Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anecdote
as he ceuld , in wood and pasteboard ; after which he set about inr structing two young mastiffs how to attack him at that tender part , whilst he did the same on horseback , with his lance and his armour . This exercise he continued several months ; after which he sailed back to Rhodes with them and two of his domestics ; and , without shewing himself to anyone , went directly to the place , and attacked the furious beast ( 1342 ) ordering his two servants to stand on the
, neighbouring hill , and , in case they saw him fall , to return home ; but , if victorious , or unluckily wounded , to come to his assistance . Upon the first onset , he ran with full force against it ; but found his lance recoil back , without making the least impression on its skin ; and while he was preparing to repeat his blow , his horse , affrighted at its hissing and stenchstarted so suddenly backthat he would have thrown
, , him down , had he not as dexterously dismounted ; when , drawing his sword , he gave the monster a desperate wound in the softest part of the belly , from whence quickly flowed a plentiful stream of blood . His faithful dogs no soooner saw it than they seized on the place , and , held it so fast , that he could not shake them off ; upon which he gave the Knight such a violent blow with his tailas threw him flat on the
, ground , aiid laid his whole body upon him ; so that he must have been inevitably stifled with his wei ght and stench , had not his two domestics come immediately to his assistance , and disengaged him from his load . They found him so spent and breathless , that they began to think him dead , but upon throwing some water in his face , he opened his eyes ; and glad was he , when the first object that
saluted him was the monster dead before him , which had destroyed so many of his order . The news of this exploit was no sooner known than he saw himself surrounded with vast crouds of inhabitants , and met by a great number of Knights , who conducted him in a kind of triumph to the palace of the Grand Master .. But great was his mortification here , w-heninstead of applause and commendationshe received a severe
, , reprimand , and was sent to . prison by him , without being permitted to speak for himself , or any one to intercede for him . A council was quickly called , in which that severe governor highly aggravated his crime , and , with his usual austerity ancl sternness , insisted upon his being punished with the utmost severity , for his breach of obedience and discipline , which he maintained was of more dangerous
consequence than all the mischief which that , and many more such monsters , could do . At length , with much in treaty , he was prevailed upon to content himself with degrading him : and Gozon was accordingly stripped of his cross and habit ; an indignity which he esteemed more rigorous than death . He continued some time under this disgrace ; after which Villenettvethe twenty-fifth Grand Master
, , who was of a generous temper , and an admirer of valour , having asserted his authority by that severe example , readily yielded to have him received again , and likewise bestowed many signal favours ou him ; whilst the people , less sparing of their praises than he , paid him the greatest honours every where . The head of the monsterwas fastened on one of the gates of the city , as a trophy of Go / on '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Anecdote
as he ceuld , in wood and pasteboard ; after which he set about inr structing two young mastiffs how to attack him at that tender part , whilst he did the same on horseback , with his lance and his armour . This exercise he continued several months ; after which he sailed back to Rhodes with them and two of his domestics ; and , without shewing himself to anyone , went directly to the place , and attacked the furious beast ( 1342 ) ordering his two servants to stand on the
, neighbouring hill , and , in case they saw him fall , to return home ; but , if victorious , or unluckily wounded , to come to his assistance . Upon the first onset , he ran with full force against it ; but found his lance recoil back , without making the least impression on its skin ; and while he was preparing to repeat his blow , his horse , affrighted at its hissing and stenchstarted so suddenly backthat he would have thrown
, , him down , had he not as dexterously dismounted ; when , drawing his sword , he gave the monster a desperate wound in the softest part of the belly , from whence quickly flowed a plentiful stream of blood . His faithful dogs no soooner saw it than they seized on the place , and , held it so fast , that he could not shake them off ; upon which he gave the Knight such a violent blow with his tailas threw him flat on the
, ground , aiid laid his whole body upon him ; so that he must have been inevitably stifled with his wei ght and stench , had not his two domestics come immediately to his assistance , and disengaged him from his load . They found him so spent and breathless , that they began to think him dead , but upon throwing some water in his face , he opened his eyes ; and glad was he , when the first object that
saluted him was the monster dead before him , which had destroyed so many of his order . The news of this exploit was no sooner known than he saw himself surrounded with vast crouds of inhabitants , and met by a great number of Knights , who conducted him in a kind of triumph to the palace of the Grand Master .. But great was his mortification here , w-heninstead of applause and commendationshe received a severe
, , reprimand , and was sent to . prison by him , without being permitted to speak for himself , or any one to intercede for him . A council was quickly called , in which that severe governor highly aggravated his crime , and , with his usual austerity ancl sternness , insisted upon his being punished with the utmost severity , for his breach of obedience and discipline , which he maintained was of more dangerous
consequence than all the mischief which that , and many more such monsters , could do . At length , with much in treaty , he was prevailed upon to content himself with degrading him : and Gozon was accordingly stripped of his cross and habit ; an indignity which he esteemed more rigorous than death . He continued some time under this disgrace ; after which Villenettvethe twenty-fifth Grand Master
, , who was of a generous temper , and an admirer of valour , having asserted his authority by that severe example , readily yielded to have him received again , and likewise bestowed many signal favours ou him ; whilst the people , less sparing of their praises than he , paid him the greatest honours every where . The head of the monsterwas fastened on one of the gates of the city , as a trophy of Go / on '