Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/122

96 his name and lineage than from any other cause (the reputation of his ancestor, Richard Cœur do Lion, being still a household word throughout the Saracen provinces of the East), in obtaining a truce for ten years, during which time a short breathing space was permitted to the harassed and dispirited Latius. During this peaceful lull Hugh do Revel died, in the year 1278, and Nicholas de Lorgue was intrusted with the baton of Grand-Master in his stead.

The death of Bendocdar in the year 1281 brought the treaty which he had made with Prince Edward to a premature close, and the military Orders were once more aroused from their brief repose. The commencement of the new war was signalized by some important successes on the part of the Christians. One of the Saracen commanders, whilst on a plundering expedition, unwarily led his forces within reach of the fortress of Margat, still an important stronghold of the Hospitallers. The garrison sallied boldly forth, and charging down on the enemy whilst they were encumbered with pillage and in a state of disorder, easily routed them and annihilated the whole body.

The sultan was so enraged at this disaster, that in the following year he despatched a force of 5,000 men for the siege and capture of Margat. Undismayed at the numbers of their opponents, the Hospitallers, feeling that they were too few to meet the enemy in open combat, determined to have recourse to stratagem. In furtherance of this object they posted a portion of their force in ambush outside the gates of the city, whilst the remainder advanced towards the enemy as though determined to give battle. After a brief struggle, and before they had become too much entangled in the fight, they pretended to yield, and fled towards the town as though struck with a sudden panic. Whilst thus hastily retiring, they took care to preserve their ranks with a precision that should have led the enemy to suspect a wile. Heedless of the warning, the Moslems, hurried away by the ardour of pursuit, dashed after the retiring foe with all the disorder of a rapid advance, and with the confidence of a victory already gained. They were, however, soon destined to discover that their anticipations were not to be so easily realized. Once drawn into the defile where the ambuscade was placed, the flying Hospitallers