242 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book hi.

Candia; and he did not know how he might hereceived. Nevertheless he sent to the capital to askpermission to victual and refit his fleet and armyfrom who commanded there for Venice, a republicthat had acted no friendly, if not a hostile partduring the late siege; but in return came a mostcourteous and affectionate letter, assuring him ofevery service and all possible succours. So he and hisships proceeded to the port of Castel, 1 about seventymiles west of Sittia. A Venetian nobleman, ac-companied by the Duke of Candia and the chiefmagistrates and nobility of the island, came to thebeach to meet him (Sunday, 18th January, 1523)with all the honours that could be given to themightiest sovereign; for had he not firmly sustainedwith such constancy and valour, a long siegeagainst the forces and personal efforts of the mostpowerful monarch in the" world? To which theafflicted and high-minded grand master replied, thathe had only tried to preserve Rhodes to Christen-dom, but failed, though he had given full time forEurope to come to his aid.

In Candia he heard with grief that poor Zain’sson had been seized by Solyman, and he and hisboys strangled, and the females of his family sent

1 Bourbon calls tbe capital of Candia, Castel; others Candido,the present Khania.