Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/257

Rh to quarrel with his redoubtable neighbours, would, in all probability, have thrown over the hapless James, but for the fact that Mahomet sent him a message promising to support him in maintaining the cause of the bastard against the knights. A descent was consequently made on Cyprus, and in spite of the most gallant efforts of the Hospitallers, the Egyptians overran and pillaged the whole island. It was in the course of this war that the galleys of Rhodes captured from out of some Venetian vessels a quantity of Saracen merchandise, which, together with its owners, they bore off in triumph. The haughty Queen of the Adriatic, insisting upon the principle that the flag covered the cargo, at once commenced a war of reprisals. This anger on their part was all the greater, that they were at the time on the look-out for a pretext to act against the Order from another cause. The bastard James had married a Venetian lady of high rank called Catherine Cornaro. The republic was, in consequence, desirous of pressing his claims to the crown of Cyprus, and felt much ill-will at the support given by the Hospitallers to the pretensions of Charlotte. These causes combined to make them take active measures, and a fleet under the command of Morosini, appeared off Rhodes with hostile intent. He entered the bay of Halki, and disembarked his forces for the purpose of pillaging the district. A number of the inhabitants had sought shelter in a cave at Amighdali. Morosini caused the entrance to be blocked with a quantity of brushwood, which he set on fire, and suffocated them all. To this day the bones of these unfortunate victims are to be seen within the cave, and the name of Morosini is still held in horror throughout the island. This cruel and vindictive action was repudiated by the Venetians; but their protest did not prevent their immediately ending a second and much larger fleet to the island, insisting upon the restitution of the Egyptians and merchandise which had been taken from the Venetian galleys. The more youthful amongst the knights were in favour of opposing the Venetian demands, being justly indignant at the brutality of Morosini; but de Milly was of a different opinion. He knew that he had already more enemies to contend with than be was able to meet, and he therefore checked the rash suggestion. By a prompt restitution of the disputed prize, he mollified the