Aloysius Magro, Andrea Falson, Johannes Paulus Mizzi, Josephus Gusman, Michaele Camilleri, Clemens Haxac, Marius Xicluna, Petrus Bartolo and Dominicus Barbara are accused of treason. In May, cannon had been fired from Valletta, Mdina and Cittadella to call to arms after numerous galleys were reported sailing in the region. Fra Gabriele de Melos of the Ven. Langue of Portugal, as Captain of Zurrieq, summoned the militia (dejma) but issues arose and the people of Zurrieq rose against him, wounded him with thrown stones and chased him into a Church. They then made their way to Valletta to protest directly to the Grandmaster but their delegates did not wait for the Seneschall's response and barged into Valletta, armed and as far as the Grandmaster's palace.