notwithstanding all the firing from the City that in a short time the Moat was fill'd up almost as high as the Ravelin or Bastion of the Jews so that they might easily get up to the Wall The Grand Master who husbanded his men against the Assult finding fat the principal Batteries of the City did little good and that the Enemies advanc'd every day without receiving any great dammage caus'd an extraordinary Engine to play which was made to cast Stones of great weight at a great distance which Engine was call'd the Tribute because it was made in the time that Mahomet demanded a Tribute from the Knights This Engine plac'd just opposite to the Turks place of working wrought wonderful effects For the huge pieces of Marble which it threw with an unspeakable vioâ—ence not only cruish'd to pieces the Work-men upon the Terrasses but in several places broke into their Mines and their cover'd Trenches so that an infinite number of Turks were stifl'd in the Earth and buried in the Ruins of their own works The Rhodians shouted every time the Engin play'd and when they saw the Stones fly they cry'd that was Mahomet's Tribute The Grand Master took the cheerfulness of his Souldiers for a good Omen And though he were not a little troubl'd at the last advance of the Enemy yet by his familiarity with the Souldiery he engag'd them to cleanse the Moat which the Turk had fill'd up and to mine a way under the Walls to get in that they might not expose themselves to the Shot of the Enemy The Souldiers in that good humour cheerfully obey'd the Grand Master they min'd a hole into the Moat and by degrees drew in all the Stones into the City together with the other Rubbish that had fill'd uâ— the Moat the Grand Master beinâ— present all this while to encourage thâ— Labourers And finding that paâ—… of the Jews Walls where the Enemies Cannon had plaid hottest was ready to fall he terrass'd it with all speed and rais'd a new Wall to support the Earth which was not well settl'd To this part the Grand Master order'd great Fat 's of Flint Stones and old pieces of Iron Sacks of Sulphur and Powder Caldrons of boiling Oil and whatever was proper to stop the fury of the Turks when they gave the assault But besides all this he was desirous to know of the German Engineer what other Invention he could think of to repel the Enemy or what new work was to be rais'd should they force the Defences which were already rais'd The German seem'd surpriz'd to hear himself ask'd so many questions and coldly answer'd that he would consider of it and that for the security of the place it was requisite he should make use of all the Secrets of his Art But as he was already suspected and for that a Battery which he had already rais'd in the presence of the Grand Master had tak'n no effect suspitions began to arise that he did not act Cordially But that which more encreas'd those mistrusts was that the Turks us'd several designs to discredit him in the City They shot in Arrows with Letters fix'd to them wherein they wrote that the German Engineer was a person not to be trusted that he was a Villain full of ill designs believing that the hâ—…red which they testifi'd against him would make him the more credited by the Rhodians The Grand Master not questioning but that the advice was as true as the intention of the Turks was that it should be accounted false deliver'd him up to the hands of Justice At length as conscience often urgeth Criminals to speak against them selves he confess'd all he declar'd that he came not into Rhodes but to endeavour how he might deliver the Town up to the Infidels that he came by the express order of Mahomet to observe the condition and estate of the City and to return to him with a full account thereof iâ— case the Turkish Army should be forc'd to raise the Siege He added that this had not been the first City which he had betray'd in this manner and that his conscience accus'd him for the murther of an infinite number of Christians These confessions were enough for his condemnation without any other evidence so that he was hang'd in the publick Market-place of the City This execution was soon spread in the Camp of the Turks for the Grand Master inform'd them himself by Arrows shot over the Wall after their example Which he did the rather to let them understand how ill success their Spies had at Rhodes and that he had follow'd the Turks advice It is not to be believ'd how extremely the Basha was afflicted for the death of this Traytor He had almost no other hopes left but in him since his last misforture for he was half assur'd that the intreagues of a wit so crafty as his could not fail him at last However he would not suffer himself to be altogether dis-hearten'd though before he resolv'd upon a general assault he was resolv'd to try the most gentle means he could To this purpose after he had shot in several Letters into the City aggravating and extolling the power of the Ottoman Empire he advertiz'd the people that the Grand Signior intended no ill to the Rhodians that he had only made the War to deliver them from an unjust and tyrannical Government that being Greeks they ought naturally to obey the Emperor of the Rhodians and that they would never be at quiet so long as they continu'd enemies to the Ottoman Court He promis'd them if they would surrender not only their lives and liberties but also all sorts of Immunities and Honours At length he declar'd to them that if they refus'd such advantageous proffers they must expect to be all put to the Sword That the Invincible Mahomet was resolv'd to drain his Empire of all its Forces to take Rhodes that he was marching thither with all speed and that there would be no capitulations thought of when his Highness arriv'd This Letter wrought no impression upon their resolutions The wiser sort laugh'd at them the meanest capacities took them only for pieces of craft and falsity They all contemn'd and scorn'd the change which he propos'd and so far they were from dreaming of a submission to the Grand Signior that they made new protestations of fidelity to the Grand Master So that nothing more contributed to retain the Prince in their obedience and to redouble their affection to their lawful Prince then the subtilty which was us'd to corrupt and gain them to a revolt The Basha finding no effect of his Letters to which they would not so much as vouchsafe an answer took another way to obtain an answer A runagate Greek presented himself that night by his order before the Walls of the City and calling to the Centinels with a loud voice he told the Knights that appear'd that the General of the Ottoman Army was desirous to send an Embassador to the
Posts what Bastions to keep or relieve as necessity requir'd and what Knights to be continually about his own person Particularly William Watson commanded the English Post Nicholas Hussey the English Bastion and Thomas Sheffeild was Captain of St. Anthonies Gate The City was in this posture when there was a signal made by fire from Fisco that there were some persons there which desir'd to parley Thereupon upon the Grand Master sent the Knigh Boniface D' Alluys a Provençal thither with his Gally When he came neer the place where the fire was certain horsemen that stood upon the shore gave the Knight to understand that they had a Letter to deliver from the Grand Signiour and invited him a shoar But the Knight too well understanding the humour of the Turks told them he had but a short time to stay and therefore if they had any thing to say they should dispatch quickly otherwise he would not tarry Thereupon the Turks threw a Letter ty'd to a stone in to Galley which Letter was deliver'd to the Grand Master and read in Council In this Letter Solyman demanded that Rhodes should be surrender'd up to him promising security and good usage to all in general with liberty to the Inhabitants to enjoy their own Laws and Religion permission to them that would depart freely with their families and estates and great advantages to them that would take up Armes in his service Otherwise he threaten'd utterly to ruin the City walls and Towers and to make the Inhabitants all slaves To this the Council thought it not convenient to return any answer but to stand resolutely upon their guard Thereupon the Grand Master having certain advice that the Fleet was under sail defac'd all the Gardens without the City beginning with his own and caus'd the Earth and rubbish to be carry'd into the Town where it was of great use for the repair of breaches He sent also for the Country people in poyson'd the waters and burnt the Corn and straw that remain'd upon the Ground The Vanguard of the Fleet that first appear'd consisted of 30 Gallys out of which some few of the Turks landed in Lango to burn and pillage according to their custom But the Commander of the Fort mounting all his men charg'd them so vigorously that having slain five or six and taken three prisoners he drove the rest to their Galleys though his own Horse were kill'd under him and some few of his men wounded Thereupon the Turks left Lango and made to the Jews Castle and so entring the Gulf of Essimes about fifteen miles from Rhodes they were first discover'd by the sentinels from Mount Sallac The 24 th of June being St. Johns day the Turks came to an anchor on that side of Rhodes where stood the Castle Favit There they landed and burnt the Corn upon the ground the same day the body of the Fleet appear'd in the Gulf of Essimes where the 30 Galleys joyn'd with the main Body And yet the danger being so neer there happen'd almost as dangerous a Contest between the Auvergnian and German Languages while the Germans pretended that one part of the new Bastion next St. Georges Gate belong'd to them and the Auvergnians claim'd it to themselves insomuch that they had like to have come to blows But the Grand Master interposing his Authority the decision of the controversie was referr'd to the next General Chapter In the mean time it was order'd that no other ensigns should be set up there but those of the Grand Master and of the Order The 26 of June the whole Fleet was discover'd making directly from the Gulf of Essimes for Rhodes and coming to that part of the Isle which is call'd the Foss or Hole 8 miles from Rhodes they came to an Anchor which not a little consternated the women and common people of the City But the Grand Master without the least shew of Alteration in his Countenance with his accustom'd constancy and serenity went up and down from place to place providing for every thing and that very day which seem'd to be the most terrible caus'd Service to be said and Processions to be made with the same order and tranquility as if it had bin in a time of undisturb'd peace After that he caus'd the Gates to be shut and issu'd out of his palace arm'd and attended by his guards causing the Drums to beat and the trumpets to sound the Souldiers to take their appointed Posts and set up the standards and ensigns upon the several Towers and Bastions which a far off afforded a noble and magnificent sight reviv'd the courage of the Souldiery and settled the Resolution of the people In the mean time the 30 Galleys made up to Cape St. Martin there to keep Guard and to surprize such Vessels as should come to bring relief to the besieged Late in the evening the whole Fleet consisting of a hundred sail left the Foss ' or Hole and passing by the Port at three miles distance came and rode in another part of the Island at a place call'd Parambolin six miles from the City because it was a rode secure from the West winds that blow hard in that Channel Some dayes after the rest of the Fleet joyn'd and lay there at an Anchor all the time of the Siege There were in this Fleet a hundred Galleys besides the thirty before mentioned thirty great Galeasses fifteen Mahons twenty Flat-bottom'd Boats sixty Fusts and a great number of Brigantines ten or twelve great Ships as big as Gallions carrying provisions Some few daies after arriv'd more from Syria and other parts so that the whole Fleet consisted of 400 Sail of all sorts and the Army of two hundred thousand men of which sixty thousand were Pioneers The same day that the Fleet arriv'd at Parambolin the Grand Master dispatch'd the Chevalier Bresols to the Pope the Chevalier Andugar to the Emperour and King of Spain and the Chevalier D'Ansonville to the Kings of England and France to give them notice of the Siege and to crave succour Other Knights he dispatch'd away to buy all the Ammunition and war-like Provisions they could and to hasten back with all speed to Rhodes He also sent away summons to the absent Knights to repair forthwith to the defence of their Island The Turks were thirteen daies before they made one shot or any other attempt by reason that the Lycian Army was not come up but no sooner was that Army enter'd the Island but the Turks began to set up their Pavilions and to lodge their Camp in a place out of the reach of the Rhodian Artillery to land their Guns mount and plant them open their Trenches and make their approaches Then it was that the Grand Master left his own Palace and took up his Quarters in St. Marys of the Victorie as being the-weakest part of the City and upon which the Turks in ther former Siege had made their chiefest Assaults At the same time also the
and join'd with the Venetian Fleet which the Republick sent to the relief of Negropont The Fleet appear'd in view of the Isle when the Barbarians were ready for the assault and Mahomet who saw them coming was not a little troubled But all that preparation came to nothing and the Knights were forc'd to lye still and behold the City taken before their faces through the cowardice or imprudence of the Venetians who having the Wind and Tide favourable instead of making use of the opportunity stopt short and fell to consultation when it was time to act The Grand Signior was so enrag'd at the succour which the Order had given to the Venetians and the incursions which they had made into divers parts of Turky during his being busied in Negropont that without any farther deliberation he declar'd War against them A Herauld publish'd the Declaration by sound of Trumpet and Mahomets rage went so far that he vow'd in a furious passion that he would kill the Grand Master with his own hands and cut to pieces all the Knights that fell into his power After a War so solemnly and outragiously declar'd there was nothing thought upon in Rhodes but to make preparations to withstand the fury of Mahomet They began with a general Assembly so soon as the Gallies were return'd and Aubusson was in this Chapter one of the sixteen Knights who govern'd every thing as he had been in that of Rome He was also one of the Administrators of the Treasury which were elected extraordinarily for as there was little order in the Treasury and for that the Chapter of Rome had very much exhausted it they thought it convenient to trust the management thereof to six Knights of known integrity and ability giving them an absolute and independent power as to what concern'd the publick stock without obliging them to give any account to the Grand Master or the Council But besides those advantages which Aubusson had common with the rest of the Knights he was also honour'd in particular with a new dignity The Auvergnian language represented to the Council that in regard they had a great number of Knights that faithfully serv'd the Order and few dignities that depended upon the Council they demanded for a recompence of their service that they might have bestow'd upon them some particular jurisdiction as other languages had that were less ancient and less numerous The request seem'd bur reasonable so that the Chapter in favour of them made a new Capital Jurisdiction they gave them authority to assign a Commandery for the revenue of the Charge and declar'd at the same time that the Baily whom they should elect should enjoy his Commandery in the same manner as other Bailies that is to say that he should enjoy all the prerogatives and pre eminencies that are appropriated to Capital Jurisdictions and Commanderies They annex'd the Commandery of Luteil to the new Bailywick and after that Aubusson was elected Baily as he that was adjudg'd fittest for the dignity The first time that Aubusson took his place in Council as Baily he spoke For Charlotte de Lusignan Queen of Cyprus For that unfortunate Princess whom the Rebellion of her Subjects had reduc'd almost to utmost extremity could find no Sanctuary but Rhodes after the ruine of her affairs There she stay'd for some time and was entertain'd at the expences of the Order But in regard her ill fortune had not broken her courage she resolv'd upon a journey to Rome to desire aid of the Pope against her rebellious Subjects or at least to oblige him to thunder out against them the Anathema's of the Church And that which made her absolutely determine upon that course was the conveniency of the French Gallies then in the Port of Rhodes which were suddenly to set sail for Naples But in regard she was very poor and had not wherewithall to defray the expences of her journey she desir'd those Knights who seem'd to have most compassion and kindness for her to speak to the Grand Master to supply her with what was neccssary to carry her into Italy The Baily Aubusson was very much troubled for the misfortunes of the Queen and espous'd her interest He wish'd with all his heart that the condition of the affairs of Rhodes would have permitted the Knights to have restor'd her to her Throne nor were there any dangers to which he would not have expos'd himself to serve her But because there was no likelihood of undertaking any thing abroad while the Order was in so much danger at home he only represented that since the Knights of St. John were not in a condition to restore a Queen dispoil'd of her Kingdom that had put her self under their protection that they would at least relieve a Queen in necessity who did as it were crave their Alms. That it was true that the Treasury was not over rich and that Mony was a precious thing in case of a Siege but that there were certain occasions wherein decency generosity charity and justice were to prevail above ordinary prudence and that after all was done that the Springs of Providence were inexhaustible and that Heaven was never wont to fail them that inconvenienc'd themselves to relieve the miserable He spoke with so much earnestness and with such a lively and encouraging Air that the Council order'd notwithstanding the opposition of the Knights either wanting generosity or over-prudent that the Queen of Cyprus should be plentifully furnish'd with all things necessary for her Voyage The Baily D'Aubusson was order'd himself as one of the Managers of the Treasury to give her what Money he should think fit and he so well acquitted himself that the Queen had no occasion to complain But to return to the preparations for War though the Venetian found the Turk employment sufficient in Dalmatia and that the Alliance which the Venetians had made with Vssumcassan King of Persia after the taking of Negropont had somewhat discompos'd the designs of Mahomet however the Knights were careful to stand upon their Guard and because the Walls were either ruin'd or weak in some places they labour'd continually in the repair of them giving to Baily Aubusson the charge of looking after the Fortifications of the City He had apply'd himself in his youth to that Military Science wherein betimes he became so expert that the most able Ingineers could teach him nothing He was not content only to repair the breaches but he added something new to the ancient Works He caus'd the Moats to be made wider and broader but because it was nois'd about that Mahomet was preparing his Galleys against the Knights of St. John and that the Turkish Army which had rais'd their Siege from before Scutari might well come to Rhodes the Council thought it necessary for fear of being surpriz'd to plant their Cannon round the Walls of the City which was also entrusted to Aubusson's care who brought out all the great Guns and planted them upon the Walls
Country exacted from him by a most Tragical end In the mean time the Turkish Fleet pass'd the Streight of Gallipoli and the Forces that came by Land rendevouz'd in Lycia as they were appointed There the report ran that Mahomet was suddenly dead and that the Souldiers which march'd from all parts were only to prevent such Commotions and Insurrections as are wont to happen upon the death of the Emperor A Greek Spy who was discover'd at Rhodes and the Prisoners that were taken and sent thither by the Knights of the Fort of Fano confess'd all they knew By other means also the Grand Master understood that the Enemies Fleet drew nearer and nearer and being one that was accustom'd to false reports he believ'd nothing less then the death of Mahomet and as for that of Meligale he look'd upon it as an example of Divine Justice and a pledg of Victory However he omitted not to take all the caution that Humane prudence could require And therefore considering that the Churches of St. Mary and St. Anthony that stood without the City and very near the Walls might serve for shelter for the Infidels and annoy the Town he caus'd them to be pull'd down He order'd that the Inhabitants who had Gardens and Houses about the City should cut down all the Trees that did not bear Fruit and that they should bring into Rhodes as much of the Wood as they could He commanded them also to cut down all the Barley and Oats that were grown up that the Enemy might want forâ—age for their Horses and also all the Wheat and to spoil the Grass and green Plants After which having chosen for Captains of the Successors the Hospitaller the Admiral the Chancellour and Treasurer of the Order he gave instructions to the Knights of the several Languages what they should severally act exhorting them in a few words to acquit themselves faithfully of theiâ— duties Behold said he Brave Knights an oppertunity at length for ye aâ—… to shew what ye are We have prâ—visions of all sorts in abundance aâ—… though our forces are not so numeroâ—… as those of the Enemy they are boâ—… valianter and better disciplin'd Italy France Germany all Christendoâ— will send us relief and we are assur'â— of Victory provided we do our duty Jesus Christ as our Captain in the Waâ— he will not forsake them that fight fâ—… his names sake And it will only bâ—long to you when you have caus'd tâ—… Infidels to raise their Siege to driâ—… them out of Constantinople with tâ—… assistance of the Christian Princes But because the Grand Master wâ—… fully perswaded that affairs the be order'd are not always successfuâ—… unless favour'd and prosper'd by Gâ—… himself he caus'd publick prayeâ— to be made to Heaven and sent fâ—… an Image of the Virgin It was thâ—… which the Rhodians worshipp'd upon Mount Palermus and which after Solyman had taken Rhodes was carry'd to Malta where it still remains in the Church of St. John the Baptist What the fatal Image of Minerva was to the people of Troy that was the Image of the Virgin to the people of Rhodes who believ'd they had nothing to fear while she was in the midst of them In the mean while the Sentinel that stood upon the top of St. Stevens Mount gave a Signal to advertize that the Enemies Fleet appear'd The Grand Master hasted to the Mountain to satisfy his own eyes carrying along with him men expert in Sea affairs who were all of one opinion by the course which the Fleet steer'd that they were bound to join with the Basha who stay'd for them in the Port of Fesco there to embarque all his Forces Nor were they deâ—eiv'd For the Souldiers being emâ—arqu'd with all speed the Ottoman Fleet compos'd of a hundred and â—ixty Sail steer'd directly along the Coast of Lycia with a fair Gale aâ— length it appear'd before Rhodes again the 23 d of May in the year 1480 Then to see the excellent order of thâ— Barbarians to hear the joyful shout of the Barbarians the sound of thâ— Fifes the noise of the Trumpets it seem'd as if they had been Triumphant Victorers making their entrâ— into a conquer'd City THE HISTORY OF Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master of RHODES Book Third THE City of Rhodes so famous in Antiquity for Art and Science there cherish'd and for the birth of so maâ—y famous men is seated by the Seaâ—de upon the descent of a little Hill â—hich rises insensibly in a pleasant â—lain in the North part of the Island â—hat bears its name It is crown'd with several little Hillocks full of clear Springs and which in the time of the Grand Master whose story 〈◊〉 write were all shaded with Orange Pomegranate Trees and others of the same nature It was then well built immur'd with a double Wall fortifyd with several Towers thaâ— were encompass'd every one with a kind of Ravelin or Bastion A greaâ— Rampart sustain'd these Walls within and a large and deep Moat environd them without But towarâ— the South and on that side wherâ— the Jews inhabited in the low Towâ— the Towers were something moâ—… distant one from another for whicâ— reason that side was so much thâ— weaker The Quarter where the Knighâ— liv'd which was calld the Mansionâ— of the Languages and was a kinâ— of City by it self was the strongâ— not only for its scituation but alâ— for the fortification which art had aâ—ded to it For besides that the Sâ— wash'd it upon the North and Eaâ—… it was defended by two Bulwark nine Towers and by a particular Fortification that extended if self to the Sea A very thick Wall and flank'd with good Towers separated it from the low Town which the people and inhabitants possess'd The Palace of the Grand Master that run along the Mansions of the Knights upon the West side was better fortifyd then the rest having three or four distinct enclosures The Port that was the chief defence of the whole City look'd toward the East and somewhat toward the North. It was made by two Moles that stretching themselves from the Walls of the City and almost meeting one another left no more room but for one Gally at a time to enter The entry was guarded by two strong Towers seated upon two Rocks upon which formerly stood the famous Colossus of Brass which was accounted one of the seven wonders of the World Two little Bosomes of Sea did as it were adorn the Port upon the North and South sides and a Mole that stretch'd it self above three hunder'd paces into the Sea at the end whereof stood the Tower of St. Nicholas which clos'd the bosom that lay upon the North. If we may believe the old Arabick Chronicles intermixt with many fables this Fort was anciently built by an Arabian Prince call'd by the name of Muhavias a great Souldier and Son of Abi Safian This Prince from Governor of Egypt and Syria coming to be Caleph nine and thirty years after Mahomet was
time to the Princes of Christendom to give them advice of the Victory and to engage them to send him relief in case the Turks should make any new attempts and that the Knights should be constrain'd to hold out another Siege But because that Ferdinand's Ships had brought him a Brief from Sixtus which Brief contain'd such expressions as testifi'd how much the Pope did interest himself in the affairs of Rhodes he sent to Rome the Prior of Capua and the Commander of Aliaga with the Title of Embassadors Extraordinary He charg'd them also in their way to wait upon the King of Naples and to tell him how much the Knights were oblig'd to him for his aid That in his own particular he highly acknowledg'd his Favour and as long as he liv'd should seek all occasions to testify his gratitude Nor was the Grand Master thus contented to declare his obligations to Ferdinand he also gave substantial marks of it to Lewis Palafox a Gentleman of Aragon and Captain of the Ship which had so valiantly defended the Tower of St. Nicholas and the Jews Wall For besides that he presented him with a Diamond of a very great price and made his natural Son a Knight as being a young Gentleman of great hopes and merit He permitted him to carry in chief above the Arms of his Family the Arms of the Order as an authentick proof of the Services which he and his had done during the Siege He also granted other considerable Favours both to the Knights and Souldiers which had most signaliz'd themselves And because the Countrey was utterly laid wast and for that the miseries of the people were not ended with the War he caus'd Corn to be distributed to the Isladers in great plenty and discharg'd them for several years of all sorts of Taxes THE HISTORY OF Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master of RHODES Book Fourth THE Ottoman Fleet carri'd the news of their own misfortune home themselves to Constantinople And Mahomet was as deeply sensible of this misfortune as a wise and ambitious Prince possibly could be who had not prosper'd in an honourable Enterprize which he undertook not but upon great consideration Though he were a great Master of himself and one that could dissemble his particular anguish of mind yet upon the sight of the principal Captains of the Army and in that transportment he was about to have put them all to death The Basha Misach Paleogo his favourite presum'd to tell him with that freedom which his favour allow'd him that they had nothing to accuse him either for his conduct or his courage and that the Mussul-men had done as much as men could do He was glad to tell him withal that the Knights of Rhodes were men of an extraordinary valour and that there appear'd in the Air a bright shining Troop whose blows neither the Turks could shun nor abide their looks But all these reasons gave the Grand Signior no satisfaction He drove his Favourite out of his sight and was so far from giving him the Vest of Honour which he was wont to bestow upon his Generals and Visiers at their returns from military Expeditions that he commanded him to retire to the Sangiacatship of Gallipolt Nor indeed had Mahomet any other way to cheer up himself for this misfortune but by believing that the conquest of Rhodes was reserv'd to him alone and that it belong'd only to him to tame the Knights and their Grand Master They were soon inform'd at Rhodes of the preparations which were made at Constantinople for a new Expedition nor was the Grand Master idle in preparing to receive them But while the Rhodians were repairing the defences of their City there happen'd extraordinary accidents which chang'd the whole course of their proceedings A little while after the Fleet of the Turks was departed there was heard over the whole Isle a kind of subterraneal noise like to that of thunder that begins to grumble in a cloud This was a prognostication of those Earthquakes with which the Island was terrifi'd for many months The most firm foundations of the City were shak'n by the first shogs and almost over-turn'd by the second shakings which happen'd one after another and which many times did not give over but only to begin again with greater force The half of the Fort of St. Nicholas tumbl'd down one night and the ruines of the Tower overwhelm'd most part of the Souldiers in the Tower As the exhalation that caus'd these motions grew to be more and more enrag'd by the attempts which it made to get loose out of the caverns wherein it was enclos'd the Earth-quake encreas'd every day The Earth rear'd it self up and violently bounded forward in some places it cleft and open'd in others Nothing but ruine and abysses appear'd every where nothing was heard but the cries of affrighted people that run up and down to save themselves and yet no where sound security In short it seem'd that the Island of Rhodes which some believ'd was produc'd our of the Sea to make the Earth tremble was now just ready to perish by the same accident for which it was created To add to their affliction these tremblings of the Earth were accompani'd with such prodigious and impetuous showers of rain as if a second deluge had been come to overflow the World Besides all this the Sea swell'd ten foot high and having surpast its bounds over-run the Câ—ty with such an impetuosity and noise as if it came to swallow it up The Rhodians believ'd themselves lost when they beheld how the very Elements conspir'd their ruine at a time as they were threaten'd again with the whole force of the Turks Nay the Grand Master himself would have had much ado perhaps to have sustain'd himself with his natural constancy had not his confidence in God fortifi'd him against so many calamities Upon this Christian confidence it was that he was often heard to say like Moses and David The God of Battel is our fortress when I walk in the midd'st of the shadow of death I will fear none ill because thou Lord art with me He exhorted all the people to take heart but all his exhortations signifi'd little for the people sensible of what they felt abandon'd themselves to those impressions which such sort of calamities produce And that which encreas'd the publick consternation was that about that time Mahomet was set out of Constantinople at the head of three hunder'd thousand men resolv'd to conquer Italy or Egypt so soon as he had conquer'd Rhodes He cross'd the Thracian Bosphorus and took his way for Bithynia with a design to cross all Asia the less and to come to the Port of Lycia before the Knights should know of his march But Heaven is pleas'd sometimes at one blow to bring down the pride of the Grandees of the Earth This proud Prince who thought upon nothing but new conquests was taken away by a violent Cholick in the midd'st of his Army neer
that the Grand Signior was setting forth a vast number of Ships and preparing all sorts of Engines of War and Guns of an extraordinary bigneses and that there was a stop all persons going to Rhodes without the leave of the Governours Thereupon the Grand Master making no farther doubt of the Truth put all hands to the fortifications giving the charge thereof to the Knights Anthony Brito a Portoguese and Francis Nueres of the Priory of Aquitaine He also made provision of Ovens and Mills and Lodgings of Ovens and Mills and Lodgings for the Country people that should retire into the City While these things were in hand he sent to Pope Adrian of whom he earnestly requested succour against the Turks as also to the Emperour and the King of France but in vain because they were then in open War one against the other As for the Pope he rather prejudic'd then assisted them For the Italian Knights being inform'd that he conferr'd every day Commanderies in Italy to their detriment complain'd to the Council of Rhodes and desir'd leave that they might go altogether to Rome to make their complaints to his Holiness which Liberty considering the State of Affairs was at that time deny'd them Thus was the Pope the Occasion of an unseasonable disorder For upon this the Italians openly complain'd of the Grand Master while the Chancellor Amarall secretly blew the bellows of dissention and carry'd it so far as to deny their service to the Order and to obey the Commands of the Grand Master Thereupon the Grand Master depriv'd of their habit three of the Principal Ring leaders Gabriel Solier James Palavicino and Lewis Moroso And to justifie himself he referr'd the whole to the consideration and examination of the Council who made their report that the Grand Master had done nothing but what was just prudent and rational However some of Commotion and Alteration at such a conjuncture made it their business to pacifie the Italians laying before them that the world would think and could not judge otherwise but that they sought for a pretence to go to Rome not so much for the sake of their Commanderies as to escape the danger of the approaching Siege Whereby the perswaders wrought so far that the Mutineers laid aside their anger made their excuses and return'd to the Obedience of the Grand Master who as kindly embrac'd and pardon'd them This bustle being over there arriv'd at Rhodes an Agent from Peri Basha who deliver'd a Letter to the Grand Master wherein the Basha invited him to a Treaty of Peace with the Grand Signior assuring him that if he sought it he should be well receiv'd and advising him withall to send for that purpose persons of Quality to the Port. The Embassador also deliver'd other Letters from the Grand Signior himself much to the same effect Most part of the Council considering the Age of Peri who was ancient and his known prudence and moderation had a good opinion of the Truth of the Embassie insomuch that they resolv'd to send to Constantinople the Chevalier Marquet Cataline and with him a Rhodian named Castrophylaca a person of great judgment and well skill'd in the Turkish Language to conclude a Peace in the same manner as it had been concluded in the time of D'Aubusson But when they were consulting about their Instructions some better considering of the business began to be of opinion that Peri was only a dissembler and observ'd that Solymans Letter gave no credence to that of Peri and that it was not practicable to send and Embassadour without a safe conduction in ample manner from the Grand Signiour While they were in these doubts the Grand Master was advertiz'd that Peri's Embassadour wandred about the City and with a diligent eye observ'd the Fortifications and made enquiries after the Quantity of Provisions the number of Souldiers and what relief was expected This open'd the eyes of the Council and gave them to understand that they were abus'd and that the Embassadour was only come as a spie Thereupon they presently sent him away ordering a Greek of mean Quality to go along with him to whom they gave two Letters one to Solyman the other to the Basha where in a few words the Grand Master declar'd that he had intelligence of every thing and that he had neither any thought or fear of the Grand Signiour or of his forces Nevertheless he desir'd a safe conduct for an Embassadour and offer'd to restrain the Incursions of those of the Order The Embassadour being arriv'd at Port Fisco found Horses there ready for him and went Post to Constantinople leaving the Greek behind who being unwilling to travel alone through an Enemies Country so far a journey return'd to Rhodes in the same Vessel that carry'd him By which miscarriage every one was then ascertain'd that the Embassie was but only a deceit and that the Town would suddainly be besiedg'd The City was well provided of Flesh pulse and wheat of which there was enough all the time of the siege as for warlike munitions it was thought there had bin enough though the Siege had lasted a whole year But they found it otherwise for they spent a great quantity to hinder the approaches of the Enemies Trenches besides the continual wast of powder and shot day night against so many thousands of busy Enemies Thereupon the Chevalier Antonie Bosio a person of a quick Capacity and one who did many services for the Order while he liv'd was sent into Candy for wine and to make a Levy of Archers but the Candiots afraid of the Turk forbid him to raise any men However under pretence of a convoy for his freight he brought away four hundred Archers which did eminent service all the time of the Siege The same Bosio met also upon the Sea with a Venetian whose name was Anthony Bonaldi coming from Alexandria in a great Vessel laden with Wine and bound for Constantinople But Bosio perswaded him to alter his Course and bring his Cargo to Rhodes where after he had sold his Wine he put himself and his men into the service of the Order and behav'd himself during the siege like a person of great valor And now intelligence came from all parts especially from the Duke of Nixia that the Galleys were lanching and that the whole fleet wound depart at the Latter end of May. Thereupon the Grand Master caus'd a General Muster to be made as well of the Knights as of the other Souldiers As to those of the Habit there appear'd one and fifty of the Language of Province 26 of that of Auvergne Sixty two of France Forty seven of Italy Fifty one of Arragon Catalogne and Navar Eleven of England Six of Germany Fifty seven of Castile besides 13 others more that kept guard in the Castle of St. Nicholas The whole Garrison consisted of about 5000 men After the muster was thus made the Grand Master appointed to every Commander his particular duty what
the Embassador of Rhodes Aubusson layd out that mony for provisions of war according to the orders he receiv'd and freighted away Ships laden with Canon Armes Powder and Lead Then he departed himself after he had collected most of the money which was due to the Order in several parts of Europe The success of the Embassie and the Letter which he presented to the Grand-Master from the King of France made him to be acceptably receiv'd by the Knights and all the people The Letter was very generous and very obliging For the King after he had only spok'n a word or two touching the gratifying of their desires and excus'd himfelf for not having done more at the present juncture frankly engag'd himself to give them farther assistance and assur'd them of his friendship in very civil and affectionate language which Kings were not wont to make use of But whatever obligation the Order had to Charles the seventh the Spanish Knights could not forbear to deaâ— very rudely with the French Knights at a general Chapter held a little after the return of the Embassador and which was no less famous for the attempts of Hostile Nations or enemies of France then for the number of famous Commanders that were present So soon as the Chapter war open'd the Knight de Linian Procurator of the Spanish tongue stood up and said aloud that they ought not to proceed any farther without decreeing one Article which he ought to propose and which was very important the publick tranquility To which purpose he requir'd that all the dignities of the Order should be equal and that there should be no distinction of Languages nor of precedency nor in any other marks of Honour He was seconded in his proposal by the Knight de Rivalta Procurator of the Italian tongue and the Procurators all England and Germany But the French who had alwayes march'd before other Nations oppos'd with all their might the Proposal of Linian and above all the Commander D Aubusson who held a considerable degree in the Assembly by vertue of his title of Constable of Rhodes and Procurator of the Grand-Master The zeal which he had for the Honour of his Country made him speak louder and more earnest then the rest To shew how unjust the Proposition of the Spaniards was he declar'd in few words that the French being the first Founders of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem deserv'd such honour as should distinguish them from other Languages that were associated with them and which they had adopted That those particular honours being the recompence of their vertue it would be injustice to deprive them of them That their Predecessors had peaceably enjoy'd them without being ever molested or oppos'd That antiquity of Possession was a good Title for precedencie And that in a well regulated Constitution all Innovations were of dangerous consequence After all that it was not a time then to dispute of such matters and that they would incur the malediction of the Church according to the Popes Breif touching the celebration of the Chapter if they discours'd of any other matters then what concern'd the general good of Christendom The Spaniards and their accomplices often interrupted Aubusson and endeavour'd to carry by force what they could not obtain by justice But finding at length that the French party was the strongest and that they were not all hearknd to they flung out of the Assembly and afterwards departed the Town notwithstanding the prohibition of the Grand-Master so that this Affair which as the Spaniards pretended so much imported the publick tranquility was but a trick to divide and break up the Assembly But the Commander D Aubusson had another occasion to stand up for the honour of France while he desended his own The news being brought to the Grand-Master that Mahomet was equipping out a great Fleet and that the Turks might attacque the Island of Rhodes the Knight Villemarin a Spaniard and a person of merit but ambitious and naturally turbulent propos'd in Council with much heat that he might immediately give order for all things necessary for the defence of the City and made a large recital of what was needful with all the marks of a sedulous care Aubusson who was Castellaine of the City and who besides that exercis'd the Command of Captain General in the absence of the Marshal of the Order fearing least Villamarin whose haughty and daring humour he knew should usurp the charge of Captain General anfwer'd him sternly that there was no want of power that he might set himself at rest for that and that he had nothing to do to intrude himself upon those duties that did not belong to him That it was the Captain General who was to take care for the security of the City That that employment anciently belong'd to the Auvergnon Tongue and that the Spanish Language bad nothing to do with it Villemarin made a semblance of submitting to his reasons and gave no reply at that time either to conceal his design or to give himself time to consider what he had to do But the next day having consulted the Knights of his own Nation which were returnd to Rhodes whose behaviour the Grand-Master had also pardon'd he appear'd at the head of them in Council and with an affected Air of modesty said that the Spanish Language did not pretend to the charge of Captain General but that he and all the rest of the Nation desir'd that they might have the opportunity to perform their duties to the utmost of their power as well as the French Aubusson who saw that this manner of proceeding was only a meet fetch and that the Spaniards under pretence of demanding the exercise of their duty had a design upon the Command it self replid with more sternness and vigour then before that the charge of Captain General was annexed to the dignity of Marshal of the Order that only belong'd to the Auvergnian Language of whom the Marshal was the chief to do the duties of it and that Spain had nothing to do to meddle with France as to that particular The Council adjudg'd that Villemarin's wariness was without any ground and the Affair was decreed in favour of the French to the disgrace of the Spaniards who in vain protested against all that was done in regard that their Protests could not be Register'd Notwithstanding the advantage which France had in these Contests that hinder'd not but that Peter Raymund Zacosta a Castillan was chosen Grand-Master in the room of James de Milli who dy'd at that time the Spaniards were also divided into two Languages the one Arragonian the other Castillian in favour of the latter of which there was a new Dignity created under the Title of Chancellor of the Order Yet neither the credit which the Spaniards had with the new Grand-Master nor the animosities which they had conceiv'd against the French could hinder but that the Commander Aubusson had alwaies his share in the management
homage That it highly concern'd the Christians to act prudently with a Conqueror who made all the Earth to tremble and who vouchsaf'd to be their friend These fair words wrought little effect for besides that the Grand Master was informed by his Spies that they had a mind to surprize them he conjectur'd of himself at the motives of the Embassy by the Person of the Embassador who was not unknown to him The very name of Renegado gave him a suspition He lookt upon Demetrius as a Traitor whom it behov'd him to beware of and not as a person with whom he could negotiate securely So that the affair miscarry'd at first where Mahomet thought he had done for the best Of so great importance it is for the success of Negotiations and Embassies to employ persons of Integrity and honour or at least such as have the reputation of being so Nevertheless the Grand Master dissembl'd his distrust and judging how advantageous a suspension of Arms would be till such time as all the warlike Provision which he expected every day were arrived together with the Knights which had been summon'd he did not utterly reject the Propositions of Demetrius neither did he absolutely accept it and whatever Artifice the cunning Fox could use to draw from him a precise answer all his reply was that the Knights of Rhodes could not treat with Mahomet without the permision of the Pope that questionless his Holiness would not oppose the peace provided that his Master would harken to those Conditions which had formerly been concluded with Amurath that is to say without any mention of Tribute That in expectation of the Popes answer it would do well if so it pleas'd the Ottoman Princes that there should be a Cessation of Arms and liberty of Commerce between the Christians and the Turks The Renegado who well understood how nice the Knights were in point of Tribute and thought of nothing more then a positive refusal at first contented himself that he had set the business a foot And the better to bring it to a happy conclusion promised of his own accord in the names of Zizim and Shelebi what the Grand Master had desir'd and departed very well satisfy'd that he was not flatly deny'd The Grand Master wrote a very civil Letter to the two Princes he thanked them for their kind endeavours and highly applauded their good intentions but he declar'd at the same time without so much as mentioning the Tribute that he could not come to any conclusion till he knew the Popes resolution and how the Christian Princes stood affected to it who made the affairs of Rhodes their own business Demetrius had no sooner given an accompt of his Negotiation but the Princes sent him back with order not to speak a word more of the Tribute and to demand only some small present to cover with a specious Title that submission which Mahomet exacted from the Knights But their answer was still the same that they could make no engagement till they had heard news from Rome All that they could farther say was that those Presents which were exacted yearly did very much resemble presents and that the Knights of Rhodes were not overforward to make any kind of Presents to the Grand Signior Demetrius understood well enough what they meant However he was yet in hopes that the Grand Master might at length be brought to relent and to engage him thereto by his Interest he promis'd him again a suspention of Arms with liberty of Trade Nevertheless the Grand Master did not fail to prepare for War as if their had not been so much as any discourse of peace and that Mahomet should not be inform'd of any thing he order'd that no Vessel should stir out of the Port. He soon perceiv'd that the Infidels were not very curious in observing Truces and the advice which was brought him that the Turkish Brigantines had taken certain Vessels belonging to the Order near the Islands of Calamo and Episcopia confirm'd him more and more in the thoughts which he had that all this Treaty was but an Artifice and he rather believ'd that the Turks were so much the more ready to beseige Rome by how much they seem'd to be farthest from any such design So that he renew'd all the Orders which he had given out for the security of the City he also sent to Naples the Knight D'Albalat of Aragon to buy Corn and besides that as he was resolv'd that the Barbarians should not carry by famine what they could not win by force he sent into Aegypt and Syria for plenty of all sorts of Provisions In the mean time the Knights arriv'd at Rhodes from all parts of Christendom And in regard the assembly which was to be held the first of May â—…as put off by the Popes Bull and deferr'd to the 28 th of October by an order of Council they appear'd almost all at a time The Grand Master at the opening the Assembly made a speech that made no small Impression upon their Spirits After the usual ceremonies and Formalities the sixteen who were elected for the Government of all things laid new Taxes upon all the Commanderies and earnestly desir'd the Grand Master to take upon him the administration of the Revenue Though he had other weighty business enough to do and that this alone was sufficient to take up a mans whole time he readily accepted it but the easiness wherewith he acquitted himself of a charge so burthensome oblig'd the Knights to qualify the hardness of the Labour by the entire confidence which they manifestly let him see they had in him They gave him full power to employ to what uses and after what manner he should think goâ—… all the money that should be brougâ—t into the Treasury They also order'd that all the Ammunition and Warlike provisions should be put into his hands to distribute as he should see cause Moreover that he should have power to create the Receiver General of Avignon and all the other Receivers by one Warrant alone sign'd by his hand that without having regard to the priority of Languages nor the antiquity of the Knights he might make the Castellane of Rhodes the Judges and Baily of Commerce the Captain of the Castle St. Peter and all the Captains of the Galleys That he might also choose the Captains of the three Towers and the Gates of the City that in case the Grand Commandery of Cyprus the Bayliage of Lango and the Office of Procurator General at the Court at Rome came to be vacant during his administration it should be free for him to dispose thereof at his pleasure But to the end he might not be thwarted in the exercise of his charge they forbid the Bayliffs the Priors and all the rest of the Knights to meddle in any manner whatsoever with the treasury They also gave him the liberty to retain next his person or to send to what place he pleas'd seven of the Grand Crosses which
they nam'd and to choose others by his own particular authority if any one happen to miscarry Lastly because the revenue of the Grand Master was very much impair'd because of their extraordinary expences for the Fortifications of the Island or for the aid of the Subjects of the Order they permitted him to keep in his hands during his life three of those Commanderies which he had the priviledg to dispose of himself as Granâ— Master Hardly were the affairs of thâ— Chapter at an end when news waâ— brought that the Infidels had shewâ— themselves before the Castle of St Peter under pretence of parlying upon an accommodation but in trutâ— to surprize the Garrison The Granâ— Master wrote further to the Gâ—vernour of the Castle and commanded him by vertue of the holy obedience to have no commerce with them and to treat with them as iâ— there were no truce in being Neither was he satisfi'd in giving him his Orders and advertizing him of the Ambuscades of the enemies he also sent him a considerable reinforcement of Knights and Souldiers which forc'd the enemy to retire But that the Order might not be in want of Money when there was more occasion for it then ever the Grand Master according to the absolute authority which he had in the management of the Treasury establish'd the Knight D'Erland his Lieutenant in the Priories of St. Giles's and Tholouse with ample power to change the Receivers and the Treasurers to be urgent with bad Paymasters and to punish them if there were occasion and to do his utmost to raise what large sums he could He dispatch'd away the Knight Chialli for the same cause into the Priories of France Aquitain and Champaign after he had honour'd him with the dignity of Knight Hospitaller of the Order which he had tak'n from the Knight de Molay for not appearing at Rhodes according to the time prefix'd in the Bull. He more severely handl'd also other Knights who being oblig'd to have made their appearance at the Assembly had contemn'd his Orders and instead of hastning to the defence of the Island loyter'd at home either plung'd in the pleasures of an effeminate life or taken up with the affairs of the world For after he had declar'd them disobedient and Rebels he took away from them their habit and cut them off from the body of the Order Now though Mahomet got no advantage by all his devices however he continu'd his undermining practices imagining according to the principles of his policy that men were so much the more to affect credit and reputation by how much the more those persons with whom he treated had a distrust and that there are such moments wherein the wisest are surpriz'd when a man knows how to maintain a cheat long enough Therefore in some measure to repair the fault which he had committed in making choice of a suspected person he sent a Turk of merit to Rhodes and to take off all suspition he resolv'd to appear and own the negotiation himself The Embassador did all that lay in his power to perswade the Rhodians to believe that the Grand Signior sincerely dedesir'd a Peace and he declar'd in full Council that he came as well on the Grand Signior's behalf as on the part of Zizim to conclude it in the most amicable manner that might be He deliver'd himself worthy and nobly and far from that insolent and disdainful air with which the Turks are wont to treat the Christians with whom they negotiate there appear'd neither pride nor haughtiness in his behaviour But all this affected carriage whereby the Embassador of the Ottoman Court pretended to dispel the suspitions of the Grand Master did but augment them He conjectur'd that such an extraordinary shew of sincerity was but a mask of more fine and subtil deception that there was no more credit to be given to the words of the unknown person then to the Greek Renegado For which reason he gave the second Embassador no other answer then he had giv'n the former But because that he who intends to defend himself from a conceal'd enemy is not by any means to make his discovery publick and for that there are certain decencies to be observ'd with Illustrious enemies how perfidious soever they be The Grand Master would not permit the Turkish Embassador to have the least glimpse of his intentions but sent a Knight along with him to let Mahomet understand that the Order was ready to make Peace with him upon the ancient conditions but that he could not submit to the payment of any duty Mahomet extremely resented a refusal so plain and so haughty but he had so much power over himself as to disguise it And therefore instead of manifesting his displeasure against the Embassador of Rhodes he shew'd him all the marks of his favour and the better to make good his Politicks he added rich Presents to his flattering words Yet all this did not dazle the eyes of the Grand Master and therefore considering what he had done he thought it but reasonable to put himself in a posture to expect the utmost of extremities believing it would not be long ere the Grand Signior's fury would break out Mahomet indeed set forth from Constantinople with a Puissant Army But instead of turning towards Rhodes he march'd toward Scutari whether it were out of an intention to amuse the Knights making them believe that he had no thoughts upon them or whether he had a design to affright them and at the same time to punish the Venetians for their obstinate resistance The City was besieg'd three years by the Turk and it may be said that never place was more vigorously attacqu'd nor more generously defended The Assailants gave several Onsets at several times and if we may believe the Writers of that time they threw so many Arrows and Javelins into the Cities that the besieg'd had enough to make up the breaches of the Walls and for necessary firing when their wood was spent And that which was more strange they were nothing dismaid by the cruelties of Mahomet who caus'd three hundred Prisoners to be cut in two in view of the Town The only want of Victuals and Souldiers constrain'd them to surrender And the reducing of Scutari was one of the Articles of Peace which the Turks made with the Common-wealth of Venice The Grand Master after that made no question but that all the fury of the Ottoman power would fall upon him But because the affair of Rhodes was the common cause of the Church and that without the assistance of the Christian Princes it was not possible to hold out against the Barbarians any long time he dispatch'd away three Knights of singular worth to the principal Courts of Europe And because it was of high importance in case of a Siege that some of the Knights should continue abroad to solicit the Succour of the Princes and to manage the other affairs of the Order the Grand Master order'd
Thereupon by the command of the Grand Master he was let in and conducted to the Castle He was a person of a very good presence and tall in stature he had a crafty wit quite contrary to the character of his Nation bold enough and one that knew how to use his tongue He was known at Rhodes and was accompted one of the most skilful Artists of his time Being examin'd what reason had brought him thither he answer'd that he came to defend Rhodes That he could no longer endure the reproaches of his own conscience for having employ'd his art against the faithful that preferring his Salvation before his Fortune he did absolutely renounce the advancement which he might expect among the Turks that he should be happy to dye in the defence of the Faith That he desir'd nothing else of God but that he durst not hope for a favour of which he was so unworthy The Grand Master commended his zeal without manifesting the least mistrust and having exhorted him to persist in his good resolutions he examin'd him concerning the Army of the Turks The German the more bold because he thought himself unsuspected spoke with an air and a countenance that shew'd nothing of a Traytor that the Turkish Army was above a hunder'd thousand men effective besides the Forces that were coming to joyn with them that the Turks besides their ordinary Cannon had some prodigious pieces above eighteen foot long that carri'd bullets of three foot in diameter That they were resolv'd to perish all rather then think of raising the Siege which was the only thing that griev'd him He spake with so much confidence that many believ'd what he said to be real The Grand Master that he might venture nothing yet make use of the opportunity which Fortune had put into his hands thought he might make use of the Engineer though he were resolvd not to trust him To that purpose he commanded the Knights who had the charge of the Artillery to consult him in every thing and not to raise any battery without him And to prevent his return to the Turks Camp or from keeping any correspondence with them he order'd six of the stoutest Souldiers in the City always to attend him to whom he gave private instructions to keep him always in sight and never to leave him alone all at a time Though the Grand Master had sent to Rome the Knight Cardona when the Infidels first appear'd before the Isle however he fail'd not to send again so soon as they were landed He sent also to the King of France and to the other Christian Princes But because the Letter which he had sent to the absent Priors had not taken that full effect which he desir'd he dispatch'd away another wherein after he had given an account of the beginning of the Siege to the Knights that were not yet returnd he declar'd to them also that having put all his trust in God he feard neither the force nor cunning of the Barbarians yet that he hop'd thaâ— persons of their worth and renown would not fail to come to the relieâ— of the Order at such a time of necessity as this He added also thaâ— notwithstanding the Siege the Poâ—… should be always open to the Vesselâ— of the Christians In the mean while Misach Paleologus having well consider'd the situation and the outside of the Town and being of Opinion with the Engineer that all would follow the Tower of St. Nicholas he caus'd his biggest Pieces to be planted where they had rais'd the first Battery and in a small time they made above three hundered Shot The Tower was shaken to the very Foundations and batter'd in several places The great Wall upon the West side fell almost all down and falling made a most dreadful noise so that the noise and shouts of joy among the Barbarians caus'd a terrible fear in the City but they were soon encourag'd by the Exhortations of Antony Fradin of the Order of St. Francis a man eloquent and Apostolick who run up and down with a Crucifix in his hand performing the same good Offices at Rhodes which John Capestran did at Belâ—rade The Tower could not stand considering the condition to which the Caâ—on had reduc'd it and yet there was a necessity of preserving it or hazarding the loss of all Thereupon the Grand Master resolv'd to choose the Flower of the Knights and Souldiers to reinforce the Garrison And having represented to them of what importance it was not to abandon that post he sent them thither under the command of Fabritius Caretta at Italian conjuring them to remember that they had in their hands the Destiny of Rhodes He also went thither in a Barque himself to see what work the Cannons had made and finding that the ruines of thâ— Wall had made a kind of Bastioâ— round about the remaining part sâ— that their Batteries could do no moâ—… harm he made an enclosure of greaâ— Beams mortais'd one within anotheâ— and naild together to strengthen thâ— compass of the Wall the Dtich it selâ— which was hollow'd out of the Rock and seeing that some part of the Waâ—… was fallen within the Fort he causâ— the Ruins to be carry'd away for thâ— conveniency of the Garrison Theâ— because the little Golph that washâ— the West side of the Mole was sometimes so low that it might be waded He set all hands at work to prevent the Infidels from making their approaches that way To that end they laid Planks at the bottom of the Water all stuck with Iron Spiks and then there was a good strong Guard plac'd upon the out Wall on that side of the City in the Trenches also lay a stout squadron of French and Spanish Knights to relieve the Garison in the Tower upon occasion The Grand Master spent all the night a Horse back and in Arms stirring continually to keep his men in Breath The Knights and Souldiers kept their Posts all night without stirring but still upon the watch and ready to fight the Enemy The Grand Master was also very careful to plant several pieces of Canon all along the Walls of the City that lookâ—ed toward the Mole of the Tower to sink the Turkish Gallies that should â—ide there to favour the assault He also provided several fire Ships to burn the Enemies Gallies while they made the attacque And in regard all was to be hazarded to save a post upon which depended the safety of the City he put himself into the Tower together with his Brother the Viscount of Monteile All these Cautions were but little enough for day no sooner appear'd but the Turkish Gallies weigh'd from before Mount St. Stevens and steer'd directly to the Tower with a fresh gale with a loud noise of Trumpets and Drums No sooner were they come near the Rocks of the Fort but the Barbarians leapt a shoar and while the Gallies play'd from the Sea they ran to the assault with a fury that look'd more like
desperateness then courage At the same time they within discharg'd all their Cannon from the Walls upon the Galleys and the Musketeers from the Mole gave the Infidels so smart a Volley that they kill'd most of them upon the place the rest more furious for the slaughter of the others and reinforc'd with fresh supplies in spight of all the shot from the City fell boldly to the Scalado They that defended the Tower encourag'd by the presence of the Grand Master and the necessity of vanquishing or perishing sustain'd the assault with a resolution that astonish'd the Assailants Never was there perhaps an attacque more obstinate nor a more stout defence The Turks that fought almost in the air tumbl'd every foot from the top of the Rocks either dead or wounded but their rooms were soon fill'd up so that it seem'd as if they had been still the same people that their blows took no effect Alexis of Tarsus one of the most valiant of the Turks was careful to supply the assault with fresh men He commanded that day in the place of the Basha who was detain'd sick in the Camp and his undauntedness gave so much courage to the Turks that they fought all wounded and bloody as they had been savage-beasts enrag'd at the sight of their blood and no way concern'd at the fear of death The Butcheries of the Barbarians rather redoubl'd then abated the courage of the Knights who fought like men that had nothing to be good husbands of but rather sought to kill then to defend themselves The Grand Master who perform'd all the offices of a good Captain and a private Souldier had his head-piece struck'n from his head with a stone But in regard he was neither wounded nor stunn'd with the blow he rook a Hat instead of a Helmet and continu'd in the heat of the fight with his wonted tranquility however he was hit by several Arrows that pierc'd his Armour in several places These accidents caus'd the Knights to be very solicitous for their Captain And the Commander Carretta seeing many people fall about the Grand Master besought him earnestly to retire To whom the Grand Master smiling reply'd You have more to hope for then I to fear You will one day reap the fruit of my pains added he by a kind of Prophetical Spirit as it were foretelling the Commander that Heaven had desir'd him to be one day Grand Master of Rhodes The Vicount of Monteil shar'd with his Brother in the travel and the danger The artificial Fires and Cannon-shot that flew continually from the Town and the perpetual showers of Musquet-bullets Arrows and Stones wrought a most wonderful effect On the other side the Fire-ships set fire to several Galleys and the Arillery of the Garrison so ill entreated the Galleys that defended themselves from the Fire-ships that the enemies after they had in a short time lost above seven hunder'd of theirs were constrain'd to give way Now as it is usual to run from one extremity to another and that nothing is weaker then a Plunatick when the fitt is over these men valiant even to sury and who boasted to out brave death betook themselves to their heels with so much haste that the most part were drown'd flying So soon as the Turkish Galleys were rejoyn'd to the rest of the Fleet that lay before St. Steven's Mount and that the Tower of St. Nicholas was in no more danger the Grand Master enter'd the City together with Knights who had assisted him to drive out the enemy All the people receiv'd him as their Preserver with a thousand acclamations and throng'd after him to the Church of St. John Baptist whither he went to return thanks to God for the Victory he had gain'd not questioning but that so much happy success was an effect of divine protection The vexation of the Basha for the ill success of his first enterprize did not take from him the hope of succeeding in a second He was perswaded that by attacquing the City in the weakest part he should easily repair the loss which he had sustain'd To which purpose he caus'd eight great pieces of Cannon to be planted against the Jews Wall and threw up several Brest-works for the security of the Infidels He also lodg'd certain pieces of Cannon upon the point of land that enclos'd one of the little Golphs raising that battery to destroy the Mills that were built all along the Mole and thunder down the Tower of the Port directly opposite to that point of land The Grand Master slept not at all He knew that the Jews Wall could not long resist the Turks Cannons how thick or strong soever it were and that the only way to save the place was to entrench himself behind the Wall For which reason he caus'd several houses to be pull'd down and a deep Moat to be made large enough to put a stop to the Infidels in case they should come to assault the Breaches they should make He also built up behind the Moat a thick brick-wall with a good Terrass of Earth to sustain it They labour'd night and day to perfect these works and the Grand Master himself at the head of the Labourers was as active as any of the rest to carry Stones and Lime to advance the work by his presence Rich and Poor Men Women Maids and Religious people forgetting condition or sex wrought as common Labourers the very Children did what lay in their power doing more then the weakness of their age seem'd to permit apparently incited by something supernatural to the defence of Religion and their Countrey These new Fortifications were hardly finish'd when the Turks began their new Batteries The Bullets that flew continually and were of an extraordinary bigness astonished the Engineers of the City insomuch that the German Engineer confess'd that he never saw any thing like them before The Sea shoar refounded with most dreadful roarings of the Cannon the noise whereof was heard above forty Leagues from the Island But the effect was more terrible then the noise for besides that those Guns caus'd a kind of Earthquake when they went off the Batteries beat down all the Wall and made most dreadful breaches Besides the Mortar pieces which the Enemy had planted round the City threw up into the Air Stones of a vast bigness which falling upon the Tiles of the Houses made their entrance in and kill'd all that stood in their way and the horrible Ruin which they made caus'd a sad confusion in the City The Inhabitants who could be no where safe neither in their Houses nor in the Streets bogan to cry out and mutter of surrendring at what time the Grand Master bethought himself of an expedient which stifl'd the sedition in its infancy and sav'd the lives of an infinite company of people He order'd that the Women Children and persons that were of no use should all retire into the space which was between the Houses and the Ramparts upon the West
Ottoman Army provided he might have the liberty to go and come with safety Answer was return'd to the Renegado that the law of Nations was inviolably observ'd at Rhodes that the Embassadors had no reason to fear any thing and that he might come to the Jews Moat and that he should find in the Bulwark of the Tower a knight that should return him an answer in the name of the Grand Master An ancient Bey whose name was Solyman appear'd the next morning just against the Bulwark He was a prudent man and besides his experience had excellent natural parts After he had civilly saluted the Knight who was deputed by the Grand Master to give him audience he began to tell him that the Basha Paleologus wonder'd that being so much straiten'd and not receiving any relief they should still so obstinately defend themselves He added that for his part he wonder'd that persons so wise as they should so pertinaciously seek their own ruine The they ought to remember Constantinople Trebisond Negropont Metelin and others far stronger places then Rhodes which could not hold out against Mahomet that Prudence ought to regulate Valour and that it was a folly to pretend to resist the Conqueror of two Empires twelve Kingdoms and three hunder'd Cities True it was that it was an honour for him to defend his Countrey but that it was better for him to preserve it entire by submitting to the stranger then to ruine himselfe out of a blind and unadvised ingenuity and therefore it was but common prudence for him to agree with Mahomet That his Favourite Misach Paleologus offer'd to manage the accommodation himself and so to order it that they should have no reason to complain and lastly that it was the only means to save their Reputation and Estates He concluded his Harang in a lively and perswasive manner conjuring him to have pitty upon the people and not to be the causes of the massacre of so many poor creatures the dishonour of their Daughters and Wives and the succage of the whole Island The Grand Master being inform'd of Solyman's propositions did no less wonder at the Basha's Embassador then the Basha wonder'd at their resistance That they could not apprehend that he had any compassion or tenderness for them which he endeavour'd to destroy by all means imaginable That Peace was not treated on with sword and poison and that the treasons discover'd made them suspicious of new ones That they very well remember'd that Trebisond Constantinople Negropont and so many other Towns could not resist the power of Mahomet but they remember'd as well that he was a Conqueror that feldom kept his word and that contrary to the publick Faith given he had put to death David Commenius with all his children not to speak of the Princes or Bosnia and Metelin The Knight who spoke in the name of the Grand Master added haughtily that the Soldan of Egypt and Babilon no less potent then the Emperor of the Turks had often attempted Rhodes without getting any thing but shame that the Rhodians hop'd that their entrenchments would prove the tombs of the Ottoman Army and that they would rater perish in the ruines of their own Countrey then then deliver it up to the enemies of the Christian Faith And lastly that neither the threats nor promises of Mahomet were sufficient to force them to any thing which might either be against their profession or blast their honour After this the Knight added that when the Army of the Infidels was return'd to Constantinople the Emperor might send an Embassador to Rhodes and that then the Grand Master would consider what was most honourable and advantageous for the Order but that so long as such an Army remain'd about the City he could not main'd about the City he could not heark'n to Peace That the Ottoman Trroops might do like declar'd Enemies but that for his part he hop'd by the assistance of Heaven to let his General know that the Knights of Rhodes were not so soon conquer'd as other Nations This generous and haughty answer quite disappointed all the Basha's designs Shame Honour Despair Fury rais'd in his Soul those Opposite motions as almost put him besides himself Fury at length got the upper hand and the Barbarian abandoning himself to all the thoughts that rage could inspire after he had excited his Souldiers to punish the pride of those that brav'd the soveraign power of the Ottomans he commanded all the Engines to be set at work and that they should batter the City night and day without ceasing Never were orders better executed for the Turks enliven'd by the fury of the Basha and transported at the same time with a desire of Victory and revenge in a small time made above three thousand five hundred Shot which brought the Powers and Walls almost down to the Ground Yet neither did this affright the Rhodians For the Grand Master went up and down to hearten the Inhabitants and encourage the Souldiers His confidence in God increas'd his natural Constancy and spread in his Countenance a serene Air which prov'd a happy success When he thought the Enemy was ready to give the assault he plac'd at the most dangerous place strong Squadrons of Cavalry under the most Skilful Commanders which he chose himself He retain'd near his own person the French Gentlemen who had follow'd the Count of Monteil to Rhodes and plac'd himself with them near the Jews quarter from whence he might relieve all parts as need requir'd But because he repos'd all his hopes in the protection of Heaven he first went and prostrated himself at the feet of the Altars recommending to God the safety of Rhodes and commanding prayers to be continually said in all the Churches of the City In the mean time the Basha encourag'd by the Havock which his Artillery had made after he had flatter'd his men with their Martial vertue and had perswaded them that they had nothing more now to take then Ruines without defence he openly declar'd to them that they should freely have the pillage of the Town He commanded them to put all to the Sword except the young Infants whom he permitted them to preserve either for their own benefit or the Grand Signiors Militia He ordain'd also that all the men that should escape the Sword of the Mussel men should be empal'd to which purpose he set upright a thousand Stakes in the Field The Turks reviv'd anew by this apparent facility of the enterprize and the hope of plunder with impatience expected the hour of assault with their Arms in their hands and Chains about their wasts to bind those that they should not kill Nor could the Basha hardly retain them one day more that he shot continually at the Town to level the Fortifications of the Besieged At length the 27 th of July he give the signal just at break of day by the shooting of a Mortar piece Immediately the Ottoman Army ran furiously on
invoking the name of their false Prophet and assail'd the City on every side with most dreadful shouts and yells that made all the Sea-shoar and all the Hills to ring again Nevertheless the main onset was giv'n to the Jews Wall where the Ruines which had fill'd up the Ditch again made the way easy Then an innumerable multitude mounted the Walls and fell on with that fury that the Christians who kept the Walls were quite overlaid with number and almost all slain The Turks puft up with this success drove back the rest and set up seven of their colours upon the walls before the Christians could get up upon a slope made with the Ruins of the Wall on their side The Knights and Souldiers that first ascended fell upon the Turks with such a â—uty that they forc'd them to retire But the Turks being presently reinâ—orc'd both parties disputed a long time for the Wall they on both sides with great heat and courage But when the Combat grew hot and that the victory seem'd to encline to the Infidels the Count of Monteil came into the assistance of the Christians but notwithstanding all the effects of their valour they could not drive back their Enemies whom the presence of the Basha made undaunted and not being able to withstand so great a number as fell upon them In the mean time the report wiâ—… was spread that the Enemy had caâ—ry'd the Jews Quarter struck terrâ—… and confusion every where But 〈◊〉 soon as the Grand Master saw thâ—… beginning of a Rout with a half pikâ— in his hand he mounted the Walâ— having already kill'd some that weâ—… got down and considering that thâ— loss of all depended upon this poâ—… he resolv'd to hazard all or regain 〈◊〉 The old Commanders and your Knights that were near to his persoâ— mounted after at what time tâ—… Grand Master breaking into a thiâ—… Battalion of the Turks with an astonishing fury charg'd them so rudely that they were soon clear'd off No sooner was it known to what danger the Grand Master had expos'd himself but the Burgesses of the Town ran with all speed to disingage him or to dye with him The Women also who were for the most part habited in mens apparel appear'd upon the Ramparts to terrify the Assailants follow'd their husbands and pouring down scalding Oil Flints and old Iron upon the Turks while others were so hardy as to throw Wild fire and others to take up the Arms of the Slain and fight in their steads they did very good service On the other side the Archers which the Grand Master had plac'd in such parts of the Wall which the Cannon had a little spar'd shot continually upon those that came with fresh recruits The Barbarians fell in great heaps every where yet dearly selling their lives but more especially making a great slaughter about the Grand Master But the present Image of death redoubl'd his zeal and no way diminish'd his valour Let us dye my dear Brethren said he rather then retire 't is for the faith 't is for heaven that we fight our death shall be honour'd among men and precious in the sight of God His example and his words so encourag'd the Souldiers that manger the obstinate resistance of the enemy they regain'd the Field and made themselves absolute Masters of it after a dispute of two hours The Knight de Montholon being the first that tore up the Ottoman Banners and flung them to the ground As much affrighted as the Barbarians seem'd and as much wearied as they were indeed shame or honour caus'd them to return to the Charge and the Basha drew out a Body of old Janizaries to second the assault Now in regard the Grand Master was known by his gilded Arms and the throng of remarkable persons that environ'd him the Basha commanded that they should pick him out particularly These fresh men threw themselves like beasts of prey upon the Christians having forc'd their way through the Pikes and Swords were making directly to the Grand Master if the Vicount of Monteil who saw them coming had not put a stop to them who flew upon them with the most valiant of the Auvernian Post In the mean time ten or twelve of the boldest of the Turks joyning with those that were at handy-strokes with the Grant Master they laid at him with several blows so that his arms being broken he receiv'd five wounds however he fought still very valiantly But the Knights perceiving he was wounded fell on so furiously that the enemy first began to give ground and lastly to betake them to their heels As for the Turks who were got upon the Posts of the other Languages where they found equal resistance so soon as they saw the Jews Wall forsaken they quitted their attaques and fled in the greatest disorder in the World except three hunder'd of the stoutest who staid upon the Walls and being no longer able to defend themselves fell half dead into the City where they were massacred by the people At the same time the Rhodians issu'd out after them in throngs and pursu'd them to their very Camp making a most fatal slaughter among them The Turks also kill'd one another to make room for themselves so much they dreaded to fall into the hands of the Christians The Basha did all he could by threats and promises to stay their flight their fear would not let them take notice of either and he was at length constrain'd to fly to the shore that he might be near his Galleys Khodgia Afendy who has wrote in the Turkish Language the Siege of Rhodes attributes the rout of the Infidels to the avarice of their General For he says that the Souldiers more covetous of booty then blood being ready to enter the Town and preparing themselves to plunder where they hop'd to find great riches the Basha to preserve the whole for himself caus'd proclamation to be made that the treasure of Rhodes was the demeans of the Ottoman Court and that the generous Mussulmen were to seek nothing more in fight then the honour of serving the Emperor however he would not fail to recompence those that should do their duty as he would punish those that should take the least rag The Historian adds that this Proclamation so cool'd the courage of the Souldiers that they thought of nothing after that but how to save their lives But we may easily conjecture by the examination of his words that he does not speak truth according to the manner of the Turks who make no scruple of lying when it is either to excuse and cover the cowardice or dishonour of their Nation For it has been the custom of the Ottoman Emperors and their Basha's always to abandon such Towns as were taken by assult to the plunder of the Souldiers So that it is not likely that Paleologus who us'd all the means he could to make himself Master of the place and who was naturally magnificent should of a sudden
into the City was smitten with the beauty which appear'd there very rich in habit as well to see as to be seen and with a loud voice he spoke it that it was not for nothing that the Rhodian women were accounted the fairest of all Asia At the same time that the Ship which carry'd Zizim entred the Port the Grand Master march'd out of the Castle with a pompous train and in very good order He was attended by a troop of young Knights very richly habited and mounted upon horses of high price The Officers of the Order follow'd them every one wearing about their necks a Chain of Gold going two and two with countenances wherein there was both haughtiness and modesty mixed together The Grand Master appear'd at last apparell'd in Tissue of Gold embroider'd with precious stones mounted upon a Neopolitan Steed whose harness was all embroider'd with Gold and Silver The Squires and Pages that follow'd him were no less remarkable for the splendour of their habits and furniture then for their goodly presences and dexterity in the management of their Horses But there appear'd an Air so noble and something so majestick in the person of the Grand Master that he was easily distinguish'd from the rest of the company A great body of Horse clos'd up the Rear of the Retinue The Grand Master stopp'd before the Church of St. Sebastian and put his men in order in the Piaz expecting the approach of the Sultan So soon as Zizim perceiv'd the Grand Master who was shew'd him by Don Alvarez though he were remarkable enough in many other respects he saluted him according to the manner of the Turks by putting his finger three times upon his mouth The Grand Master on his part making a low obeysance advanc'd toward him and making a second bow gave him a very civil complement in Italian which was answer'd by the Prince with a good grace and in expressions full of good sense After that they gave their hands each to other and having repeated some few more words of friendship and kindness they march'd together to the French Lodgings which were prepar'd for the Prince The Grand Master when they began to set forward gave him the upper hand but Zizim making some reflexions upon it would not permit it at first I am your Captive said he and it becomes not a Captive to take the place of honour Sir answer'd the Grand Master Captives of your condition preserve their dignity in all places and I would to God you had as much power in Constantinople as you have in Rhodes As to the rest Zizim appear'd neither merry nor sad during the whole Calvacade He carry'd the look of a person who had the proof both at one time of good and bad fortune or like one that believ'd himself worthy of the honours which were done him He seem'd however to be highly pleas'd with the behaviour of the Knights and when he alighted from his Horse he embrac'd the Grand Master with a very tender affection calling him several times his Protector and Father That day and for some daies following they had several particular discourses upon the present condition of Affairs but all that time abstain'd from particular conferences However there was nothing omitted for the divertisement of the young Sultan so that there was nothing to be seen at Rhodes but Hunting matches Runing at the Ring Shews and magnificent Feasts But all these divertisements did not compleat the repose of the Prince's mind For though he were not afraid of the Knights he could not think himself in safety in a place full of Greeks and so neer the Turks and what was more the proceedings of the Port daily encreas'd his disquiet and his fears At the beginning of those divisions which turmoil'd the Ottoman Empire after the death of Mahomet Bajazett was afraid that it would not go well with his affairs so long as he was not in friendship with the Grand Master however he could not condescend to demand peace himself There to save his reputation he dealt in private with the Sub-Basha De Pizzona who was come over to his Party and was Governour of Lycia The Sub-Basha sent an Embassador to Rhodes with instructions not to speak of Bajazett but only to manage a truce between the people of Lycia and the Rhodians believing that a Peace would easily follow a Truce But the Embassy not having that success which was expected Bajazett made use of Achmat to carry on his design The Basha as jealous of the honour of the Sultan as the Governour of Lycia wrote as from his Supream a very yielding Letter to engage the Grand Master to an accommodation and entrusted Lasim Brahim for his Agent with the Letter The Grand Master thought himself obliged to hear the Propositions of Achmat as well for the love of his people who stood in need of rest after the toils of so long a war as for the honour of the Order to whom a Treaty could not be but advantageous that mention'd nothing of Tribute The Reception of Zizim made Bajazet impatient of a conclusion of peace Upon which Achmat urg'd it more and more by his Minister Lasim Brahim He offer'd also that the Grand Signior should sign whatever the Knights desir'd and for a pledge of his real intentions he restor'd all the Vessels of the Order which had been taken since the Truce by the Pyrates of Lycia All these condescentions of the Port so different from the Ottoman Haughtiness more then ever alarum'd Prince Zizim He imagin'd with himself that his Brother was not so desirous of peace but only that he might have an occasion to destroy him and that when Trade should be free between the Rhodians Turks he should be in daily fear of either being stabb'd or poison'd and that the runagate Greeks so accustom'd to treachery and murther would omit nothing to serve Bajazett to good purpose In the midst of these thoughts he resolv'd to seek a Sanctuary elsewhere to preserve himself from a violent death to which purpose he open'd his mind to the Grand Master in whom he put an entire confidence The Grand Master found that Zizim offer'd nothing but reason yet because the affair was of great impotance he resolv'd to have the advice of his Council before he gave the Prince a positive answer Among them Opinions were different while some affirm'd that it was for the interest and honour of the Order to keep the Prince that Bajazett durst not refuse the Knights any thing or make any attempt upon them while Zizim remain'd at Rhodes that when he was out of their power they could expect nothing but a cruel war or a very disadvantageous peace That by all the rules of prudence they were to lay hold upon so fair an occasion or at least before the retreat of the Sultan they were to make an honourable agreement with the Port. As for the safety of the Prince they might easily secure it by affording him a
against Italy would awake all the Princes of Christendom and enforce them to an Union against him That now the best course he could take was to manage his business in Italy to break the Correspondencies of the Soldan That an Ambassador of the Port would be well received at Rome and that he was onely there to seek for the success of his affairs The Grand Seignior who was not then in a condition to be revenged for the breach of word which he pretended and found probability enough in the Grand Master's Reasons never stood long to consider what he had to do He resolved to be quiet and to follow the counsel which had been given him touching an Embassie to Rome But that he might know more exactly what he had to say to the Pope and after what manner he should proceed sent another Ambassador to the Grand Master This Negotiation continued several moneths in which time there were nothing but continual Voyages from Constantinople to Rhodes The Grand Master however put no confidence in these Embassies but expected a Rupture so soon as Bajazet should have an opportunity to display his secret hatred against the Knights and therefore that the Pope might have time to make a League between the Christian Princes he spun out affairs as much as he could either by creating difficulties which perplexed the Grand Seignior or by giving ambiguous Answers which were unsatisfactory While things thus passed between the Knights and the Turks one of the Popes Legates had like to have spoiled all by his imprudence Philip de Canova whom the Pope sent to the Soldan being arrived at Caire publickly declared very idly and without any ground That the Knights of Rhodes had no power in the affair of Zizim He spoke this so openly and upon so many occasions that the report thereof came to the Port. This news cool'd the Grand Seignior as to any further Negotiation with Rhodes now growing jealous that the Knights did but abuse him and it had come to an open War had not the Grand Master dextrously reconcil'd what the Legat had spoil'd He declar'd so loudly the contrary and by the Popes Letters themselves so well over-turn'd the falsity that Canova had avert'd that in a short time he regain'd the former confidence which Bajazet had in him The Negotiation was renew'd and it was on both sides agreed that the Grand Prior Blanchefort who was come to Rhodes to be present at the General Chapter and was to return to Zizim should conduct the Ambassador of the Port that was to go to Rome An act so dextrous and so successful soon made a noise over Europe and very much advanc'd the Reputation of the Grand Master He was the discourse of all the Courts of Europe and his name was so famous in that of Castile that a young Lady of eminent Quality having forsaken the World admiring what she had heard of the prudence and virtue of Cardinal D'Aubusson resolv'd to found a Nunnery according to his Model of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem To which purpose she requested leave of the Cardinal who over-joy'd to see such pious and virtuous inclinations in a young Lady readily condescended Thereupon the Lady whose name was Isabella di Leon descended from one of the most antient Families in Andalousia founded a House of Religious Virgins of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the Founder was named Princess by the Grand Master the Nuns are to be all of Noble Race and to be approved as the Knights are and they are particularly to pray for the Knights and as much as in them lies to forward the ruine of Mahumetism and the exaltation of the Faith Isabella Fernandes founded also another House of Nuns in Evora a City of Portugal in the time of Villerius Grand Master But to return to Bajazet Chamisbuerch his Capigi Basha his Ambassador to the Pope arrived at Rome and was presented to his Holiness by the Grand Prior Blanchefort who accompani'd him to the City The Grand Master when he counselled the Embassie advised the Grand Seignior to make a Present to the Pope and above all things to send him the Head of the Lance that pierced the side of Christ which Mahumet laid up in in his Treasury among the rich Spoils which he found in the Churches of Constantinople The Relick was suspected at first but upon the testimony of the Grand Master the Infidels were believed who testifi'd that he had had it from very credible persons that the Venetians had offered Mahomet 15000 Crowns in Gold to retrieve it out of his hands after the taking of Constantinople But in regard it was the intention of the Grand Seignior wholly to gain the Pope he added to his Present very obliging Letters wherein after he had given him an account of an Expedition which he had made against the Rebels of Macedonia he swore an inviolable friendship with him and besought him that his Brother Zizim might always remain under the Guard of the Knights of Rhodes according to the Articles he had made with them These submissions of Bajazet very much pleased the Pope and were no small honour to the Grand Master He had a thousand Applauses in Italy and received the Complements of all the Christian Princes But an unhappy accident did not long permit him quietly to enjoy this Honour for a young Gentleman of a good House who was then in the service of the Knight Puis Bayliff of the Morea and Captain of the Castle of St. Peter stealing away from his Masters House and having renounced his Religion in Turkey the Peace was just upon the point of being broken between the Christians and the Turks For the Bayliff of the Morea touched to the quick at what had befall'n his Page took a strange resolution to recover him he Sallies out of the Castle with some Soldiers and entring into Lycia he takes by way of Reprisal two young Turks Sons of the most considerable person in the Countrey notwithstanding the resistance made by their Father whom he slew with his own hand So violent an act seemed to the Barbarians a visible breach of the Peace They take Arms and march directly to the Castle of St. Peter whether the Bayliff of the Morea was retired with his Prey The Sultan Zalabi the Grand Seignior's Son and Governour of Lycia sent an Agent to Rhodes to complain of the Attempt made by the Knights of the Castle of St. Peter The Bayliff's act was neither prudent nor just so that the Grand Master could not but with sorrow very much resent it and he had not stuck a moment to have delivered both the Children back again but that one of them testified an inclination to turn Christian But the young Turk declaring that he was resolved to continue a Mussulman and hated the very thought of Christianity the Governour of Lycia was satisfied with the restoration of the two Prisoners Thus was the Tranquility of the Province re-setled nor
IV. and Innocent the VIII affirm in their Briefs that the Holy See was infinitely oblig'd to him and that they could not sufficiently acknowledge the Services he had done the Faithful in putting a stop by his cares and with the price of his own blood to the Conquests of Mahomet the Second the most Formidable Enemy of Christendom Alexander the Sixth confess'd That there was in the Grand Master a Sincere Faith an Heroick Valour an Exquisite Prudence and a most perfect Experience in all things that concern'd the War against the Turks The Emperour Maximilian Ferdinand of Castile and Matthias Corvin King of Hungary often call'd him in their Letters The Tamer of the Ottomans and the Support of the Church Caoursin calls him The Father of his Countrey the Protector of the Unfortunate and the Invincible Defender of Rhodes Victorellus in his Additions to C. Ciaconius says That all was great in him his Wit his Courage and his Piety That being invested with the Sacred Purple he was never the more remiss in Military Duties and that he had perform'd at one time Actions worthy of a Holy Cardinal and a Generous Souldier The same Author adds That the Magnanimous D'Aubusson in all the Conduct of his Life had no other aim then onely the Glory of God and Honour of his Order That he govern'd his Subjects with as much Lenity as Justice and that his Paternal Goodness was principally eminent towards the Poor The Ecclesiastical History speaks of him as of a most admirable Person and one that merited all manner of Applause In short the History of the Knights of St. John extolls him above all the Grand Masters equals him to the Hero's of Antient times and propounds him as a Model to all the Princes of Christendom A CONTINUATION Of the HISTORY OF RHODES Under the Government of Philip de Villiers Lisle Adam Containing the Siege of Solyman the Magnificent no less famous then that Mahomet the II. UPon the death of Peter D'Aubusson Emery D'Amboise Prior of France then absent was chosen in his place in whose time though Bajazet swore to besiege Rhodes with a puissant Army yet he attempted nothing He was a Prince vertuous valiant charitable and successful in his Enterpizes so that under his Government the Knights perform'd several notable Exploits to the honour of the Order and won among the rest that famous Victory at Sea from the Soldan of Egypt signaliz'd by the death of the Soldan s Nephew who commanded the Fleet. To Emery D'Amboise succeeded by a fair Election Guy de Blanchefort Prior of Auvergne In his time Sultan Selim having caus'd his Father Bajazet to be strangl'd and put to death Achmac and Corcutt his two Brothers with their Wives and Children possess'd himself of the Empire wherein he was no sooner settl d but he design'd to lay siege to Rhodes The Report whereof alarum'd the Grand Master to make preparations for his defence wherein he proceeded as far as could be expected considering the short time of his Government for in less then a year he dy'd and left his place to be supply'd by the Admiral de Carretta who the first thing he did made a League with Ishmael Sophi the King of Persia against Selim. For understanding that the Turk still continu'd his vast preparations for War he thought it was but a piece of common Providence to provide for himself But the Storm fell upon the Soldan of Egypt who being overthrown in Battel lost all Syria together with his life in the first place and soon after his Successor having twice unfortunately fought Selim himself and being by him at length taken and hang'd upon one of the Gates of Caire lost all Egypt of which Selim made himself absolute Master But whether Selim intended any mischief against Rhodes or no his death hasten'd the fare of Rhodes for upon that the Empire fell to his Son Solymon the Magnificent the shock of whose fury and puissance upon the death of the Admiral Caretta Philip de Villiers Lisle Adam Prior of France was chosen to withstand being elected Grand Master the 22d of January 1521. whose deportment in so Grand a Siege would he too unkindly left out where D' Aubusson's Fame is so honourably expanded it being certain that never two Courages were better mated in story Never was a City more valiantly defended nor more valiantly lost And it is a question undetermin'd whether of the two got most Amurach by rising from it or Solyman by taking it while the one prudently sav'd the other became a meer prodigal of blood Philip de Villiers was absent at the time of his being elected and therefore Gabriel de Pomerols was chosen his Lieutenant till his arrival Which dignity while he executed he thought fit to send to the Pope a Model of the City of Rhodes that he might see how it was fortifi'd But that which might have prov'd of higher concern was the arrival of another Embassador from the Grand Sophi to continue that private correspondence which was begun with Carretta Unluckily he finds Carretta dead so that his Commission being at an end he went to visit Amurath the Son of Sultan Zelim in the behalf of the Sophi That young Prince was entertain'd by the Order at their own Expences in the Castle of Ferracla whither the Knights sent several Presents to the young Sultan that he might be able to gratifie the Embassador who soon after return'd home to his own Prince not so much as mentioning any thing of the business for which he was sent The Grand Master being in France at the time of his Election made all the haste he could to his charge departing from Marseilles in the Carrack of Rhodes together with four other hird Vessels But his Voyage seem'd to be somewhat inauspicious For one of the Vessels was split by the way and the great Carrack it self had like to have been burnt being all on fire through the carelesness of the Cook but was happily quench'd again through the industry and authority of the Grand Master More then this having past by Nice and Corsica a flash of lightning shot it self into the main Cabin of the Carrack and melted his Sword without hurting the Scabbard Which little accidents were by some interpreted as ill omens of the success of the Siege of the Rhodes that soon after happen'd Cortogoli also the Grand Turkish Pirate laid way to intercept the Grand Master with a great number of Gallys and Galeots partly out of hopes of booty partly to revenge the death of his Brothers which the Knights of Rhodes had slain and to set the third at liberty being then a slave in Rhodes However the Grand Master contrary to the advice and entreaties of the Knights and great Personages that attended him with full sails made the Cape of St. Angelo and in the night time pass'd the place where the Turks lay in wait for him and arriv'd safe in Rhodes Sept. 11. 1421. Cortogoli mad that
he had so miss'd his prey some time after enters into the Channel of Rhodes hoping by his unlookt for coming to find some opportunity to do mischief But being discover'd the Grand Master sent forth the Rhodian Fleet against him the sight whereof not only put him to flight but made him forsake a Vessel of Candia which he had almost taken While things were thus transacted at Rhodes Solyman being come to the Empire contrary to the Opinion of all men that he would be a peaceable Prince soon after displaying the inordinate Ambition of his Predecessors with a vast power of men besieg'd Belgrade in Hungary and took it This Victory swell d him up so that burning with a desire to conquer Rhodes yet willing to conceal his design that he might the better make his preparations he sent an Embassador to the Grand Master to whom he deliver'd a Letter written in the Greek Language wherein he magnifi'd the Grandeur of his Empire and his Victories highly extoll'd the Vertues of the Grand Master and offer'd him peace and friendship The Grand Master and those of the Council immediately understood the craft and fallacy of Solyman and that being young and full of Ambition his courage and deliberations tended to other designs then the Tenor of his Letter imply'd And therefore there was an Answer return'd him in the name of the Grand Master by which he plainly understood that he was discover'd that the Rhodians neither fear'd nor trusted him so that he was likely to find it afar more difficult task to conquer them then he had found at Belgrade Therefore he enter'd into several consultations about this Enterprize concerning which the most part of his Council laid before him the difficulties he would meet with and disswaded him from hazarding either his Forces or his Reputation upon an attempt so unlikely to succeed And indeed Mustapha Basha and Curtogoli were the only persons that fix'd him in his Resolution Among other things they represented to him that there was no other means for him peaceably to enjoy the Provinces of Egypt and Syria for that the shortest and only way for him to receive intelligence from thence and to send thither was cut off by the Knights of Rhodes who spread themselves upon those Seas and intercepted all his Vessels For which reason he was constrain'd to keep a Fleet alwaies out at Sea Besides that as long as those of the Order kept footing in Rhodes they would be continually animating and inciting the Christian Princes to make War upon him and to league themselves together for the Recovery of the holy Land He had found among the private Memoirs of Selim his Father that the onely way for him to secure his own affairs was to make himself Master of Belgrade and Rhodes by the scituation whereof the Christians had alwaies an opportunity to bring the War into the midst of his Territories He was also importun'd and press'd thereto by the complaints of the Inhabitants of Metelin Negropont Caramania the Morea and his new Subjects of Egypt and Syria who were perpetually alarum'd pillag'd and plunder'd by those of the Order He was also the more incited thereto by the opportunity which presented it self by reason of the Divisions and Wars between Charles the fifth and the King of France from whom all the main Succour must come which the Knights could expect and more then all this by the daily intelligence which he had receiv'd from a Jewish Physician whom Selim had sent to live in Rhodes for a Spy This Physician expert in his Art had perform'd many excellent Cures and by his officiousness and diligence toward all people had so insinuated himself into the acquaintance and favour of the Principal Knights of the Order that he easily div'd into their secrets and sent his Advices to a Greek of Scio who convey'd them to Constantinople Among other things he advertiz'd Solyman that there was a great part of the Wall thrown down near the Bulwark of Auvergne to be rebuilt according to the Design and Directions of the Engineers so that the City might be easily surpriz'd if his Fleet came in time to attacque it in that place But the best Intelligence that Solyman receiv'd was giv'n him by Andrew D'Amarall Prior of Castile and afterward Chancellor of the Order who bare in his mind a mortal hatred and enmity against the Grand Master ever since the difference that happen'd between them ever since the Battel of Layasso and against the Order it self for that notwithstanding all his underhand dealing for the Honour they had elected with an unanimous consent the Grand Master both for his merit and his vertues This venom of Ambition Malice and Revenge so strongly possess'd him and gain'd so far upon him as to make him resolve upon this hideous Act of Treason The day of the Election he was heard to say that this would be the last Grand Master of Rhodes And some daies before the Siege he wish'd his soul in the hands of the Devil so that Rhodes and the Order might be ruin'd He had in his service a Turkish slave of a quick and ready apprehension to whom he pretended to have giv'n his Liberty as being ransom'd This slave he sent to Constantinople with a particular and exact discovery of the State of the City of the Provisions and Ammunition therein and what Corn was wanting perswading the Great Turk to send his Fleet with all speed promising him a certain Victory and to give him all the Intelligence that should be requisite Solyman found this to be sound Intelligence knowing that Amaral was one of the Principal Knights and being of their Council knew whatever was decreed or voted for the defence of the City and sent back the slave laden with gifts and promises of future rewards Amaral entertain'd him pretending he had brought his Ransom This Action caus'd in many an extream dislike and a general suspition of him but by reason of his Dignity and Authority there were none that durst to speak their minds freely In the mean time Leo deceas'd after he had govern'd the Papacy eight years and Solyman made all his preparations privately as possibly he could giving it out that he intended either for Apulia or Cyprus Nevertheless the Grand Master was advertiz'd of every thing by his Spies and being assur'd that he should be besieg'd sate in Council every day and as often did Amarall labour to suppress the report of the Siege as much as in him lay to divert and hinder the Order from making those Provisions which were necessary for their defence instancing how often such Rumours had been in vain and how needless it was for the Order to put themselves to unnecessary charges at a time when their Exchequer ran low However the Grand Master receiv'd more certain and pregnant Intelligence by a Ragusian a person of understanding and one that had the Turkish Language at command whom he had sent to Constantinople for a Spy
Italians taking the Alarum and being well seconded by the Grand Master and his usual guard in an hours time the Bastion was well soak'd with the Blood of the Turks Peri finding such a stout resistance here and believing that other places were left naked gave immediate order for other forces to assail the New Bastion of the Grand Master Carretta but there the Chevalier Angelot Captain of the Bastion so behav'd himself having a good number of Souldiers and Citizens with him that the most part of the Turks were either kill'd or wounded and the Flanking Artillery of other Bastions made such havock among the thick multitudes of the Turks that at length quite dismay'd they began to retire Peri thereupon seeing the Souldiers would no longer abide the heat of such a terrible encounter sounded a general Retreat though with the loss of more men then in the former combats Not long after Mustapha covetous to repair his honour and to regain the favour of the Grand Signiour resolv'd to give a third assault to the Bastion of England He imparted his resolution to the Achmat who agreed with him at the same time to assail the Bastions of Spain and Auvergne Upon the 3 d. of September Mustapha unexpectedly fell upon the Bastion mounted the Ruins and fix'd their Ensigns neer the Rhodian Entrenchments and at the same time endeavour'd to make their way forward The fight was terrible and doubtful neither was Mustapha wanting in any part of a judicious and couragious Captain Achmat also at the same time play'd two Mines one in the Auvergnian the other in the Spanish Post The Auvergnian Mine prov'd in effectual the Spanish Mine brought down a considerable part of the wall of the Barbacan of the said Bastion And yet for these dreadful Ruins the Christians so well behav'd themselves in every place that the Turks having lost above 3000 men were forc'd to retreat with shame to their Trenches Two dayes after the Jewish Physitian often spok'n of before was discover'd shooting an Arrow into the Turkish Camp with a Letter fasten'd to the end of it Thereupon he was apprehended and upon his examination confess'd that he was a Spy for the Turks that he had sent them five Letters that he had given them several advices and had encourag'd them to continue the Siege For which He was condemn'd to be quarter'd After these Repulses and the giving fire to three other Mines soon after that did little or no harm the Basha's consulted together and resolv'd to give a general assault upon fore several places of the City all at a time Solyman approv'd their Resolution assembl'd his Captains together encourag'd and chear'd them up and assur'd them of Victory and by publick Proclamation gave the common Souldiers the whole Plunder of the City Thus the whole Army resum'd their wonted courage and full of Hopes prepar'd themselves for a general Assault As a preparation to which the Basha's order the English Bulwark the Posts of Spain and Auvergne and the Italian Platform to be batter'd for two dayes together on purpose to widen and enlarge the Breaches The Grand Master observing this universal motion of the Enemy and their continual Batteries for 2 days together with an extraordinary diligence prepar'd for his defence Day and night he visited all the Posts earnestly besought every one to be watchful and ready and having taken a little repose in his armes by break of day he rang'd the Souldiers in their several Posts and that there might remain no fear or astonishment among them he made them a short speech Declaring to them the glorious opportunity which offer'd it self for them to signalize their Zeal for the honour of God their fidelity to their Order and the welfare of Christendom and their affection to a people that had liv'd under their Dominion for above 200 years He gave them to understand how often they had prov'd their own valour and the timidity of the Enemy That though their number were great yet that there was yet a sufficient number left of brave and valiant men to defend a just cause and repel the force of Ambition and perfidious impiety That they were to confider their Enemies were a sort of ignorant people forc'd on by their Basha's for fear of encurring the displeasure of their Master to whom they had represented the enterprize so easy that they themselves were persons of honour dedicated from their Infancy to the service of God And therefore he besought and conjur'd them to do their duties The Turks by break of day discharg'd all their Artilleriy at once that they might pass the Moat under the covert of the smoak and that don they boldly fell on in all places at once The Grand Master posted himself in the English Bulwark as being the weakest place Nor was the Spanish Artillery a little favourable to the English flanking the Turks and making a great slaughter among them insomuch that they were almost ready to recoyle when Mustapha's Lieutenant throwing himself among them pray'd entreated threaten'd promis'd and heading them himself brought them on again though to his cost being the first man slain with a Canon Bullet as he was mounting the Ruins The Turks enrag'd by his fall discharg'd their small shot and arrows like hail upon the Rhodians And Mustapha observing their Metall sent them continually fresh supplies and with fair words and promises exhorted them to their Duties Yet could they not force the besieg'd to stir a foot who in the view of the Grand Master with an invincible courage sustain'd all that Impetuosity and at the same time fought with equal valour and obstinacy in all the other Quarters The very women were not unserviceable while some carry'd Bread Wine and other refreshments to the Souldiers others threw stones others pour'd down boyling Oyle and water upon the Enemy But the greatest danger of the Combat was in the Spanish Post where the Aga General of the Janissaries having pick'd out the choicest of his men march'd himself to the Assault at the head of them who follow'd him with such a Resoluton that they cover'd all the Breach gain'd the platform above and planted forty of their Ensigns upon it with the same violence rushing on to the Barricado's not minding the prodigious slaughter of their own that fell on every side Thereupon the Knights and Souldiers in the Spanish Bulwark seeing the distress of those in the Post ran to the assistance of their friends leaving only some few for a guard behind Which certain of the Turks that lay conceal'd behind the rubbish perceiving presently mounted the Bulwark and made themselves Masters of it pull'd down the Ensigns of the Christians and setting up their own cry'd out in their own Language Victory and invited their Companions to assist them Upon which Achmats Regiment advanc'd but the Auvergnian Spanish Artillery soon stopp'd their Career So that the Grand Master being advertiz'd of this new accident left the English and entring the
Spanish Post charg'd the Enemy so vigorously that he put them absolutely to flight Then seeing the Spanish Bastion master'd by the Turks he sent the Commander of Bourbon with a Company of stout Souldiers with order to enter the Mine and Casemat and to mount the Bastion Which he did so effectually that in a short time he wholly regain'd it Notwithstanding all this the Aga with fresh forces return'd to the assault of the Spanish Post and the Grand Master having left a sufficient Guard in the Bastion return'd to the defence of the same and sending for two hundred fresh men from St. Nicholas Tower after a bloody fight of six hours forc'd the Turks to abandon their Colours and to retreat to their trenches after the loss of above 15000 men Solyman was so highly incens'd against Mustapha upon this defeat that he condemn'd him to be shot to death with arrows Peri Basha upon the presumption of his Age his merits and his Authority coming to intercede for Mustapha was sentenc'd to the same death And both had suffer'd had not Achmat Basha and all the rest of the Principal Commanders prostrate at Solymans feet implor'd their pardon Solyman seeing all his attempts upon the City of Rhodes so vain and fruitless fell into such a deep melancholy that he shut himself up in his Pavilion for several dayes and would not be seen resolving to raise the siege and to be gone The great Commanders whose hopes lay all in the Mines finding their expectations frustrate resolv'd to raise the Camp Nay several had carry'd their baggage to the Sea side and several Companies had quitted the Trenches When an Albanese Souldier slipping out of the Town gave intelligence to the Turks that the greatest part of the Knights and Souldiers were either kill'd or wounded in the last General Assault Other Traytours wrought the same adviz'd them to stay assuring them that the City could not held out two Assaults more And it was afterwards known that the Chevalier D'Amaral wrought to the same purpose and encourag'd the continuance of the siege Upon this Intelligence the Captains chang'd their Resolutions divulg'd the news through the Army and began to batter the City more furiously then before Solyman also to let the Souldiers understand his Resolution and to encourage them began to build him a pleasure-house upon Palermos Hill Mustapha also though he had orders to repair to his Government ventur'd to give three Assaults successively upon the English Bastion with the Mamalucks who were so ill entertain'd the greatest part of them being kill'd or wounded that the rest retir'd to their Quarters resolving to return no more Peri secretly undermind the Italian Bastion the Mine indeed made a terrible noise and shaking but took vent on the Camp side and kill'd a great many of the Turks Mustapha having such ill success thought it not convenient to stay any longer so that upon his departure Achmat was made General He continu'd the siege with the same violence so that there was not a day pass'd wherein he did not both batter Assault and undermine the defences of the City However the Grand Master remitted nothing of his wonted care and diligence fighting and hazarding his person every where where need requir'd beyond what was reasonable for a person of his degree and Importance And now when it was almost too late those conspiracies and treasons were discover'd which were the loss of the Island For in the first place Lucio Custrophilaca a Rhodian and a person of great wealth reputation and alliances who had the charge of the fortifications the bread and ammunition was perceiv'd at a time and in a place very much to be suspected to have shot an arrow into the Turkish Camp who was thereupon lay hold on examin'd and put upon the wrack but would confess nothing to the purpose Next to him Blas Diez Servant to the Chancellour D'Amaral was taken in the same fact and being put to the Torture confess'd his Masters Treason declaring how he had wrote to the Turks Basha's to continue the Siege for that both men and provisions fail'd in the City Thereupon the Grand Master caus'd the Chancellour to be apprehended who being examin'd and tortur'd would confess nothing himself but being convicted by sufficient testimonies confirm'd to his face by his Servant his Servant was hang'd and he beheaded dying withour any sign of repentance or Christian devotion In the mean time the Canons of the Enemy thunder'd against the Bastion of Italy where they ruin'd all the defences and Barricado's that Martinengo had rais'd by which means they advanc'd their Trenches to the very foot of the Breach The Bastion of England was also beaten down to the Ground and the most part of the Barricado's and entrenchments ruin'd so that some advis'd the quitting and blowing it up But because that signifi'd little in regard of the vast numbers of the Turks the Grand Master resolv'd to hold it out to the utmost and to that end gave the command of it to the Chevalier John de Bin who kept it to the last At this time arriv'd the Chevalier de Rocque Martin with twelve Knights a hundred Souldiers and some Ammunition But notwithstanding this small relief the Grand Master observing the desperate condition of the City for now in some places there were no other defences but beames and boards between the Enemy and him beside that they had set up three Pravilions within the City neer the Rhodian entrenchments sent away to Candy for Souldiers Ammunition and victuals which the Duke of Candy had provided as also to Naples to hasten the succours which the winter season hinder d from coming In the mean while the Turks gave too desperate Assaults upon the Italian and Spanish Platforms but were still repuls'd with the loss of above 3000 men Insomuch that Achmat finding it impossible to take the City by force resolv'd to give no more Assaults but rather chose to preserve his men who were grown quite weary of the Christian valour nevertheless he continu'd his batteries and advanc'd his Trenches thinking to creep by degrees into the City Solyman also thinking to make short work caus'd several Letters to be shot into the City inviting the Inhabitants to surrender offering them all the Immunities they could desire and threatning on the other side in case of obstinacy all the severity imaginable Peri also suborn'd a Genoese who having liberty to speak to the Knights adviz'd them as Christians to consider the deplorable condition of the City and told them withal that if they were so dispos'd he could put them in a way to make an honourable composition but they believing him to be some impostor sent under hand by Solyman or his Basha's gave little credit to his words Two dayes after he came to the same place pretending he had a Letter from the Grand Signiour but then they bid him retire and to force him the sooner so to do they shot at him Some
This Order was observ'd for two days but the 3 d. a young man left his Quarters and went and lay at home for which the Grand Master commanded him to be hang'd Some few days after that all the rest of the Inhabitants lost both their courage and their patience and forsook the walls and breaches so that the Turks might easily have enter'd had not the Grand Master withstood them with that small handful of men which he had left him which some few dayes after was a little augmented by the coming of the Chevalier D'Andugar and the Chevalier Farfan an English man with a hundred Souldiers and some Wine This Wine was a great consolation to the City besides that the Ship made such Bravado's as it enter'd the Port that the Turks generally believ'd it had brought a Relief of above a Thousand men However the Turks continu'd their Assaults and particularly they made a violent onset upon the Spanish Barbacan from which though they were at first repuls'd yet returning with such vast numbers the Rhodians were overwhilm'd and oppress'd by multitude and forc'd to retire into the City The Turks having gain'd the Barracan presently came to the foot of the English wall and by the Ruins of the Barbacan got to the top of it and there planted several of their Colours The Citizens beholding the Extream danger they were in confess'd their folly and besought the Grand Master as the common Father to provide for their safety who gave them liberty to constitute Deputies of their own to attend Solyman and to procure particular security from him for themselves and order'd them to go along with the Chevalier Grollee The Grand Master however having some hopes of relief to the end he might temporize for a while sent Perucci first to shew to Solyman a Letter of Bajazet his Grandfather wherein he bequeath'd his malediction to those of his successours that should make war against Rhodes Perucci address'd himlelf to Achmat who desirous to see the Letter took it and having torn it to pieces threw it under his feet in great disdain Having so done he sent Perucci back to the Grand Master to tell him that if he did not suddenly return Solyman an answer he must expect to be miserable However the Grand Master had one more delay which was to offer to Solyman by the proposal of the Chevalier de Grollee otherwise call'd Passim the expences and charges of the whole siege if he would rise from before it But Achmat would not suffer any such word to be deliver'd to Solyman saying that Solyman had more regard to his honour and his Reputation then to all the Riches in the World At length the Grand Master finding no way to avoyd an agreement and that delay would be the Loss of all vanquish'd his own courage and over whelm'd with grief and vexation gave hâ—s word to surrender the Town upon the conditions propos'd To which purpose he sent away the Chevalier Passim the Deputies of the Town who were presented to his Majesty to whom the Knights declar'd that the Grand Master was now resolv'd to surrender the City upon the conditions propos'd to him upon a full assurance in the faith and promisses his Majestly and humbly entreated him to favour the Inhabitants in the petition which they had to present to him for their peace and safety The Inhabitants besought him to remove his Army a little farther off that they might not receive any Injury either in their persons or goods and that those that would be gone might depart in safety Solyman accepted the offer of the Grand Master and promis'd to observe inviolably every article of the Capitulation That the Churches should not be profan'd that none of the Children should be carry'd away as Tribute Children to make Janissaries That the Christians should have the free exercise of their Religion That the Inhabitants should be exempt from all duties for five years That they that would might depart in three years with their Estates unmolested That Solyman should furnish the Order with Ships sufficient to carry them and their Subjects to Candy That they should carry off as many of their great Guns as they could Load That the Castles of St. Peter Lango and the other Islands and Fortresses belonging to the Order shall be surrender'd to Solyman After that Achmat sent into the City 400 Janisaries with an Aga to take possession and the Grand Master sent into the Camp for Hostages 25 Knights and as many Citizens who were by Achmat curteously entertain'd In the mean time Achmat came to visit the Grand Master in that Moat of the Spanish Post were after some discourse between them he gave the grand Master Notice that Solyman was desirous to see him and therefore adviz'd him as his best course to go and wait upon him The Grand Master unwilling to provoke Solyman and to give him any occasion to break his word by being severe either to the Knights or the Rhodians resolv'd to follow Achmats advice The next morning therefore he went in a plain habit accompant'd with several of the Knights and after he had attended for some time before Solymans Tent he was presented with a noble Vest that Solyman gave him which so soon as he had put on he was introduc'd into the Grand Signiours Pavilion and kiss'd his hand Solyman receiv'd him curteously chear'd him up and told him by his interpreter that it was a common thing to loose or gain Cities and Signiories through the Instability of Fortune exhorted him to take his loss patiently and assur'd him of a most punctual performance of all his promises Then turning to his own people I cannot but pity said he this brave Man whom in his Old Age Necessity thus compels to abandon the Seat of his own Dominion The Grand Master return'd him thanks besought him to remember what he had promis'd and so taking his leave retir'd Solyman caus'd him to be guarded into the City and gave habits of honour to all the Knights that attended him Three days after Solyman himself rode to view the Trenches the Batteries the Breaches and the Tower of St. Nicholas Upon his return he enter'd the Palace attended only by Achmat and Ibrahim then a Page but highly belov'd by him and ask'd for the Grand Master When he saw him he made a kind of offer to raise his Turbant from his head with his hand out of respect not permitting the Grand Master to make any obeysance to him below his dignity Bidding him fear nothing and telling him withall if he had not time enough he would allow him more The Grand Master return'd him thanks but desir'd nothing more of him then to be mindful of his promise Thereupon Solyman remounted and having view'd the Church of St. John return'd to his Pavilion Upon New-years day the Grand Master having taken his leave of Solyman and embark'd as many of the choicest great Guns as the time would permit attended by all the Knights and as many of the best of the Citizens who rather chose to follow his fortunes then submit to the Tyranny of the Turks went aboard the Galleys appointed to carry the disconsolate Traine and the best of their goods and steer'd away for Candy Thus did The Order of St. John loose Rhodes after they had held and maintain'd it with so much constancy so much Expence of treasure and loss of blood against the whole power of the Barbarous Mahometans for the space of two hun-and thirty years FINIS
Flight While the Arms of Sigismund had this happy success in Hungary his affairs prosper'd no less in other places The Hussites weak'nd by their Losses and either terrifi'd by the Threats or gain'd by the Promises of Emperor at length return'd to their duty The Treaty of Prague put an end to all the Troubles of Bohemia and upon a sudden the Imperial Authority was re-establish'd All things being thus calm'd and Albert having disbanded his Troops Aubusson attended the Nobility that went to the Emperour's Court. There he was receiv'd as one that contributed highly to the Victory in Hungary and that which was related to Sigismund touching the Valour of the young French Gentleman engag'd that Prince to give him publick marks of his esteem and acknowledgment But Aubusson not only attracted the praises and favours of the Emperour by his first exploits in War for he also gain'd his good will and kindness by his carriage near his person and the care which he took to please him Sigismund was endu'd with all the noble Qualities of a great Prince Besides that he was valiant wise religious he lov'd Learning in particular and had a great value for learned men whom he preferr'd upon all occasions before persons that had nothing to recommend them but their Birth He was himself learned perfectly well read in History He understood and spoke the Latine tongue as he made it appear at the Council of Constance by the testimony of Gerson Chancellour of the University of Paris who was present there and was charm'd with the last speech of that Prince For that reason he could not endure ignorance in his Courtiers and would say sometimes that he was asham'd of the Electors who had not the least tincture of Learning Though Aubusson were endu'd with a Martial soul and that the love of war overswayd his Inclinations yet had he a disposition and a Genious for Learning He had a quick and piercing wit a happy memory and a solid judgment So that it was no difficult thing for him to conform himself to the humour of the Emperor having in a short time fitted himself for all manner of addresses After he had study'd the languages as much as was requisite for a Souldier to know he apply'd himself to the understanding of all the noble sciences He learnt the Mapps the Mathematicks and above all the rest that part with concernes the Art of war But History was his Principal studie He made a kind of business Exercise of it reading more to instruct then divert himself For he was not contented to charge his memory with great names and strange Accidents as many do that read but he still made Judicious reflections upon what he read proposing to himself as examples to follow the actions of men Illustrious Above all things he examin'd the lives of great men and making advantage of their Vices as well as of their Vertues he became a Master to himself for the governing his own Manners Whatever love he had for reading and what ever pleasure he took in it yet he study'd the world more then books and above all the world and all books the Emperor As he had a free access to his person and was with him every day he was able to observe nere at hand his Maximes his words his actions and all his behaviour But among all the Vertues of Sigismund he was taken with none more then his Zeal for the Christian Faith of which he shew'd so many real marks not only in the Councils which he upheld by his authority and presence but also by the wars which he undertook against the Infidels Thus the Court which is usually the corrupter of youth was to Aubusson a school of wisdom and vertue Where besides the love which it taught him to have for learning and to make a sound judgment of things he acquir'd Integrity and became a man of Vertue and Repute With such noble Inclinations as these he might easily pretend to great employments in a Court where Justice was done to merit And certainly he had attain'd thereto as much a stranger as he was had not his Fortunes been overturnd by the Death of the Emperor Albert Duke of Austria who succeeded Sigismund had not for Aubusson those kind thoughts as his predecessors Whether it were that he did not naturally love the French or whether the Favors of the deceas'd Emperour provok'd his hatred of a stranger Aubusson quickly percev'd that the Emperor had got a new Master and that the best course that he could take was to be gone But though that Consideration might not have prevail'd with him to quit Germany yet his duty would have oblig'd to return to France The Treaty at Arras for the accommodation between the two Kingsof England and France not taking effect as it was hop'd the War broke out again between the two Kings So that there happ'nd divers sieges and divers fights with more heat and animosity then ever The English made great spoil in the Provinces of which they were not Masters and the French divided among themselves committed as great violences every where so that what between a Forraign and a Civil War joyn'd together the whole Kingdom was full of confusion and horrour This was the state of the Affairs of France when Sigismund di'd and that Aubusson forsook Germany to come and serve his own Country John D'Aubusson Lord of Born his Cousin-German and Chamberlain to Charles the seventh brought him to Court So soon as he came there his proper person his sparkling countenance his noble Air attracted the eyes of all upon him but his prudent and honest carriage his wit his politeness his pleasant conversation gain'd almost the hearts of every one In regard he was of the County of Marche and younger Son of the Vicounts of that County the Count of Marche Governour of the Dolphin shew'd him great respect and did him the honour to be his Patron This Relation which Aubusson had to the Count gave him opportunity often to wait upon the Dolphin who was almost of Age. He obtain'd his love being so happy as to share in the exercises and divertisements of the Prince He had also the good fortune to please Charles the seventh who saw in him at first sight something that was great and not common But it was not long ere be shew'd by his actions that what we conceiv'd of him was not without good ground He signaliz'd himself in a high measure at Montereau Faut-yone whither he attended the Dolphin who commanded at the Siege The King who had been himself a witness of the valour of Aubusson when he carry'd the City by Assault making his entry a little while after into Paris commanded his attendance upon him to Court with the chief of his Nobility This Entry was one of the most magnificent that ever was made And it may be truly said to be the first day that Charles began to reascend his Throne Several Cities follow'd the example
of the Capital and those that stood out were for the most part reduc'd by force Aubusson every where gave signal marks of his Courage but upon one occasion he made it apparent that a young Warriour might be as well prudent as cunning At what time the power of the English abated in the Kingdom that of the fair Agnes increas'd at Court. As she was wonderfully charming and one that understood better then any woman of her sex how to govern her Lovers she obtain'd in a short while an absolute Dominion over the King But according to the custom of women whose credit arises from their Beauty she made but an ill use of the Kings Favours The Dolphin who was not naturally very docible could not endure a haughty and imperious woman who had but little respect for him On the other side the great Authority of Charles of Anjou Brother to the King of Sicily offended him extreamly He took it ill that a Prince for whom he had no kindness should have so great a share in the confidence of his Father So that the Favorite was no less a trouble to him then the Mistress But that which vex'd him most of all was that after the taking of Montereau where he fought so well against the English that in Courtship they applauded him for it before the King he had but a bad reception from bis Father instead of the thanks which he expected For the King perceiving that this first Essay had puft up the mind of his son he return'd him under the Discipline of his Government and remov'd him also from the Court Whether he were jealous of a valour that made such a noise in the world or whether understanding the bad disposition of the Dolphin he thought this first success of his might transport him too far if he did not take care to curb him The Dolphin dissembl'd his dissatisfaction for some time but a young Prince once provok'd whose passions are violent and who never wants bad counsel is soon aweary of counterfeiting And therefore to revenge himself like the Son of a King he went and put himself at the head of the Rebellious Nobility The Count of Marche to whom the revolt of his disciple was no small dishonour omitted nothing that might reduce him to his duty Besides what he did himself he made use of the management of Aubusson whom the Prince lov'd and who had found a means to preserve his favour without confederating in the revolt Certain it is that the Dolphin was of a jealous ticklish disposition not easie to manage and one of those who are of that head strong obstinate humour that they are seldom to be recover'd when they have once fix'd upon their party But Aubusson knew him very well and understood which way to take him For he had those sweet and insinuating charms which are not imcompatible with a fierce and fiery Disposition But above all he had a natural Eloquence that always wrought it's Effect and which perswades so much the more by how much it is the less distrusted So that he had not much to do to make the Prince list'n to reason He so dextrously mannag'd his passions and mollify'd him in such sort by degrees that when the Count of Eu came afterwards to treat with him on the Kings behalf he found him altogether enclin'd to lay down his Armes and beg pardon The King was so satisfy'd wiâ—h Aubussons address upon this occasion that he employ'd him in other Negotiations of concernment In all which he so behav'd himself that Charles the fifth highly applauded the sharpness of his wit Insomuch that one day speaking of Aubusson he said it was a hard matter to find so much fire and so much prudence both together After the Princes were come to an accommodation the War grew very warm between the French and English and much blood was shed on both sides But the truces that were afterwards made chang'd the whole face of affairs France began to breath a more quiet Aire and the pleasures which afterwards succeded the Toyles of war had perhaps effeminated the hearts of the souldiers if their Marches into Lorrain and Germany had not found them work Rene of Anjou King of Sicily and Duke of Lorrain requested aid of Charles King of France his Brother in Law against some places in the Countrey of Messin that would not acknowledg his Iurisdiction Charles presently appeares before Nancy with a great Army of which one part went briskly to beseige Mets. The City defended it self with great courage and obstinacy Upon which the Dolphin with whom the tediousness of the seige did not agree found a fair occasion to satisfie his boyling and ambitious Humour The Emperor Frederick the third dissatisfi'd with the Swisses who pretended to have nothing to do with the House of Astria and who under that pretence affected a kind of Independencie not much differing from a Revolt invited France by the mediation of Sigismund Duke of Austria to come and defend the Rights of the Empire There needed no more encouragement for the Dolphin who had espoused the Sister of the Dutchess of Austria to enter Alsacia with an Army Aubusson was one of the young Lords that attended him and one who had the greatest share in the defeat of the Swisses near Basle But the Duke having reduc'd some places and cast a terror upon others march'd back again sooner then was expected Either because the Emperour unwilling to draw upon himself ill will for being the occasion of the war in some measure disown'd it or because the German Lord who had conducted the French Army into Switzerland and was to have been their guide through all the narrow and difficult streights of the Mountains being slain there was no safety in proceeding farther In the mean time the Affair of Mets being brought to an accommodation advantageous for the Beseigers and honourable for the Beseiged the Embassadors of the German Princes whom the Dolphins march had alarm'd came to demand a confirmation of the ancient Alliances between France and Germany Their demands were granted them and as there is a time when the Spirit of Peace is predominant the truce was prolong'd for five years between France and England The Court in such a quiet calm began to think of nothing but divertisement and the Marriage of Margaret Daughter of the King of Sicilie with Henry King of England occasion'd such extraordinary rejoycings that they had almost forgot their last troubles Never was a more beautiful Court nor a more numerous then that of Nancy For not to speak of the several Princes and Princesses that were of lesser dignity there were two Kings and three Queens beside The Earl of Suffolk who was sent to fetch the new Queen of England had with him the flower of the English Nobility Several daies were also spent in magnificent Turnaments where the King of France and the King of Sicily ran together But Aubusson soon grew weary of
and Ramparts wherever occasion requir'd He was then Grand Prior of Auvergne having succeeded a little before to the Chevalier Cottet who dy'd about that time and surrender'd his Baily wick to the Knight de Rillac But while they were thus preparing to receive the Ottoman Army the Grand Master Baptista Vrsini dy'd also the loss of whom might have ruin'd Rhodes had it not been repair'd with advantage For in short it was Aubusson himself whom the Knights assembl'd chose for Grand Master Anno 1476. Never was Election more regular nor with less disturbance then that It was made according to all the forms which the Statute prescribes and the sixteen Electors whom the Assembly chose out of the whole number of Languages to elect whom they should think most capable of the supreme power gave their suffrages with one consent for Peter D'Aubusson Grand Prior of Auvergne At the name of Aubusson the whole Assembly with redoubl'd shouts and acclamations testify'd their unparallel'd joy He only was sorry when he heard himself nam'd and at first he refus'd a Command of which he did not think himself worthy But I know not by what inward motive which afterward prevail'd he was forc'd to accept it almost against his own will Yet could he not refrain from tears when according to the custom he was carry'd in his Seat to the Great Altar upon the Shoulders of the principal Commanders There it was that confessing his weakness to sustain so great a burthen he receiv'd the submissions of the Knights after he had solemnly sworn upon the Evangelists to observe the Statutes of the Order The news of this Election was no sooner spread over the Island but the people made Bonfires and testify'd all the signs of publick joy This caus'd every body to hope for a happy Government neither was Mahomet so much fear'd when they understood that the Grand Prior of Auvergne had the Authority in his hands THE HISTORY OF Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master of RHODES Book Second SO soon as the Grand Master was acknowledg'd in Rhodes his first care was to render to Pope Sixtus the Fourth that Obedience which is due from the Chief of an Order wholly devoted to the Sacred See To that purpose he held a Council the next day after his Election and nominated the Prior of Lombardy together with the Prior of Rome for that Embassy Then he apply'd all his thoughts to the Government of a Dominion of which he had taken possession And not to loose time he began at the very first to act as Grand Master Though the Ottoman Army were as yet far enough from Rhodes nevertheless the Island was not a little infested by the incursions of the Barbarians The Pyrats who landed day and night in several parts pillaged the Cities burnt the Houses massacred and carried away many of the Christians The Grand Master thought it convenient to put a stop to these disorders that so sensibly afflicted him and for that purpose to build upon the Coast at such such distances severaâ— Forts and Towers to hinder the landing of the Pyrats But because this design requir'd a great sum of Money and that these Pyracies had very much exhausted the Grand Masters Revenue he ordain'd for the raising those works that all those Knights who obtain'd Commanderies by favour only should pay the value of the first years Revenue to the Order so soon as they receiv'd their Commissions without which payment the Donation should be void The Grand Master also took in hand again and went on with all those works which were discontinu'd by the death of the Grand Master More especially he forwarded the new Wall of the Arsenal and took upon himself the charge of looking after it But in regard it was of high importance to look after the security of the Port he order'd the Grand Prior of St. Gilles to provide a Chain to shut it up He also at the same time gave order to the Chevaliet Raymond who commanded in the Castle of St. Peter to widen the Mote so far for the Sea to fill it that the Brigantines of the Castle might ride there secure from Enemies and Tempests The Castle St. Peter which we shall have often an occasion to mention was a strong place scituated in Cana between two Arms of the Sea which form'd a Peninsula built upon the ruines of the ancient City Halicarnassus near the place where was formerly the Sepulcher of Mausolus so famous for the love and grief of Artemisia The Order of St. John is beholding for that Fortress to the prudence and valour of one of the French Grand Masters For Philibert of Nailac Grand Master of Rhodes desirous to make his best advantage of the consternation of the Infidels after the Battel wherein Tamerlain had taken Bajazet Prisoner fitted out the Gallies of the Order and sailed directly for Caria with the choicest Knights of the Order He took a Castle there from the Turks the scituation whereof seem'd to him to be of so much advantage that he built in the same place another almost impregnable which he call'd the Castle of St. Peter This place it was which in the midst of the Turks Dominions serv'd as a Sanctuary for the poor Christian Slaves that can get away from their Masters And here it was if we may believe the Writers of that age that certain Dogs of a particular breed who by a strange instinct of nature watch'd all the night long and would fly upon the Turks and fawn upon the Christians as if they had known the one from the other Among all the Knights which the Grand Master employ'd according to the variety of occurrences and which were always nearest his person there was not one in whom he put more confidence then in Charles de Montholon He was a person of a very good judgment and one that bare the character of being fierce in fight temperate in counsel and one that had a genius capable of every thing This Knight acquitted himself of several Trusts that were put upon him for the defence of the City and he it was that had the charge of fortifying St. Nicholas Fort. While the Grand Master-issued out his orders and labour'd himself to have all things in readiness to sustain a Siege Antonio Loredano General of the Venetian Fleet in the Island of Cyprus understanding that Riccio de Marino a Cipriot by birth and a person born for intrigue and one of the most zealous Servitors of Charlote de Lusignan negotiated at Rhodes to the prejudice of Katharine Carnara he sent an Ambassad or to complain in the name of the Duke of Venice for that the Knights did entertain those that were Rebels to the Republick It is impossible to understand the grounds of that Embassy nor the answer of the Grand Master without being inform'd beforehand of the Claims of those two Princesses to the Kingdom of Cyprus and wherefore the Republick took Katharine's part and oppos'd Charlot a. John de