Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/408

378 imperial presence with every mark of respect. The sorrow of the old man, so natural on abandoning the cherished home of his Order, touched the sultan greatly, and he could not forbear exclaiming to his vizier, “It is not without some feelings of compunction that I compel this venerable warrior at his age to seek a new home.” The interview is thus narrated by Hafiz:—“On the 31st December, the chief of the fortress, Mastori Mialo (a corruption of Meghas Mastoris, or Grand-Master), having obtained permission, came to take leave of the sublime sultan at a divan. The sultan desired to make him a gift of a large number of ingots of gold, precious stones, and other valuable offerings, and renewed his permission that the Order might make use of the galleys and other craft which had belonged to them, on condition, as he added with tears in his eyes, that the next day should see them quit the island. On this the chief of the infidels withdrew with a pensive mien, and left for Frengistan.”

On the night of the 1st January, 1523, this sad event took place. Four thousand of the Christian inhabitants of Rhodes preferred to follow the fortunes of the knights into exile rather than remain under the sway of the Turk. Amidst a general display of grief the fleet sailed and made its way to Caudia. Misfortune seemed to dog the wanderers on their road. A severe hurricane overtook them, and several of the smaller craft were lost. Others were saved by throwing overboard the little property which the unfortunate refugees had rescued from the town, so that when the scattered fleet. reassembled at Spinalonga there were many on board who were reduced to actual beggary. The governor of Candia welcomed the fugitives with every mark of hospitality, and urged on them the advisability of wintering in the island; but L’Isle Adam felt that he had much before him requiring prompt decision and immediate action. He therefore only remained long enough to refit and to repair, as far as practicable, the damages his fleet had sustained in the late storm.

Whilst waiting for this purpose he was joined by the garrisons of Budrum and Lango, and he also heard of the