32

THE HISTORY OR THE ORDER OF [book in.

coast, against a handful of Christians. 1 With wiseand most laudable policy, Orsini was part in procuringa diversion of the invaders, by receiving with con-ciliating courtesy a Persian ambassador; and didnot scruple to enter into an alliance with Mussul-man Persia against the Turks and Saracens, andsent a hundred of his expertest knights, with goodfounders and gunners, to discipline the Persianarmy, and introduce the European founderies andartillery, and harquebusiers, in which the Persianswere deficient; though their cavalry was then thebest and finest in the world. 2

Deeply persuaded of the use of chapters general,

. „ Orsini convened one in November, 1471,

1471 .

after having already been put off four times ; 3of which not many vestiges remain. Yet some do,as that against debts; that no dignity can be con-ferred on him who has not first paid his debts to thelast farthing; and that prescribing the length ofsittings of chapters general, that they must sit atleast fifteen days (holidays not included), and evena little longer, if the grand master and his councilchoose. 4

1 Bosio : par. ii., lib. ix., anno 1470.

2 Yertot: vii. 54.

3 Bosio: par. ii., lib. ix., anno 1471.

4 Statuti: Tit. v., Hum. 24., id. 14.