The rising of the priests

Abstract

The economic conditions of the Maltese during the latter half of Pinto's grandmastership were not very encouraging. The Order`s coffers were low and with the major building projects for towns and fortifications almost completed the civilian working population was faced with a massive lay down and a threat of hunger. A contemporary diarist recorded that “those who usually ate white bread had to content themselves with black mischiato (mahlut) bread : those who ate barley had to turn to carrobs for their daily diet. The rich mortgaged their property women begged for alms. young girls turned prostitutes while desperate men cursed and burglared . . . fightings and killings occurred frequently.”