Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/71

Rh but obloquy, and, as the sequel will show, brought down upon themselves an enemy who eventually compassed theft complete overthrow.

The friends of Almeric—for in spite of his errors he had many who were most warmly attached to his person and fortunes—endeavoured to screen his misconduct by throwing the entire blame on the Master of St. John. This unfortunate knight, however, seems to have been more sinned against than sinning throughout the transaction. He had been induced by the arguments of the king, aided no doubt by his own ambition, to join in the conquest of Egypt. The attempt seemed likely to be successful, and in that case would have added a strong bulwark to the kingdom. Guided by these considerations, and not foreseeing that the avarice of Almeric would shipwreck the undertaking, he had entered heartily into it, and had pledged the credit of his Order to the utmost limits to provide funds for its successful prosecution. It is, however, very difficult to argue in the face of failure, nd Gilbert, on his return to Jerusalem, found himself attacked on all sides. His proud spirit sank under the trial, and in a fit of despair he resigned his Mastership, and left the Holy Land. Shortly afterwards he was drowned whilst crossing from Prance to England, from which fact it has been assumed that he was an Englishman. This seems the more probable, as the name—D’Ascali or Be Sailly—is distinctly of Norman origin, and might therefore well have been borne by an English knight at that period.

On his resignation he was succeeded by Gastus, whose rule was very short, and who, to use the stereotyped expression of the chroniclers, has left no other record of himself than his name.

Joubert, the sixth Master, was elected on the death of Gastus in the year 1169. Great changes were now taking place in the countries surrounding Judea. As has been already said, Noureddin, at the request of the caliph of Egypt had sent an army to his assistance, which he had placed under the command of Siraeon. Saladin was nephew to Siracon, and accompanied his uncle to Egypt. Noureddin’s design in this act was not simply to aid in expelling the Christians from