Howard the philanthro- pist, in his " Lazarettos in Europe in 1789," thus speaks of it : " The pavement is of neat marble or stone squares. ' The ceiling is lofty ; but being wood, now turned black, ' the windows being small, and the walls hung round ' with dusty pictures, this noble hall makes but a gloomy ' appearance. All the patients lie single. One ward is ' for patients dangerously sick or dying, another for ' patients of a middle rank of life, and the third for the 6 lower and poorer sort of patients. In this last ward ' (which is the largest) there were four rows of beds ; in ' the others only two. They were all so dirty and offensive ' as to create the necessity of perfuming them, and yet I ' observed that the physician in going his rounds was ' obliged to keep his handkerchief to his face. The ' use of perfume I always reckon a proof of inattention ■ to cleanliness and airiness, and this inattention struck ' me forcibly on opening some of the private closets with 6 which this hall is very properly furnished. The patients ' are twice a day, at eight and four, served with provisions, ' one of the knights and the under-physician constantly ' attending in the two halls and seeing the distribution. >se ur THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. . 313 f From the kitchen, which is darker and more offensive than even the lower hall, to which it adjoins, the broth, ! rice, soup, and vermicelli are brought in dirty kettles ' first to the upper hall, and there poured into three silver i bowls, out of which the patients are served. Those who are in the ward for the very sick and those of the middle rank of life are served in plates, dishes, and spoons of silver ; but the other patients (who are the most numer- ous) are served on pewter.* I objected to the sweet cakes and two sorts of clammy sweetmeats which were given to the patients. The number of patients who were in this hospital during the time I was in Malta : (29th March to 19th April, 1786) was from 510 to 532. These were served by the most dirty, ragged, unfeeling, and inhuman persons I ever saw. I once saw eight or nine of them highly entertained with a delirious, dying- patient. The slow hospital fever (the inevitable conse- quence of closeness, uncleanliness, and dirt) prevails here." Such is the description given of the arrangements of the lospital by a man who was far before his age in all that ppertained to sanitary knowledge. No doubt that at the Lme when Howard made his visit, viz., 1786, matters had reatly degenerated. Discipline had become very lax, and, s one of the consequences, institutions like the Hospital ad been neglected, and left to the sole charge of officials, lany of whom were very sparing of their time and double. Still, with all its faults — and they were faults )mmon to the time, and not peculiar to the institution — le Hospital of St. John was freely open to all who sought s shelter and the kindly ministration of its officials, 'atients flocked to it from Italy, Sicily, and other countries * A large number of the patients in the Hospital were galley slaves, d it was these only who were served on pewter. 314 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. the shores of which were washed by the Mediterranean None who craved admission were ever turned from i doors ; and although many of the arrangements wer rough, and the sanitary appliances rude, still they wer equal in efficiency to what was usual at that period. The; must not be judged by the knowledge of the nineteentl century, but by that of a hundred years ago. Men live< in those times a harder life, and expected less in the wa t of comfort and luxury than now. They found in th Hospital of Malta certainly as much, and probably fa more, care and attention than they would have receive 1 elsewhere. It consequently maintained to the last very high reputation, and reflected great credit on th fraternity. CHAPTEE XIV. 'he chapter-general: its constitution and mode of procedure — The councils ^of the Order — Its punishments — Acts forbidden by the statutes — The question of duelling — Midnight disturbances — The question of chastity — Institution of slavery — Slave trade at Malta — Treatment of the Maltese by the Order — The bailiwick of Brandenburg. "t has been already mentioned that in the Order of St. Toim all legislative powers were exclusively vested in the hapter-general, whilst the executive functions were exer- ised by the Grand-Master in council. It will be well herefore to give some description of these various assemblies. The chapter-general, the great parliament of the frater- lity, was, during the earlier years of its existence, held •egularly every five years, and in cases of emergency was )ften convened even between those periods. Gradually i longer time was allowed to elapse ; the interval between he meetings became extended first to ten years, and ater on still longer, until they were eventually almost entirely discontinued, one only having been held through- )ut the eighteenth century. Many reasons may be issigned for the abandonment of this ancient council. Che great expense attending its convocation; the detri- nent to the interests of the community, necessarily irising from the calling away of so many of the pro- vincial chiefs from the seats of their respective govern- 316 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. ments ; the turbulence which often characterized it sessions, and the difficulty which the Grand-Maste generally experienced in carrying out his views an policy in an assembly where his influence predominated; but slightly ; all these were causes tending to check their frequent convocation. In the absence of a chapters general, the Grand-Master carried on the government with the intervention of a council only, and in this assembly he exercised far greater influence, and obtained a more complete subservience to his wishes than he could ever expect from the other. The precedence of the various bailiffs of the Order in the chapter was carefully laid down. They were fifty- five in number, the senior being the bishop of Malta, and: the junior the bailiff of St. Sebastian. Of the English dignitaries, the Turcopolier ranked eighth, the grand-priori of England twenty-second, the grand-prior of Ireland twenty-ninth, and the bailiff of the Eagle forty-fifth. Such of these fifty-five bailiffs as could not attend in per- son were bound to send proxies to act in their stead. All commanders had seats in the chapter, in order of seniority, below the above dignitaries, but if not present themselves did not furnish proxies. The time and place of meeting) were fixed by the Grand-Master, subject to the approval; of the Pope. After divine service, and the verification of proxies, each one took his seat in accordance with hid precedence, and the chapter was declared open. In token of homage to its supreme authority, each member' tendered as tribute a purse containing five pieces of silver. The marshal brought the grand standard of the Order, which he surrendered to the keeping of the chapter, and the other officials in succession delivered up the; various symbols of their appointments. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 317 The statutes thus laid down the order of procedure. ?he chapter was first to examine into the incidence and Pressure of the various imposts decreed by previous hapters, and to make such alterations and revisions as he state of the revenue might render possible or dvisable. It was afterwards to look strictly into the nanagement of the treasury. The records were then to >e passed in review, and such new laws enacted, and i»ld ones abrogated, as might be thought necessary, after vhich the chapter could deal with any questions brought >efore it, that did not come under any of the preceding leads. The duration of the session was wisely limited to ixteen days. If at the conclusion of that time any msiness remained unsettled, it was disposed of by a council of reservation, elected by the chapter before dis- olving. The chapter-general was the ultimate court of ippeal from the decisions of the various councils, and in ts absence that appeal lay with the court of Rome. The ;ode of laws known as the statutes of the Order was the nit come of a succession of chapters, no additions, alter- itions, or omissions having been permitted by any authority ;hort of that which had called it into existence. The luty of the Grand-Master consisted merely in enforcing )bedience to the laws thus set down. Provincial chapters were held in every grand-priory, oresided over by the grand-prior or his lieutenant, at vhich all commanders attached thereto were bound to De present in person or by proxy. The local interests of :he fraternity were discussed at these assemblies, and such natters there disposed of as did not concern the Ord@£ it large. The councils of the Order in its chef-lieu were four in lumber ; viz., the complete, the ordinary, the secret, and 318 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. the criminal, the latter being sometimes called the counci of state. The complete council consisted of the Grrand- Master, the bishop of Malta, the prior of the church, the eight conventual bailiffs or their lieutenants, any other grand-crosses who might at the time be present in the' island, and, added to these, the two senior knights of justice of each king ue who had been resident at Malta for 1 at least eight years. Before the complete council were brought all appeals from the others, which were composed of grand-crosses only. In the ordinary council all nominations to vacant offices were made, all disputes arising therefrom decided, and the ordinary business con- nected with the government of the island transacted: This was the assembly usually employed by the Grand- Master. In it no topic could be introduced without his approval, and as all grand-crosses had a voice, he was able, by the creation of a batch of honorary bailiffs, to carry any! measure in spite of opposition. The secret council took' cognizance of such matters of internal and foreign policy as were not considered fit subjects for publicity; its pro-, ceedings were therefore strictly confidential. The criminal: council adjudicated on all complaints lodged against members of the Order, and punished all offences against: the statutes. The mention of this court naturally leads* to an account of the crimes and punishments common amongst the fraternity. The penalties to which a member of the Order wi subject were as follow : The Septaine and the Quarantaine. These sentences obliged the offender to fast — the form for seven, the latter for forty days ; on Wednesdays a Fridays the diet being restricted to bread and water The statutes laid down that on these days he was to receive corporal discipline at the hands of a priest in the ■ THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 319 eventual church during the recitation of the psalm Dcus mereatur nostri ; but this fell into disuse after the sixteenth mtury. If a more severe punishment were required, nprisonment was resorted to, no limit in duration being efined. Loss of seniority was also frequently inflicted ; •id if a still more severe punishment were necessary, the ilprit was deprived of his habit, either for a time or in erpetuity, which latter was in fact equivalent to expulsion •om the Order. The sentence of death was not recognized in the code, but a knight were guilty of a crime involving such a enalty, he was stripped of his habit and then handed ver to the civil power to be treated like an ordinary iminal. The records of the sixteenth and seventeenth 3nturies mention several instances of capital punishment ms inflicted on quondam members. The method usually nployed for carrying out the last sentence of the law was orrowed from the Turks, the condemned man being sewn p in a sack and thrown alive into the Marsa Muscette. 'he application of torture was not forbidden by the ;atutes, and the records show that it was resorted to very *equently, no rank being so elevated as to save a prisoner •om this cruel test. The eighteenth division of the statutes was devoted ) an enumeration of the various acts forbidden to the eternity. No member was to devise by will more than fifth part of his property. He was not to wander from is commandery, so as, in the words of the statute, " to make a vagabond of himself." No privateering expe- itions were to be undertaken without sanction of the rrand-Master and council. No member was to appear i public without the distinctive dress of his Order. He as forbidden to create a disturbance in his aaberge, or to 320 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. " break the doors, the windows, the chairs, or the tablei " or any articles of that nature, or to upset or disarrange "them with reckless audacity." "If any member shal "insult another in the palace of the Grrand-Master, h( " shall lose three years' seniority ; for an insult in ar " auberge he shall lose two years." The following are the crimes for which the statute^ decreed loss of habit in perpetuity : — " Those convictec " of being heretics, guilty of unnatural offences, assas- " sins, or thieves ; those who have joined the ranks o: " the infidel, amongst whom are to be classed those who " surrender our standard or other ensign when unfurlec " before the enemy ; also those who abandon their com- "rades during the fight." The question of duelling was rather curiously deal with. It was strictly forbidden by the statutes, and th severest penalties were attached to any infringement of law. This was, however, in practice found so severe, an the difficulty of checking the evil so great in a fraternit full of young and hot-headed spirits, that some modifi tion or evasion was absolutely necessary. It beca: therefore, gradually tacitly recognized that duels mi be held in a place set apart for the purpose. The: exists in the city of Valetta a street so narrow as to b called, par excellence, the " Strada Stretta," and this the spot marked out as a kind of neutral territory which irascible cavaliers might expend their superfluo courage without incurring the penalties of the law. Th fiction was that a combat in this street might be looked as a casual encounter, the result of some jostling or lision brought about by the narrowness of the roadw The Strada Stretta consequently became eventually t usual rendezvous for affairs of honour. The secon THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 321 osted themselves one on either side at some little distance rom their principals, and with drawn swords prevented any ne approaching the scene till the conflict was over. The regulations against midnight disturbances show aat fast young men in the middle ages were as great a msance to their neighbours, and committed much the ime class of follies, as in the present day. " Whoever shall enter into the house of a citizen without being invited, or who shall disturb the social gatherings of the people during their festivals, dances, weddings, or other similar occasions, shall lose two years of seniority ; and if, either by day or by night, they do any damage to the doors or windows of the people, they shall suffer im- prisonment. If they join in masquerades or ballets, they shall suffer loss of seniority. If any one shall stop up doors or windows with plaster, or shall stain them with dirt, or shall throw stones at them, he shall lose three years of seniority." The question of chastity was one not easy to legislate for an institution constituted like that of the Hospital. On .e one hand, as a religious fraternity, it was impossible to cognize any infraction of the strictest laws of continence, lie monk, in his cloistered retreat, mortifying all sensual >petites by fasts and vigils, was not supposed to be more ?e from earthly passions than the knight of St. John. r e all know, however, how widely even the secluded mates of the monasteries constantly strayed from the th of virtue ; and it was not to be expected that the ambers of the military Orders, surrounded as they were th temptations, could have maintained themselves more &e from vice. Even Raymond du Puy, in his original le, drawn up at a time when monastic austerity was ' its height, dealt with the question somewhat tenderly. 322 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. He first of all strove to guard his members from tl evil. " Whenever they may be in a house, or in churqh, o " wherever else women may be present, let them mutual! " protect one another's chastity. Nor let women was. " either their hands, or their feet, or make their beds. Afterwards he deals with the sin when committed, and i will be observed that punishment is awarded, not for thi act, but for the being found out. " If any of the brethre " shall have fallen by the force of his evil passions into an " of the sins of the flesh, if he have sinned in secret, U u him repent in secret ; if, however, his sin shall have bee: " discovered publicly, let him, in the same place where tj " may have committed the sin, on the Sabbath day, afte " mass, when the congregation shall have left the church, t " stripped in the sight of all, and let him be scourged." If such were the rules made in the first years of tl Order's existence, when the monastic element greatly ove: powered the secular, we may suppose that as time went c more and more latitude was allowed. Composed as tl fraternity was of the youth of high and noble families, n< secluded, like their predecessors of the days of du Puj from female society ; taught to look upon military renow: rather than ascetic piety, as the adornment of their pr< fession, it was not to be expected that they could act i to the strict letter of the vow they had taken. Tl. statutes of the later times do not therefore attempt forbid a dereliction of chastity ; they content themselv with checking all open display of immorality. Even as was, these statutes were so ambiguously worded, and le so many loopholes for evasion, that it is not surprisii they should gradually have become a dead letter. TJ presence of a large number of women of light charact; within the convent became a public scandal at a ve: THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 323 arly period, and many Grand-Masters, even during the esidence of the Order at Rhodes, sought by the most igorous measures to mitigate the evil. Their efforts ■/ere, however, fruitless, and as the fraternity lost more nd more of the religious enthusiasm which had stimulated :s first members, so did the dissolute conduct of the nights become more outrageously opposed to the prin- ciples of their profession. After the successful termination f the defence of Malta had left the brethren in undisputed overeignty of that island, and had raised their military enown to the highest pitch, they appear to have become atoxicated with the admiration they had excited through- bit Europe, and throwing off all restraint, to have aban- .oned themselves to the most reckless debauchery. This •eriod may be noted as the worst and most openly omioral epoch in the history of the fraternity. The evil, o a certain extent, brought with it its own remedy, and fter awhile the knights themselves became scandalized at he notoriety of their licentiousness. Still, the morality at lalta remained at a very low ebb, and up to the latest .ate of the Order's residence there its society abounded dth scandalous tales and sullied reputations. The vice >revalent in the island was probably no more than that of ny other locality where the bulk of the population was 'oung and not permitted to marry. The error lay in upposing that a vow of chastity, rendered compulsory on 11 seeking admission, could by any possibility act as a heck upon the natural depravity of youth, unrestrained as : was in any other manner. The institution of slavery flourished, in the Order from he earliest days of its existence. During the residence f the knights in Palestine it was their invariable rule, in ocordance with the usages of eastern warfare, to reduce 324 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. to a state of slavery all prisoners taken in action. Afte: their establishment in the island of Rhodes, the knigh continued to enforce the penalty which long custom h legalized in their eyes. Both in that island, and aft wards at Malta, their galleys were invariably propelle by gangs of Turkish captives, who were driven to constan labour by the dread of punishment. A gangway rail along the centre of the vessel, on which paced an official armed with a cruel whip, which he mercilessly applied t the back of any one of the unfortunate victims wh as he thought, was not putting forth his full strengt During the cruise the slave was never released from seat at the oar, but as several men were attached to eac they took it in turn to obtain what rest and repose possible under such miserable conditions. When required on board the galleys, they were housed in a pris on shore, established for the propose. They were at sue times either employed in the dockyard or on the fortific tions. No one can have examined the stupendous defene of Rhodes or of Malta without perceiving that sue! works could only have been carried out under conditi of labour very different from those of the present da The extraordinary width and depth of the ditches, so fa beyond what seems actually necessary for pui^oses o defence, show that in their construction labour was a: almost worthless commodity. There can be no doubt that great cruelty was ofte practised against these unfortunate captives, the treatme which they received at the hands of their Christi masters being, as a rule, disgracefully barbarous. The lives were held as of no value, and the records teem wi accounts of the very thoughtless and cruel manner which they were sacrificed to the whims and capric THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 325 f those who held control over their lives and persons. )uring the first siege of Rhodes, a gang of these miserable eings was returning from the perilous labour of repairing le breaches made in the ramparts by the enemy's rtillery, when a party of young knights chanced to meet lem, and began to amuse themselves at their expense. l slight scuffle ensued, the wretched slaves endeavouring ) shield themselves from their tormentors. The noise ms caused attracted the attention of the patrol, who, ithout pausing for a moment to ascertain the reason )r the disturbance, fell upon the slaves, and slew a large umber of the defenceless creatures. So, also, we find it 3Corded in the siege of Malta, that some hesitation aving been shown by the slaves in exposing themselves uring their pioneering labours to a fire more deadly than sual, the Grand-Master directed some to be hanged, and thers to have their ears cut off. Again, in the year 534, an English knight named Massingberd was brought efore the council for having without cause drawn his vord and killed four galley slaves. When called on for is defence, this turbulent Briton replied, " In killing the four slaves I did well, but in not having at the same time killed our old and imbecile Grand-Master I confess I did badly." The Grand-Master referred to was Peter u Pont, and for this insolence towards him, Massingberd r as deprived of his commandery and stripped of his abit for two days. For the murder of the slaves he pparently received no punishment. By degrees, a system sprang up of not simply retaining le slaves for the service of the Order, but also of selling lem. The truth was that eventually the convent of St. ohn became a vast slave mart. The evil began at uhodes, but did not receive its full development until 326 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. after the establishment of the knights at Malta. Thei the miserable trade flourished without a check, the demand was brisk and the supply scarce, the galley of Malta scoured the seas, and woe betide the unfortunat Moslem who fell into their clutches. The war which wa unceasingly waged against the Ottoman maritime powe was not maintained solely from religious conviction, o even from political necessity. The knights found othe attractions in the strife, as they thereby swelled botl their own fortunes and the coffers of their Ordei Honour there was none ; religion there was none ; i had degenerated into a mercenary speculation, of whicl the only excuse was that it was an act of reprisal. Th northern coast of Africa was one vast nest of pirates, wh scoured every corner of the Mediterranean, and whos detested flag brought with it the horrors of bloodshed rapine, and slavery. With such a foe as this it was bu natural that there should be scant courtesy shown. There exists in the Eecord Office of Malta a letter fror Charles II. of England to the Grand-Master Nichols Cottoner, which proves the traffic in human flesh the:, carried on. In this letter, after recording that he had sen an agent to Malta to buy slaves, the king continues :- " He having purchased some slaves, it has been reporte " to us that your Highness's collector of customs demande " five pieces of gold before they could be permitted t ; " embark, under the title of toll, at which proceeding w' " were certainly not a little astonished, since it is we. " known to us that our neighbours and allies, the kings c " France and Spain, are never accustomed to pay anythni '< under the title of toll for the slaves whom they cam? "annually to be transported from your island." Fror this extract it is clear that the deportation of slaves fo THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 327 e use of the kings of France and Spain was of annual ccurrence, and that the merry monarch of England craved o be admitted to equal privileges in the traffic. The numerous gangs of slaves who were awaiting the •equirements of the potentates of Europe were in the eantime amply repaying the slender cost of their main- nance by toiling at the fortifications. Those ramparts ve been reared by the drudgery, and amidst the anguish )f countless thousands, who, torn from their homes and heir country, were condemned to drag out the remainder )f their miserable. lives as mere beasts of burden. Before the islands of Malta and Grozo fell into the possession of the Order, they had been attached to the riceroyalty of Sicily. Their local government had con- listed of a hakem, or chief, under whom were certain )fficials, who formed his council, nominated by the viceroy Tom a list submitted to him by a local assembly. "When he rule of the Order superseded that of the emperor, he leading features of the former administration were etained. The assembly, it is true, soon became a dead etter, and the appointment of the officials was made lirect by the Grrand-Master in council ; still, the selection was invariably from among the Maltese, and their ancient )ustoms and privileges were as little interfered with as possible. A broad line of demarcation was, however, from :he first drawn between the knights and the upper class of :he population. The Maltese had always been a highly aristocratic community, and the whole power of the government had been vested in the hands of the nobility. No more exclusive or oligarchical body existed in Europe, ind traces of this state of things may still be perceived rhe Order of St. John, aristocratic though it was in its >wn constitution, appears in its connection with Malta t 328 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. have been actuated by more liberal views than its pre-f decessors. The Grand-Master and council no soonei assumed the reins of government than they materially extended the area from which they selected their native officials. The natural result of this policy was a certain coldness and alienation on the part of the old nobilityi and this, coupled with the natural reserve of the Maltese character, prevented any real amalgamation between them The Maltese were not admitted as such into the ranks o: the knights of justice : those of them who were eligible could, it is true, be received as members of the langue o: Italy, but the number who availed themselves of thin privilege was very small. The Order was consequently regarded as a foreign body, and but little friendship o: cordiality prevailed in their intercourse with it. It mus not be inferred from this that the Maltese, even of th< upper class, were dissatisfied with the rule of the knights That rule was certainly a despotism, and one of th strongest kind ; still, it was well suited to the habits of th people, and usually maintained with equity and modera- tion. The knights placed themselves on a decided emi nence over those they governed, and when the interests o: the two parties clashed, it was but naturalthat the Maltese as the weaker, should have to give way. Still, on the whole they had not much cause for complaint, and there ca be no doubt that the transfer of the island to the Order o: St. John had brought many very solid advantages to all classes of the inhabitants. After all, it was only with the highest class, the exclu sive Maltese nobility, that the new government was ii any degree unpopular; and even then it was not so mucL the despotism of the ruling power as the liberalism which 1 had opened the way to office for a lower grade than its own THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 329 ;/hich had engendered the dislike. Below it was a rising ody containing much of the talent and ambition of the dand, amongst whom the council sought for candidates to 11 the posts hitherto monopolized by the nobility. With kern, therefore, the Order stood in high favour, and whilst n the one hand the old aristocracy held itself aloof, and n the other the lower class bowed in uncomplaining nbmission to the sway of a power sufficiently energetic to ompelits obedience, this section became faithful adherents d a system by which their own emancipation from the ictation of the aristocracy had been secured. [ Into this portion of Maltese society the knights of St. ohn found a ready admission. Even here, however, there fere distinctions drawn between the larigues, some of rhich were far more popular than others. The French id not find much favour with the ladies who swayed the mpire of fashion within this coterie. They were too rrogant, self-sufficient, and boastful to be received as hosen favourites. More than one case had occurred in /hich this braggart tendency on the part of Frenchmen, ver ready to suppose their attractions irresistible, had led o unpleasant results, and had clouded the fair fame of xdies, whose only fault had perchance consisted in per- mitting rather too free an offering of adulation on the •art of their knightly admirers. Whilst the French were bus neglected, there were other langaes, the members of vhich were more fortunate. The Germans in particular eem to have borne the palm of popularity. Their Latural reserve prevented them from falling into the rrors of their more vivacious confreres, and they were ;enerally admitted to a footing of intimacy which the atter were never able to attain. The Spaniards were Iso great favourites, and unless the tales recorded on this 330 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. point are false, they were most successful in their intei course with the ladies of the island. With the lower class the rule of the knights was fairl popular. The works of fortification yielded a constai source of employment, whilst the ample stores of foo retained in the magazines secured them from the miserk of famine, which in olden times had been so frequentl the scourge of the island. The Grand-Master also sougl to ingratiate himself by constantly providing them wit amusements. Their privileges in this respect were numei ous, and even at the present time, nearly a century afte the departure of the Order, traces thereof remain in th numerous festas held on every conceivable occasion in a the towns and casals. The expenditure for these festal principally caused by the elaborate illuminations whic invariably form their greatest attraction, is now defraye by collections and offerings from the public of the neigh bourhood. In the time of the knights the money wa provided from the p ublic treasury. There yet remains to describe a curious offshoot of th fraternity, which, although it seceded from the paren stem at an early date, always kept up a connection wit. it, and exists and nourishes at the present time. This the Bailiwick of Brandenburg. The first establishment of the Order of St. John in th* part of Germany seems to have dated from the year 116C when the Margrave Albert the Bear returned thither froi Palestine. Its possessions at this time, which were incon siderable, we:re situated between the Elbe and the Wese] They were Superintended by a vice-preceptor, under th grand-prior of Germany. On the suppression of th Templars, their German possessions were transferred t< the Order of St. John, thus greatly increasing its property THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 331 in Saxony, Pomerania, Mecklenburg, and Brandenburg. Hie knights in those districts soon became restless at :he subordinate position they occupied in the grand- ariorate, and sought to establish their independence, ^iter a long struggle, in which they were warmly sup- Dorted by the Margraves of Brandenburg, they definitely seceded, and erected themselves into a bailiwick under the itle of Brandenburg. For many years they were treated 3y the Order as rebels, as they refused to pay responsions, )r to be under anv control. The schism continued till the year 1382, when a ^conciliation was effected. It was then decreed that the knights of the bailiwick should elect their own bailiff, s%j ec t to the confirmation of the grand-prior of Germany, ?nc [ that they should pay as responsions the annual sum if 2,400 gold florins. Matters remained on this footing untix the Eeformation, when tho members of the bailiwick, havii^ embraced the Protestant faith, once more seceded, and )l ace d themselves under the protection of the Margrave een purchased for the members of the revived English mgne, and by them fitted up once more as a chancery nd domicile for the Order. This fact leads naturally to a detail of the circumstances vhich have led to the revival of that langue, although it is .nticipating the general course of the narrative to touch >n it now. As it satisfactorily closes the sketch of the angae, it is thought better to deal with it in this place /ather than to insert it in its proper chronological order. The fall of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bour- )ons in 1814 removed the ban under which the French mights had lain since their suppression by the republican government in 1792. They at once reassembled in chapter- general at Paris, and forming as they did the most powerful branch of the Order then surviving, elected a permanent capitular commission, in which was vested denary power to act as might seem best for the general nterests of the fraternity. The creation of this capitular commission was confirmed by a pontifical bull issued by 850 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Pope Pius VII. on the 10th August, 1814, and recognizee by the lieutenant of the Mastery and sacred council at Catania, in an instrument, dated the 9th October, addressee to the bailiff Camille, Prince de Rohan, prior of Aquitaine the bailiff de Clugny, the commander de Bataille (repre- senting the langue of Prance), the commander de Chateau- neuf (representing the langue of Provence) , the commande] de Dienne (representing the langue of Auvergne), the com- mander Bertrand, and the bailiff Lasterie du Saillent, prioi of Auvergne. It also received the recognition of the king Louis XVIII. This commission exercised important functions on behalj of the Order in general during a series of years ; it nego- tiated, though unsuccessfully, with the king for th( restoration of the property of the institution in France; and it treated with the congress of Vienna for a new mm lieu in the Mediterranean. In an appeal to the Prencli king and chambers it represented the whole fraternity id 1816, and again at the congress of Verona in 1822. Whilst engaged in these various negotiations for the benefit of the Order at large, the question was mooted of a possible revival of the English langue, and the mattei! eventually received a practical solution. The commission placed itself in communication with the Rev. Sir Robert Peat, D.D., Chaplain Extraordinary to His Majesty George IV., and other Englishmen of position, to whom were submitted the authorities under which it was con-; stituted. These gentlemen undertook to give their aid id the resuscitation of so interesting a relic of the ancient chivalry of Europe. The negotiations, which were con- tinued for some time, resulted in the revival of the English langue of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, for which purpose articles of convention were executed on the 11th THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 351 nine, 1826, and on the 24th August and 15th October, 827. These documents thus refer to the English eople : — " This brave and generous nation furnished formerly illustrious subjects who made part of the most formidable, the most valiant, and the most renowned knights of this ancient sovereign Order, and whose successors are now invited to raise that Christian and famous banner which was in former times the pride and glory of their ancestors, and who can again form part of this Order in climates and in countries the most fortunate and most celebrated." The articles of convention distinctly recite that, in laking this revival, the French langues are acting with lie concurrence and approval of those of Aragon and Jastile ; thus, by a representation of five out of the eight ivisions of the Order, giving the weight of majority, if uch addition were necessary, to the powers of the associated French langues. This revival of the Order in England v r as conducted and accomplished in the most honourable pirit, and with the most chivalric intentions. The English gentlemen whose interest was enlisted in the evival were men of the highest character, whilst the dis- aterested views of the French knights may be gathered rom a passage in one of their official communications, in vhich they declare that the business of the English langue aust be conducted in an English manner, and so that the oreign members should not interfere in the management »f the funds, which were to be solely and exclusively under he direction of the English brethren. These communiea- ions further enjoin the greatest caution in the nomination »f knights, and declare that " to revive so honourable an ; institution it is most necessary to act legally, and 352 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. " according to the existing statutes, otherwise the Orde " would not be esteemed and respected ; that the statute " must be taken by the committee as its guide and direction " in the work, and that from this foundation no departure " could take place, except as regards the modifications " necessary owing to the religion of the United Kingdom.' The chevalier Phillipe de Chastelain and Mr. Donalc Currie were appointed delegates for formally inaugurating the revival, by deed dated 14th December, 1827. On the 24th January, 1831, the chevalier de Chastelair, attended a meeting in London, when the English langiu was formally reorganized, and Sir Robert Peat wa^ invested with the functions and authority of grand-prioi of the revived English langue. The names of man} English noblemen and gentlemen were then inscribed on its roll. In 1834, acting under the advice of the Vice-Chancelloi of England, Sir Launcelot Shadwell (who himself shortly afterwards joined the Order), Sir Robert Peat sought to qualify for office, and at the same time to revive the charter of Philip and Mary, before referred to, by taking the oath de fideli administratione in the Court of King\< Bench. He accordingly attended on the 24th February; 1834, and the Court, as the records of the langue state " On its being announced by the Macer that the Lord- " Prior of St. John had come into Court to qualify, rose to, " receive him, and he did then and there openly qualify " himself before the Lord Chief Justice of England, Sii " Thomas Denman, knight, to hold, exercise, and discharge " the office of Prior of the langue of England, under the ■" charter of King Philip and Queen Mary." The oath oi qualification taken by Sir Robert Peat on the occasion id among the records of the kingdom, and a copy of the THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 358 iime, authenticated by the signature of the Lord Chief ustice, is among the archives of the langue. It was as )llows : — " In the King's Bench. " I, the Eight Reverend Sir Robert Peat, knight, Vicar of New Brentford, in the County of Middlesex, and Prior of the Sixth Language of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, in London, do make oath and say that I will faithfully, truly, carefully, and strictly perform, fulfil, keep, and obey the ancient Statutes of the said Sovereign Order as far as they are applicable to the government of the Sixth Language, and in accord- ance with the other seven languages, and that I will use the authority reposed in me, and my best endeavours and exertions amongst the Brethren, to keep the said Statutes inviolable : this deponent hereby qualifying himself to govern the said Sixth Language as prior thereof under the provision of the Statute of the 4th and 5th of Philip and Mary, in the case made and provided. " (Signed) Robert Peat. " Sworn at Guildhall, in the City of London, this 24th day of February 1834, before me " (Signed) T. Denman." From that time the langae has continued to advance in umbers and prosperity, and has endeavoured by works of sefulness and charity to follow in the footsteps of the arent Order of old. Those labours have not been unimportant, as may be )en by the following list of the principal objects which ave engaged its attention: — Providing convalescent patients of hospitals (without stinction of creed) with such nourishing diets as are AA 354 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. medically ordered so as to aid their return at the earliest possible time to the business of life and the support of their families. The original institution in England of what is now known as the " National Society for Aid to Sick and Wounded in War." The foundation and maintenance of cottage hospitals, and convalescent homes. Providing the means and opportunities for local training of nurses for the sick poor, and the foundation of what h now known as the Metropolitan and National Society foi .training such nurses. The promotion of a more intimate acquaintance with the wants of the poor in time of sickness. The establishment of ambulance litters for the con- veyance of sick and injured persons in the colliery and mining districts, and in all large railway and public; departments and towns, as a means of preventing much aggravation of human suffering. The award of silver and bronze medals and certificate! of honour for special services on land in the cause o: humanity. The initiation and organization during the Turco Servian war of the "Eastern War Sick and Wounded Relief Fund." The institution of the "St. John Ambulance Asso ciation " for instruction in the preliminary treatment o the injured in peace, and the wounded in war. Th< object of this association is for the purpose of dissemi- nating information as to the preliminary treatment o the sick and injured, and thereby alleviating to som extent the enormous amount of human suffering a, present so frequently needlessly aggravated by the igno, THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 355 ince of those unskilled persons with whom the patient first brought in contact. The " British Hospice and Ophthalmic Dispensary" at erusalem, which has been established by the langue for le relief of the terrible sufferings caused in Pales- ne by diseases of the eye, and the ignorance pre- ilent as to their proper treatment. The sultan has ded in this good work by granting a firman for the te of the hospital. He has since redeemed this pro- ise by a gift of £900 Turkish, the langue having self purchased a site and building, and having com- enced the operations of the dispensary. Crowds of Sicted Syrians flock thither for relief, and as the work strictly on a non-sectarian basis, no opposition is •countered. Of all the charitable operations now being rried on by the langue, there is none that promises to feet so much real good as this, or which so closely opts the views of the original founders of the Order. le fraternity is indebted for this establishment to the itiring energy, zeal, and liberality of Sir Edmund and idy Lechmere, who have laboured most assiduously for e attainment of the object. Sir Edmund has personally "sited Jerusalem, and placed himself in communication th the Turkish authorities in order to obtain the most I itable site for the Hospice, and to carry on the necessary id somewhat delicate negotiations for the purchase. The langue now consists of the following members : — The Lord Prior, His Grace the Duke of Manchester. The Bailiff of the Eagle, The Eight Hon. Lord Leigh. 1 Knight Commander of Hanley Castle, Worcester- Ire. 56 Knights of Justice, including H.R.H. The Duke of opulation are recorded to have died. At one period the soldiers suffered severely from moon blindness, losing their sight during the bright moonlight nights of summer, and recovering it again in the daylight. Up to a late period company of Italian comedians had continued to reside n. the town, and the theatre was kept regularly open :or the amusement of the troops. The unfortunate actors lad repeatedly sought permission to leave with the other nhabitants, but for a long time this was not granted, heir services being considered indispensable. At length, sven the little food necessary for their support was too r aluable to be bestowed on non-combatants, and they were Uowed to depart, their places being filled by amateurs rom the garrison, who kept the theatre open till the ery end. It is quite evident from all the contemporary despatches 388 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. and correspondence that the English authorities at thii time had no intention whatever of possessing themselvei of Malta. They had undertaken to aid the insurgen Maltese by maintaining a blockade with the object o driving the French from the island, and it seemed to then a matter of little moment whether it afterwards fell int< the hands of Russia, or Naples, or reverted to its forme masters. Nelson's views about Malta are so singular tha they are worthy of record. He seems to have utterb failed to realize its vast importance to England. H wrote to Earl Spencer: "To say the truth, the possession o " Malta by England would be a useless and enormou " expense; yet any expense should be incurred rather thai " let it remain in the hands of the French. Therefore, a " I did not trouble myself about the establishing again th " Order of St. John at Malta, Sir William Hamilton ha " the assurance from his Sicilian Majesty that he wil "never cede the sovereignty of the island to any powe " without the consent of his Britannic Majesty. The poc "islanders have been so grievously oppressed by th " Order, that many times we have been pressed to accep " of the island for Great Britain, and I know if we ha! " his Sicilian Majesty would have been contented "but, as I said before, I attach no value to it for usj "but it is a place of such consequence to the Frenc* " that any expense ought to be incurred to drive thetf " out." In the month of December, 1799, a small body f the year 1800 passed away, and no f urther attempt I relief was made ; at length it became evident that the jnoment for submission had come. Before taking this lep, Vaubois made one last effort to save the ships which lad fled for refuge to Malta. Great precautions had been aken to preserve them from the fire of the Maltese )atteries, and although they had been repeatedly struck hey still remained in serviceable condition. The Vjtuillamne Tell had made a futile attempt at escape on the 38th March, the night being extremely dark and the wind favourable. There were, however, keen eyes watching on , ill the neighbouring heights ; the vessel was soon discovered, he signal given, and the British fleet placed on the alert. Yfter a sharp pursuit, and a most heroic and desperate 390 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. defence, she was captured and brought back to Malta. Now a last experiment was made to save the two frigates, the Diane and Justice, and on the 23rd August they both left the harbour, only, however, to meet the same fate as the Ghiillaume Tell. Nothing then remained but to capitulate, and a council of war was assembled to deliberate on the measure. It was found that the stores of food would be completely exhausted by the 8th September, even at the very reduced rate of consumption then adopted, and it was decided to propose terms of surrender five days sooner. On the morning of the 3rd September, 1800, General Vaubois wrote to General Pigot offering to surrender. Major- General Graham and Commodore Martin were thereupon sent into the town to arrange the details. These were soon settled, and on the following day the British troops occupied certain points in the fortress, whilst two of their men-of-war entered the harbour. On the 8th the greater part of the French troops embarked on board the trans- ports prepared for their reception, and set sail for Marseilles, having engaged not to serve further in the war until duly exchanged. During the siege, which lasted one day over the two years, the garrison only consumed the full rations of seven months. All the horses and mules had been killed for the use of the hospitals after the beef had failed. Those of the inhabitants who had interest to obtain for the sick members of their families small portions of liver and other entrails were considered very fortunate. On assuming the command of the fortress, General Pigot issued an address to the inhabitants, announcing that his Britannic Majesty took the Maltese under his protection. By the treaty of Amiens it was decided to THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 391 restore the island to the Order of St. John, with the condi- tion that a Maltese langue should be established, the langues of both the French and English nations being perma- nently suppressed, and no individual of either country admissible into the fraternity ; the British were to evacuate the place within three months after the conclusion of the treaty; and the fortress was to be garrisoned by Neapo- litan troops until the Order had organized a force of its own. This part of the treaty (the 10th article) was strongly opposed by the Maltese, and they petitioned boldly against it. Fortunately, before the surrender was effected war once more broke out, the treaty was annulled, and Malta remained in the possession of the British. The 7th article of the treaty of Paris in 1814 deter- mined its destiny by handing it over " in full authority I and sovereignty to his Britannic Majesty." Under England's rule the island still remains, and her government, whilst prepared to uphold its claims against all comers, prefers to base its right on the love of the Maltese. She needs not to follow the example of the French by destroying, as far as possible, all the monumental records of their predecessors. Secure in the attachment of her subjects, she can venture to recall to their memory the deeds of the heroes of old, and to restore the various records of the Grand-Masters who have successively held sway over their ancestors. The Maltese who now enters Yaletta, passes through a gateway erected under British rule, on which stand, as the legitimate guardians of the city, the statues of L'Isle Adam and La Valette. It now only remains to trace the present position of the Order. On the death of the emperor Paul, his successor 392 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. Alexander, nominated Count Soltikoff, lieutenant of the Mastery, and directed that lie should convene a meeting of the council of the knights at St. Petersburg to deliberate on its future action. This assembly, which called itself the sovereign council of the Order, met on the 22nd June, 1801, and proposed a substitute for the original mode of election to the Grand-Mastership, such as was rendered absolutely necessary by the altered condition in which the fraternity was placed. Local chapters-general were to be convened in every grand-priory, and lists were to be by them prepared of such knights as they considered eligible for the vacant office, the actual nomination from amongst the names thus put forward being vested in the Pope. In accordance with this arrangement, the bailiff de Puspoli, a member of the langue of Italy, was selected. This knight declined the empty and barren dignity, and the Pope afterwards named John de Tommasi in his place. One of the first acts of the new chief was to assemble a conclave of the Order in the priory church of Messina on the 27th June, 1802, when he formally promulgated his appointment as Grand-Master. Nothing, however, of any importance to the interests of the fraternity was proposed at this meeting, nor, indeed, in the then state of affairs was anything possible. Tommasi resided until his death at .Catania, and when that event took place in June, 1805, the Pope declined any longer to take upon himself the responsibility of nominating a Grand-Master in violation of the statutes of the Order. He there- fore contented himself with naming the bailiff Innico Maria Guevara as lieutenant only. That officer was followed in 1814 by the bailiff Andrea di Giovanni, at whose death, in 1821, Antonio Busca was appointed. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 393 During his rule a project was set on foot for the estab- lishment of the fraternity in Greece, with a view to the ultimate recovery of the island of Rhodes. For this purpose, attempts were made to raise a loan of £400,000, but without success. It was at this time that, as recorded in Chapter XV., the revival of the English langue was first set on foot. Busca changed the locality of the convent from Catania to Ferrara by permission of Leo XII., dated 12th May, 1827, and he died in that city in 1834. He was followed successively by Carlo Candida, Filippo di Colloredo, Alessandro Borgia, and Giovanni Battista Ceschi di Santa Croce. This latter chief was appointed in 1872, and in 1879 the present Pope raised him to the dignity of Grand-Master, a title which had been in abeyance since the year 1805, and which he now holds. During the rule of Candida the fraternity removed to Rome, where the chef-lieu still remains. This branch of the Order at present consists of portions of the Italian and German langues, with a few other scattered fragments. Of the langue of Italy, the grand- priories of Rome, Lombardo-Venetia, and the two Sicilies, or Messina, still survive. Of the langue of Germany, only the grand-priory of Bohemia ; whilst the other frag- ments, which are affiliated to the convent under the title of associations, are the Rhenish-Westphalian, the Silesian, and the British. This latter is composed only of Roman Catholics, who have been all professed in Rome. It will be seen, therefore, that there remain at the present day three distinct fragments, which trace their parentage to the Order of St. John — the convent at Rome ; the Brandenburg branch, which has been described in Chapter XIV. ; and the English langue, the revival of which has been alluded to above. At present these three 394 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. fragments are all isolated, but it is to be hoped that in time they may be drawn together, and that no difference of religious opinions will stand in the way of their uniting to carry out the principles embodied in the motto of their Order — Pro utilitate hominum. seTiiiS ob t^6 opei{ of^st. gosij. 395 SEALS OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN, 1. The seal of Raymond du Puy. This was found under the walls of Norwich castle. On the obverse is the Custos kneeling before a patriarchal cross, the legend being + Raimundus Custos Hospitalis Hierusalem. On the reverse is a church with three domes, doubtless intended for that of the Holy Sepulchre. The lower half shows the interior with the tomb of our Lord. At the head is a cross, above is a lamp, and at the foot what is probably intended for a swinging censer. The legend is + Hospitale De Hierusalem. An account of this seal will be found in the " Archaeological Journal," vol. x., page 141. 2. A seal somewhat similar to the above, but of con- siderably later date. On the obverse a group of knights are kneeling before the cross, with the legend + Bulla Magistr et Conventus. On the reverse the church takes a Gothic form. The representation of our Lord is more distinct, but has the same adjuncts. The legend is + Hospitalis Jherusalem. 3. A seal of the priory of England, with the head of St. John Baptist. 4. A seal of the priory of England, probably the first seal of the institution, early in the twelfth century. 5. A seal of the grand-priory of England, showing the prior in the act of pronouncing the benediction. 396 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE GRAND- MASTERS OF THE ORDER. 1. Raymond du Pity ♦o* . French 1118- -1160 2. Auger de Baleen French. 1160- -1162 3. Arnaud de Comps French 1162- -1168 4. Gilbert D'Ascali . English (doubtful ) 1168- -1169 5. Gastits . . . doubtful 1169 6. JOUBERT doubtful . . 1169- -1179 7. ROGER DES MOULINS . . doubtful . . 1179- -1187 8. Garnier de Napoli . . . . English . . 1187 9. Ermengard Daps doubtful . . 1187- -1192 10. Godfrey de Duisson . . . French . . 1192- -1194 11. Alfonso of Portugal Portuguese 1194- -1195 12. Geoffrey le Rat French . . . 1195- -1207 13. Guerin de Montaigu French . . 1207- -1230 14. Bertrand de Texi . . French . . 1230- -1231 15. Guerin doubtful . . . 1231- -1236 16. Bertrand de Comps French . . 1236- -1241 17. Peter de Yillebride doubtful . . . 1241- -1244 18. William de Chateauneuf French . . . 1244- -1259 19. Hugh de Revel . . French . . . 1259- -1278 20. Nicholas de Lorgue . . doubtful . . . 1278- -1289 21. John de Villiers French . . . 1289- -1297 22. Odon de Pins French . . . 1297- -1300 23. William de Villaret French . 1300- -1306 24. Fulk de Villaret . . French . . . 1306- -1319 25. Elyon de Yilleneuyi; French . . . 1319- -1346 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 397 26. DlEUDONNE DE GOZON French . . . . 1346- -1353 27. Peter de Cornillan French . . . . 1353- -1355 28. Roger de Pins French . . . . 1355 - -1365 29. Raymond de Berenger French . . . . 1365- -1374 30. Robert de Julliac French . . . . 1374- -1376 31. Ferdinand d'Heredia Spanish . . . . 1376- -1396 32. Philibert de Naillac French . . . . 1396- -1421 33. Antonio Fluvian Spanish . . . . 1421- -1437 34. John de Lastic French . . . . 1437- -1454 35. James de Milli French . . . . 1454- -1461 36. Peter Raymond Zacosta Spanish . . . . 1461- -1467 37. John Orsini Italian . . 1467- -1476 38. Peter D'Aubusson French . . . . 1476- -1503 39. Almeric D'Amboise . . French . . . . 1503- -1512 40. GrUY DE BLANCHFORT French . . . . 1512- -1513 41. Fabrizio Carretto Italian . . . . 1513- -1521 42. Philip Yilliers de L'Isle Adam French . . . . 1521- -1534 43. Peter del Ponte Italian . . 1534- -1535 44. Didier de St. Gtlles French . . . . 1535- -1536 45. John D'Omedes Spanish . . . . 1536- -1553 46. Claude de la Sangle French . . 1553- -1557 47. John de la Valette French . . . . 1557- -1568 48. Peter del Monte Italian . . 1568- -1572 49. John L'Eveque de la Cas- siere French . , . . 1572- -1581 50. Hugh de Verdala French . . . . 1581- -1595 51. Martin Garces Spanish . . . . 1595- -1601 52. Alof de Vignacourt French . . . . 1601- -1622 53. Louis Mendes de Vasconcel- los Spanish . . . . 1622- -1625 54. Antoine de Paule French . . . . 1625- -1636 55. John de Lascaris French . . . . 1636- -1657 56. Martin de Redin Spanish . . . . 1657- -1660 57. Annet de Clermont French . . . . 1660 58. Raeael Cottoner Spanish . . . . 1660- -1663 59. Nicholas Cottoner Spanish . . . . 1663- -1680 60. Gregory Caraffa Italian . . 1680- -1690 398 THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 61. Adrian be Vignacourt . . French. . . 62. Raymond Perrelos . . . . Spanish. . . 63. Mark Antony Zondodari . . Italian . . 64. Antony Manoel de Vilhena Portuguese 65. Raymond Despuig . . . . Spanish . . 66. Emanuel Pinto . . . . Portuguese 67. FRANgois Ximenes . . . . Spanish . . 68. Emmanuel de Rohan . . French . . 69. Ferdinand von Hompesch . . German . . 1690—1697 1697—1720 1720—1722 1722—1736 1736—1741 1741—1773 1773—1775 1775—1797 1797—1799 £S> Pardon and Sons, Printers, Paternoster Roiv, and Wine Office Court, E.C. ^ ^ ''J- V\!^ ' V/vJ I HIUl ll -J/. ^•W UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. SLF % 4.1981 \ 1984 «£C "«A '*** m\^ 0%, W7$ Ml? KE99 % JUN06 ioniJM nnr REC'O L0-U«i N 7 29% ps JUW*MW|C 977 1 3 1978 16 197S Form L9-Series 4939 RECDHMflB JUL 18 m M 4 1 1 *»! iflAY 1 6 159? ^ o Ul < m %MI1V>JQ^ ^.OF-CAll ^0FCALIF(% '** a 0AHVH8n-l^ ^lOSANCElfj-i S 4HI3AINIHI& ^lOSANCElfr