Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/211

Rh nerved and excited by feelings of emulation to vie with the prowess of their ancestors. In vain the defenders poured the moat murderous missiles upon their opponents. In spite of showers of arrows darkening the air in every direction, heedless of the Greek fire and boiling oil which were streamed upon those who attempted to mount the ladders, or of the huge rocks beneath the weight of which they were crushed to the earth, they still persisted in the assault. Encouraged by the presence and example of their chief, they returned with redoubled ardour after each successive repulse, until at length, overcoming every obstacle, they forced their way into the town, and drove the enemy into the citadel. This fierce struggle cost the Order the lives of no less than one hundred knights, but its results were so important that the sacrifice was well warranted. The booty found in the town was enormous, and the shipping in the harbour so extensive that its destruction was a serious blow to the naval power of the Turk.

This capture took place on the 10th October, 1365, and Raymond at once prepared to follow up his success by attacking the citadel. Before he was able to accomplish his design, he received intelligence that the sultan of Cairo was advancing to its relief with an army so considerable as to render a further contest hopeless. He therefore re. embarked his forces, and returned in triumph to Rhodes. Unfortunately before doing so, a disgraceful scene of murder and pillage took place, and Beranger left behind him only a town in flames, the bulk of the population massacred, and a wail of execration at the very name of Christian. A large number of Europeans who had been captured and made slaves were released and brought to Rhodes, many unfortunate Turks being also taken on board the galleys to undergo in their turn a similar fate. Amongst the former was Pierre de Saint Georges, a nephew of the Pope. This auspicious release went far to ingratiate the fraternity with his Holiness, and rendered him more ready than he had hitherto been to support its interests.

Two years after, the Order, in alliance with the republic of Genoa and the king of Cyprus, attacked and carried the fortresses of Tripoli, Tarsus, Laodicea, and Bellinas. These successes so enraged the sultan Amurath I., that he commenced