262 THE HISTORY - OF THE ORDER OF [book II.

circumstance of a crusade. Ilis invasion succeededat first, all the lesser islands and part of Rhodes itselfyielding nearly without a struggle; but by littleand little, the difficulties grew. The pirates whowere at sea came back, and the Avar became longand bloody. In consequence, the crusaders wentaAvay one after another, and Sir Fulk had scarcelyany one more than his own Hospitallers to supporthim, quite ineffectual, had they not paid troops. Butto pay them? Yet so strenuous were his exertions,that he engaged the Florentine bankers to advancehim a loan of money—a difficult matter in thosetimes; and he had the ability to infuse his oavhspirit into his little army, resolution to conquer ordie. Sanguinary in the highest degree Avere severalattempts to take the city, into Avhich the pirateshad at last retreated, after a terrible resistance offour years. But take it he did in the end, whatremained of the outlaws escaping by sea, being thefirst to proclaim their own defeat throughout theislands of the Archipelago, and along the coast ofLycia ; 1 still at expense of a great number of hisbravest Hospitallers, and one shout of admirationresounded through all Christendom 2 of Knights ofRhodes , a title that was to endure illustrious for above

1 JBosio.—Yertot, iv. 89.

2 Id.

Id. iv. 90.