Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/244

218 The Genoese republic had succeeded in obtaining possession of the town of Famagosta in Cyprus. It was held by a garrison in their name, to the great dissatisfaction of the king, James do Lusignan, and the rest of the inhabitants. An attempt was consequently made by him to expel the intruders, and a regular siege was laid to the town. When the news of this act of hostility reached Genoa, which was then under the protection of France, an expedition was at once despatched, led by the marshal do Bourcicault, for the purpose of repelling the attack. This fleet put into the harbour of Rhodes, where it was received with the most profuse hospitality. It consisted of seven large ships and nine Genoese galleys. Accompanying it was a Venetian squadron, under the command of the admiral Carlo Zeno. The latter was in reality watching the movements of the other fleet, the intentions of which roused the suspicions of the Venetians. It was not to be expected that under such circumstances there could be much cordiality between the commanders. In fact disputes soon arose, and from day to day became so embittered, that at length de Naillac dreaded an open rupture within the very harbour of Rhodes. He succeeded at last in so far smoothing matters that he induced Carlo Zeno to leave the island and proceed to the Morea. This preliminary difficulty being overcome, his next step was directed towards preventing the outbreak of hostilities between the forces of Bourcicault and the Cypriotes. Not only did the knights hold large possessions in that island, but they had always regarded it as a barrier against Saracen attack. Being in close alliance with the king of Cyprus they had been enabled to find shelter in its capacious harbours during their cruises on the Syrian coasts. De Naillac succeeded in persuading Bourcicault to remain quietly at Rhodes whilst he himself undertook a mediating embassy to Cyprus, hoping to induce the king to withdraw from his attempts on Famagosta. James acceded to his suggestions, the siege was raised, and the expeditionary force under Bourcicault rendered no longer necessary.

The French commander was, however, unwilling to return without having struck a blow somewhere. He therefore joined the Grand-Master in a predatory expedition against the principal