Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/177

Rh the republic of Venice, and the Pope himself. In his letter demanding their aid, the pontiff supports his request by bringing forward the most vehement accusations against the members of the Order for their luxurious mode of life, general effeminacy, and gross laxity of discipline. It is more than probable that these complaints were not devoid of truth, still, the tone of the letter, concluding as it did with a proposal, or more properly speaking, a demand, that they should contribute six galleys to the allied fleet, clearly marks his object in making such reproaches. The assistance of the fraternity was most urgently required to forward the political views of his Holiness. He consequently strove to make a refusal impossible, by coupling his request with an accusation of want of zeal for the cause of Christianity. His letter had the desired effect. The knights embraced the opportunity thus afforded of disproving the charges preferred against them; they contributed their full quota to the allied armament, and throughout the war which took place, became the life and soul of the enterprise. The only result of any importance achieved by the league was the capture of the fortress of Smyrna, where the horde of pirates which infested the eastern shores of the Mediterranean had been accustomed to find a ready shelter.

The league lasted with fluctuating success for several years, until its members, having dropped out one by one, the Hospitallers found themselves without assistance to continue the further prosecution of the warfare.

A war had broken out between the Genoese and Venetians, which compelled the former republic to retire from the alliance. The Pope, before long, became eager to withdraw from a contest which was draining his treasury without much tangible result. The league, therefore, gradually died of inanition; and without any positive treaty of peace having been ever made, active hostilities ceased, and matters settled down very much on their former footing.

During the interval the Order had experienced a change of rulers, for in the year 1346 Villanova died, and Deodato de Gown, the hero of the dragon, was nominated as his successor. Vertot relates that on the occasion of this election Gozon rose in his place at the council board, and taking