A Knight of the White Cross

A Knight of the White Cross, by
G.A. Henty

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Title: A Knight of the White Cross
Author: G.A. Henty

Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4932] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 31,
2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, A KNIGHT
OF THE WHITE CROSS ***

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PREFACE.
MY DEAR LADS,
The order of the Knights of St. John, which for some centuries played a
very important part in the great struggle between Christianity and
Mahomedanism, was, at its origin, a semi-religious body, its members
being, like other monks, bound by vows of obedience, chastity, and
poverty, and pledged to minister to the wants of the pilgrims who
flocked to the Holy Places, to receive them at their great Hospital -- or
guest house -- at Jerusalem, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and to
defend them on their passage to and from the sea, against attack by
Moslems. In a comparatively short time the constitution of the order
was changed, and the Knights Hospitallers became, like the Templars, a
great military Order pledged to defend the Holy Sepulchre, and to war
everywhere against the Moslems. The Hospitallers bore a leading share
in the struggle which terminated in the triumph of the Moslems, and the
capture by them of Jerusalem. The Knights of St. John then established
themselves at Acre, but after a valiant defence of that fortress, removed
to Crete, and shortly afterwards to Rhodes. There they fortified the
town, and withstood two terrible sieges by the Turks. At the end of the
second they obtained honourable terms from Sultan Solyman, and

retiring to Malta established themselves there in an even stronger
fortress than that of Rhodes, and repulsed all the efforts of the Turks to
dispossess them. The Order was the great bulwark of Christendom
against the invasion of the Turks, and the tale of their long struggle is
one of absorbing interest, and of the many eventful episodes none is
more full of incident and excitement than the first siege of Rhodes,
which I have chosen for the subject of my story.
Yours truly, G. A. Henty
CHAPTER I
The King Maker
A stately lady was looking out of the window of an apartment in the
Royal Chateau of Amboise, in the month of June, 1470. She was still
handsome, though many years of anxiety, misfortune, and trouble, had
left their traces on her face. In the room behind her, a knight was
talking to a lady sitting at a tambour frame; a lad of seventeen was
standing at another window stroking a hawk that sat on his wrist, while
a boy of nine was seated at a table examining the pages of an
illuminated missal.
"What will come of it, Eleanor?" the lady at the window said, turning
suddenly and impatiently from it. "It seems past belief that I am to meet
as a friend this haughty earl, who has for fifteen years been the bitterest
enemy of my House. It appears almost impossible."
"'Tis strange indeed, my Queen; but so many strange things have
befallen your Majesty that you should be the last to wonder at this. At
any rate, as you said but yesterday, naught but good can come of it. He
has done his worst against you, and one can scarce doubt that if he
chooses he has power to do as much good for you, as in past times he
has done you evil. 'Tis certain that his coming here shows he is in
earnest, for his presence, -- which is sure sooner or later to come to the
ears of the Usurper, -- will cause him to fall into the