HISTORY OP MALTA.

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openly declare himself against the grand-master; but four otherknights, who acted in concert with him, publicly avowed their de-signs. Cressin, prior of the church, had been named to that dignityby La Cassiere ; but on this occasion he proved himself his benefac-tor’s bitterest enemy. Many different reasons contributed to in-cense the factious part of the community against the grand-master;who had with great justice forbidden the knights of the differentlanguages to show any partiality towards their respective sovereigns.

This prohibition was meant to repress the pride and ambition of the

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Spaniards, who, elated with the high degree of power to whichCharles V. had raised the house of Austria, wished and intended tomake the order at large subservient to its sovereign authority:added to this, La Cassiere, with still more propriety, had banishedall courtesans from the suburbs, and city La Valetta, and com-manded them either to retire to those villages which were situatedat the greatest distance from the convent, or entirely to quit theisland. Strange as it may appear, some among the elder knightsmade use of this well-judged prohibition to irritate the youngeragainst the grand-master: so true it is, that, in all conspiracies,every method which leads to success becomes justifiable, and isquickly adopted by the head of a party.

Some of the grand-crosses, who aspired to the grand-master-ship, perceiving that, notwithstanding the great age of La Cassiere,he continued to enjoy perfect health, and might probably outlivethem, determined to depose him, and thus render vacant a dignitythey were impatient to possess.

A few days before the revolt took place, the grand-master had,VOL. II. u

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