44 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OE [book iii.

To the spy from Constantinople, who just beforethe siege had come to separate the natives fromthe order, offering as an inducement that the GrandSeignor would treat them like the rajahs (their co-religionists), who lived happily under his kind go-vernment, and that they might even expect pe-culiar graces — u Greek and Latin all the same! ”cried the Rhodians. “ We are all of one belief; itis a mistake to think we are not, our trust being inthe same Lord Jesus. We are all Christians,servants of the blessed Virgin-Mother, and will benothing else. We are no emasculated slaves of adespotism, nor circumcised Jews, nor Egyptianvermin, eaten up by money-dealing and everyabomination and vice! But we are stout, able-bodiedmen, standing armed hand in hand with our heroicbrothers from Europe; who, brave knights, havearms also, and know well how to make use of them,nor desire anything else so ardently. You deceiveyourselves in thinking to divide us. For in truthwe are most faithfully and affectionately attachedto these valiant gentlemen, who look upon us astheir own brothers, and of their own blood, chil-dren of the same family, rather than as subjects orvassals. So do you go your own way, and we willgo ours. Do you your Avorst, and we our duty.With God’s aid, we’ll beat you. Act as becomes