216 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book HI.

appear. Without knowing the interior of thetyrant’s mind, let us accept what is beneficial, ab-solutely necessary to ourselves! What need of in-vestigating the motive of a giver? It is the worth ofthe gift we are to estimate, when it relieves ourdistress. Why in palpable necessity express diffi-dence ? Perhaps the tyrant desires to make a pompof his power and clemency among the nations!Not to be always forced to use fire and sword, andalienate the affections of his people. For this hemay give us life and property, and should we be sofrenzied as not to accept them? It may be firmlybelieved that this proceeds from the occult dispen-sation of our Saviour Jesus; which it is not fitto oppose, if you be religious gentlemen, and cul-tivate the virtues of sincere and real Christians.Nor is it generous of you, or just, to ruin this people,though you destroy yourselves. Have they notshared your dangers and hardships, with the utmostfidelity, during six entire months? Not only allthe cannons are broken, and not only all the powderhere gone, but not an ounce to be bought on any ofthe neighbouring places—Sindo, Lero, Halicar-nassus, Cyprus .” 1 Nor could the grand masterdeny a syllable of what that aged Greek affirmed.The Turk had but to wish it, and the remnant of

1 Bosio : par ii., lib. xx. 584.