Five Chapters General were held under d'Aubusson who died at the age of eighty years (30th June, 1503) crowned by the plaudits of the Christian world. Although the Turks were repulsed they were far from being beaten as we will see by and bye.
The next Grand Master was Almeric Amboise. In expectation of a renewal of the Turkish invasion he summoned all his Knights by circular, but no invasion was attempted during his time. His fleet captured a ship armed with one hundred heavy cannon, her main mast being so large that six men could scarce encircle it with their arms. She had seven decks and her cargo was of immense value, consisting of silks, spices, money, etc., etc.
At his death (5th November, 1512) Amboise was succeeded by Guido de Blanchfort who died on his way from France to Rhodes. He was succeeded by Fabricius Caretto (1512). The number of Knights casting vote in this election was five hundred and fifty. The daily danger of a renewal of the siege caused him to convene a Chapter General at an early period of his Grand Mastershp, at which money was voted to buy artillery in France. He is spoken of as a rare linguist and a remarkably kind, mild, and courteous man. At his death (January 1521) he was succeeded by Philip Villers de L'Isle Adam, a man of great genius and experience, renowned for every worthy gift and strength of mind and body. On his way from France to Rhodes to assume the reins of government, he passed safely through a pirate fleet which was awaiting him. From the day of his arrival he devoted himself to strengthening the fortifications of the island, and making other defensive preparations. On the Sultan Solyman sending a message of war, he, the Grand Master, set an example to the people by destroying his own garden and summerhouse, an example which was followed by a general destruction of every tree outside the walls. The country wells were filled up. The peasants were summoned into the city with all their movables. The siege began 26th June, 1522, and ended 20th December, 1522, in the surrender of the island to the Turks, under an honourable capitulation. The losses on both sides were heavy, but the statements given of them are obviously incorrect; we therefore omit them. During the whole of that terrible siege the Grand Master never once lost his quiet, placid look. He was always gracious and kind to everyone; eating his meals with the common soldiers. He always took an active part where the combat was most ferocious. Three great banners attended his person: The Grand Standard of the Order, the one presented by the Pope in D'Aubusson's time, and one on which the White Cross of the Order was quartered with his own arms. The Grand Master and the remnant of his army, by virtue of the terms of capitulation set sail for Candia (1st January, 1523) in fifty vessels, leaving their beloved island which they had possessed for fully two hundred and ten years in the hands of the Turks. Charles V. of Spain (Emperor of Germany), said to his soldiers "nothing was ever so well lost as Rhodes."
Few indeed were the Knights that outlived that dreadful siege and the subsequent voyage to Candia. During the voyage many of their vessels were lost. To mark their deep sense of the calamity that had befallen the Order, the Hospitaller nuns, who had hitherto worn a red robe with a black mantle on which was a white cross, assumed a habit entirely black, in token of mourning, which they continued to wear. On landing, the white-haired Grand Master burst into a flood of tears. He was received with marked distinction by the Sicilian Authorities, and the viceroy in name of the Emperor (Charles V.) invited him to make Messina his home.
A Chapter General was held at Candia, presumably for the purpose of considering the Emperor's offer, and for the trial of those Knights who had been sent to Europe during the siege to procure assistance, but had never returned. The Emperor's offer was accepted and the Knights were all honourably acquitted. Owing to plague breaking out in Messina, the Knights again took to their ships, and by permission of the Pope (Adrian VI.) landed at Civita Vecchia, in Italy, and took up their abode at Viterbo. Shortly afterwards the Pope notified the Grand Master of his willingness to receive a personal visit. Attended by his Knights, the Grand Master set out for Rome which he entered with some pomp, surrounded by a throng of Roman Patricians and welcomed by salvoes of artillery. The Pontiff though an invalid, rose from his chair and honoured him with a friendly embrace, designating him the hero and defender of the Christian faith.
A few days later Adrian breathed his last (1523), and Cardinal Julio de Medicis, who had formerly been a Knight of Rhodes, but who had laid aside the sword for the cowl and rosary, was unanimously elected in his stead as Pope clement VII. The new Pope proved himself a true friend to his old time companions in arms. He used his good offices and great influence with the already sympathetic emperor on behalf of the Order. The result, although delayed for a few years by European politics, was the cession of Malta to the Knights of St. John. The act of donation received the imperial signature at Syracuse, on 24th March, 1530. By this deed, Charles ceded forever to the Grand Master and religious fraternity of St. John, in absolute title and fee simple, all the castles, fortresses and isles of Tripoli, Malta and Geza, with power of life and death, and that without appeal to any lord paramount whomsoever. The only conditions attached to the grant, were that the Order should never suffer its subjects to make war against the King of Sicily and his states--that the said King or his Viceroy should receive the annual homage of a falcon--that he should have the power of electing any one of three candidates named by the Council to the bishopric of Malta whenever it fell vacant, that the Knights on whom the command of the squadrons of the Order devolved, should be persons in whom he could confide--and that the sovereignty of the island should not be conveyed away from the Order without his special sanction.
Malta at this time was anything but a pleasant spot, it was without rivulets and except in the interior it was destitute of springs, and consequently void of vegetation. A barren island about sixty miles in circuit; certainly a most unlikely place to make a happy home, but necessity makes no choice and perseverance overcometh many difficulties. Soil was imported and water secured. Time and toil converted the barren island into a garden. While negotiations were proceeding for the ceding of the island, the Grand Master made a tour through Europe and England. From the latter he sailed for Malta (18th January, 1529). Here in peace and quietness he watched the efforts of his gallant knights, as they furnished proof of their skill in combining the duties of the husbandman and the soldier. He died 22nd August, 1534.
While on his deathbed he recommended Del Ponte as his successor, and accordingly Del Ponte was duly elected Grand Master. He was an old man, aged sixty-nine years, famed for his literary attainments and eloquence. He died in the following year (November 1535) and was succeeded by Desiderio di S. Galla, one of those who had displayed signal bravery during the last siege of Rhodes. Unfortunately he never reached the seat of government. Being in France at the time of his election, he was prevented from going to Malta by an illness which terminated fatally on the 16th September, 1536.
He was succeeded by Homedez, at whose election three hundred and sixty knights took part. We may here note that having taken up their abode in Malta, they were at this time known as Knights of Malta, a name we still retain.
Homedez like his predecessor had honourably distinguished himself at Rhodes, having lost an eye in the siege. He summoned a Chapter General (1539), evidently the first held at Malta, at which he was entrusted with dictatorial powers in view of an expected invasion by their old enemy the Sultan Solyman, who however failed to turn up. Later on the defences of the island were manned against an invasion by Dragut, a Corsair (1551) who was driven off with loss; thus ended the first invasion of Malta, in the twenty-fourth year of the possession of the island. At his death (6th September, 1553) Homedez was succeeded by Claudius de la Sengle, who governed the Order for four years, and was succeeded by Parisot, better known as Valetta. He laid the foundation of a new city, to be called after his own name. He summoned the Knights from all quarters by circular (26th February, 1563), in preparation for the Turkish invasion. Of Knights and Servants-at-Arms that obeyed, there were but little over five hundred, making the whole garrison eight thousand one hundred and fifty-five. The siege commenced on the 18th of May and ended on the 7th of September (15630 in the defeat of the Turks; the losses being very heavy on both sides. The island was rendered waste; everything had to be rebuilt.
Valetta having died of apoplexy (21st August, 1558), he was succeeded by Peter del Monte, who ordered the body of his predecessor to be conveyed into the new city of Valetta, and a noble tomb raised over him. He so busied himself in the re-erection of the city that in two years and eight months it was re-occupied (18th march, 1571). The great naval fight of Lepanto (7th October, 1571) took place during Monte's term of office; the supreme leader, Don John, being a Knight of Malta, was much aided by his brethren of the Order. Monte died 20th January, 1572.
For a period of two hundred and twenty-six years following comparative quietness was enjoyed. There is however one point which we are constrained to notice. The European Resolution (1797) deprived the Order of the greater part of its income, and poverty soon began to tell its sad tale. While the Order was wealthy it was comparatively easy to maintain discipline, prestige then lent its power to the Grand Master. With poverty came loss of prestige, lack of discipline, and disregard of constituted authority. That the Pope was at the bottom of the whole affair can't be doubted. It affords us another proof, if such were necessary, that the Pope will destroy if he can, that which he cannot subdue. Subjugation or annihilation has ever been the policy of the papacy. Discontent, that prolific progenitor of distrust was working havoc among all grades of the Order. Jealousy sapped at the root of the tree and the branches soon became feeble and powerless. The final act of fatuity was the sending of the Cross of the noble Valetta to Paul, Emperor of Russia, and the proclaiming of him Protector of the Order. This was at the election of Hompesch (1797) the last, and most impotent of the long line of Grand Masters.
The Russian Emperor, as head of the Greek Church, was the hereditary enemy of the Pope. The Greek Church never has acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope (or Bishop) of Rome, in either spiritual or temporal matters, and as we have already stated the Knights of Malta belonged to the Latin Church; and therefore, subject to the Pope as head of that Church, although free from the Pope in the management of their own affairs, enjoying as it were a kind of Home Rule. They were nevertheless papists, with the exception of the Grand Priory of Torphichen (which in this instance is an equivalent for Scotland), which at this date was wholly Protestant. Here then we have the Czar of the Greek Church installed as protector of a body within the pale of the Latin Church, and we have the same body officially tolerating Protestantism within its innermost circle. This was a state of matters which no Pope could be expected to tolerate, and in this case the Pope had not the necessary authority for direct interference. The crisis was a critical one both for the Pope and the Order; and that the Order got worsted in the struggle is not surprising; the Officers were unwilling to follow their Grand Master in his pro-Russian policy. Conspiracy got a strong place in their midst. Discipline was soon strangled and treason became rampant. Like a river of water it flowed through the natural channel from grade to grade until it assumed its maximum power in the valley of the rank and file, and amongst the common people of the island--a power which it was impossible to control.
Napoleon, with an expedition bound for Egypt, visited Malta (1798), then one of the best fortified towns in existence, and garrisoned by an army sufficient to hold it against any possible attack. The officers of high rank had agreed upon surrendering to the French in preference to being under the protection of Russia; so they made defense impossible, with the result that Napoleon captured the island without firing a single shot. He found the powder in the magazine spoiled, provisions rendered worthless, and treason everywhere. On entering the town and beholding the fortifications he pithily remarked, "Well for us, that we had friends inside to open the gate."
The world has to lament the want of discretion on the part of the conquerors, who Frenchman-like lost their mental equilibrium in the exuberance of their esprit de corps in having so easily conquered so formidable a fortress. They knocked down and broke the statues of the heroes of the Order, many of whom were their own countrymen, of whom they had every reason to be proud. They demolished the Order's coat of arms wherever they found it, deliberately chiselling it out. The general devastation was greater than that caused by the Turks during the siege of 1563.
Hompesch the sixty-ninth and last Grand Master, set sail for Europe on the 19th June, 1798, and in effect abdicated his office. The pro-Russian party existed for a time at St. Petersburg; but we may practically date the termination of the main body of the Order, as at the conquest or rather the surrender of Malta.
It may not be out of place here to note a few points in the composition of the Order. As already stated, the Order was composed of eight countries, kingdoms, or languages, but when we remember that the sixth--England, included Scotland and Ireland together with the Principality of Wales, and that the eighth--Castile, included both Portugal and Leon, we are face to face with a state of affairs for which there is only one name in our English vocabulary--a conglomeration. A collection of collections, collected from at least thirteen different nationalities, each having its own national jealousies, its own language and its own peculiarities in manners, modes of living, and relish of dietary. Each would have its own likes and dislikes in the matter of food and manner of cooking. In short, there was only one thing they had in common. They were Christians. This conglomeration lived together in one town, or to adopt their own way of expressing it, "In one house," for a period of seven hundred and fifty years, in face of the most powerful opposition to which men could possibly be subjected. National jealousies, which wrought such havoc amongst the Crusaders, and lost them the prize for which they fought. National aspirations, which tended in so many different directions. Papal intrigue which had so often been a veritable bone of contention amongst them. And finally by the confessional, that weapon without which Romanism would collapse in a day's time. True, their confessors were members of the Order, but therein lay the greatest danger, because as priests they also belonged to the Church, and were subjects of the Pope, and were bound by the Commandments of the Church, equally if not more so, than by the Decalogue which God gave to Moses. Howe the Order held together at all is surprising; but to hold together in such a manner as to be a most formidable army, for such a length of time, is a problem few, we venture to think, will try to solve. We humbly confess our inability to solve it; we stand amazed and bewildered in the presence of the facts.
Before leaving the subject of Malta, we may note that Napoleon's term of occupation was short. The British General, Pigot, captured the island for the British Crown, on the 5th September, 1800, and now, at the close of a hundred years of British rule, it is as it was when Napoleon aided by treason captured it, "One of the best fortified towns in existence." The British people enjoy the fruit of all the toil and trouble the Knights of Malta had in importing soil to make the barren rock a place of habitation.