Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/251

Rh junction with the fact that the Egyptian fleet retired without attempting any further hostile operations, the palm of victory must be awarded to the Order.

The sultan, indignant at the failure of this expedition, lost no time in commencing the fitting out of another on a larger and more formidable scale. De Lastic was, on his side, by no means idle; and when, in the month of August, 1444, the enemy landed a force of 18,000 men, besides cavalry, they found the white cross banner floating proudly on the walls, and every preparation made for their reception. The siege lasted for forty days, and during that time was prosecuted with the utmost energy. Unfortunately, no record has been left of the details of this defence. All that is known is that several assaults were delivered in vain, and that the siege terminated with a sortie on the part of the knights, who inflicted fearful losses on the besiegers, and drove them in panic-flight to their ships.

The efforts which had been made to resist the aggression of the Egyptians had necessitated a large expenditure, whereby not only was the treasury exhausted, but its credit strained to the utmost. To meet this difficulty the amount of responsions payable by each commandery was, by decree of a chapter-general held at Rhodes in 144., increased for a period of five years, in order that funds might be provided to pay off the liabilities that had been incurred. Several of the commanders, living in indolence and luxury in Europe, were unwilling to contribute even in purse to the maintenance of their flag in Rhodes. They therefore appealed to the Pope against the decree. Nicholas V., who had just ascended the chair of St. Peter, being instructed only on one side of the question, wrote a strong letter of remonstrance to the Grand-Master. De Lastic returned a reply counter-signed by the whole council, in which he maintained his point with much dignity, though the missive was couched in temperate and respectful terms. The Pope was quite satisfied with the reply, and withdrew all support from the recusant commanders. They still continued obstinate, and peremptorily refused payment. The council, in this dilemma, decided on a measure for which there was no precedent in the annals of the institution. They vested in the hands of the Grand-Master dictatorial powers,