History of the Knights of Malta, Part X [pp. 757-763]

182. Hitr ofteKihsofMla -
This defeat of the Infidels in their attack on the 14th of September, 1622-nearly seventy years
Vienna, had an important bearing on Maltese before. This prince, when summoned by his brohistory. thier Knights to ascend a throne, which, during his
Pope Innocent XI., on hearing of Sobrieski's long connection with the Order, he had seen eight
success, addressed a note to all the Catholic pow- times vacant, entered upon the trying duties of his
ers, requesting them to enter into a Christian high station with a spirit and energy seldom found
league against the Sultan, and no longer be com- in a man of middle age, and truly remarkable in
pelled to act on the defensive, but being from hence- one bending under the weight of four-score years
forward the aggressors, to carry the war into his and ten.
territories, and even to the walls of his capital. Oibestine, the Maltese admiral, arriving on the
To this call, Carafa made a most cordial response. day of the Grand-Master's inauguration, added to
Hector de La Tour, having joined the Venetian the general joy of the inhabitants, by the news
and Roman squadrons, with six Maltese galleys, which he brought of his numerous victories, over
sailed with them to Barbary-the coasts of which the Infidels, while cruising with the confederate
they ravished-and afterwards to the Morea, where fleet. It was at this time that the first information
they landed and captured the fortresses of Pre- was given of the capture of the fortress and town
vesa, Santa Maura, Coron,* Old and New Nava- of Valonna, on the coast of Albania.
rino, Modon and Napoli. Antonio Pegnatelli, a Neapolitan, afterwards
In 1687, the Maltese so much distinguished known as Innocent XII., came to the papal throne
themselves at the reduction of Castel Novo, which in July, 1691, when vacant by the decease of Alexgave to the Venetians the command of the Adriatic, ander VIII. This Roman Pontiff, during his resithat the Pope addressed a letter to the Grand- dence in Valletta as Inquisitor of Malta, became
Master, in which he congratulated him on the gal- personally acquainted with the Grand-Master and
lantry of his subjects, and expressed a hope that his council; and, not at all dazzled by his elevation
those who had fallen were enjoying an immortality to the highest dignity in the church, sent a letter
in Heaven, which it was the duty of all who re- to the Knights, in which he reminded them of his
mained, as champions of the Cross, to strive to former acquaintance, and of his determination
attain. throughout his reign, to prove himself a firm and
In 1689, the allied commanderst sailed again constant friend of their Order. This was not an
for the Morea, and being encouraged by their empty promise, as we soon shall have reason to
great success on their previous cruises, were in- record.
duced rashly to attempt the reduction of Negro- In the numerous engagements, both at sea and
pont. After a long siege, and a hard-fought battle, on shore, which we have recently mentioned, sevethe Christians met with a cruel and signal defeat. ral thousand Maltese seamen and soldiers had
Ca-rafa, hearing of this repulse, which had cost the perished, leaving their families at home in great
Order thirty Knights and three hundred men, suf- destitution. To relieve these wretched people,
fered so much, that a fever ensued, from the effects whose fathers and brothers had fallen in the serof which he never recovered. Dying on the 21st vice of the convent, was one of the first subjects
July, 1690, when in the seventy-sixth year of his which claimed the Grand-Master's attention; and
age, and tenth of his reign, he was entombed in the much to his honor is it told, that by a large subItalian chapel, and a modest epitaph of his own scription from his own income, and with liberal
writing (which he left for the purpose) was engra- grants from the treasury, he placed his poor subven on the marble which covered his remains. jects in a state of comparative ease. Crowds of
Adrian de Vignacourt, a Frenchman of a noble poor widows and orphans often assembled around
family, was unanimously called to fill the vacancy the palace, to greet their benefactor, on his apoccasioned by Carafa's decease. He was ninety pearance in public, with their blessings and prayers;
years old at the time of his election, and, singular incidents, "far more honorable to his memory,"
as it may appear, a promising officer in the reign and pleasing to us in their narration, than any
ofhisuncleAlofdeVignacourt, which terminatedon thing we might say to commemorate the fall of a
Turkish town, or the capture of an Infidel galley:
* De La Tour fell while leading this attack on Coron, by which deeds, the reigns of so many of his preand was succeeded by General Oibestine, a brave and efli- decessors are now only remembered.
cient officer.
t On the decease of Guastiani, the Doge of Venice, early At midnight, on the 10th of January, 1693, the
in 1688, Morisini, (whom the reader will recollect so much Maltese were aroused from their beds by the shock
distinguished himself at Candia,) and who for a long time of an earthquake, which overthrew several of their
commanded the Venetian squadron in this papal league, dwellings, and rent many of their fortifications asunwas recalled by his countrymen to take the vacant throne. 4er. Fortunately, but few of the townspeople peIt was after his departure for Venice, and contrary to lis rihe und te rutfe of thei tins. On
advice when leaving, that this attempt on Negropont was rished under the ruins of their habitations. On
made-the result of which was so unfavorable to the Chris- the first shock, they fled to the country; and for
tian fleet. the three days the " oscillations" continued, the
184.]
History of the Knig7tis of Multa.
761