prepar'd himself to assist the Enterprise of the French and who was in hopes to raise his own Fortune by following theirs felt himself struck by the way with an unknown distemper that carri'd him off in a few days His death surpriz'd all men and there was great enquiry made into the cause They that were of the Popes's party reported that he gave himself too much over to his Pleasures the first days of his liberty and that he kill'd himself with excess of Debauchery Others say that the Venetians corrupted with money by the Turks and alarm'd at the French Expedition had secretly given him poison But most accuse the Pope to have deliver'd him poison'd to Charles the 8th to the end that France should get no advantage by him and the report ran that Alexander receiv'd a good sum of money to perform that wicked act Thus ended the life of Zizim an unfortunate Prince and yet more illustrious by his Misfortunes then by his Birth Some think he dy'd a Christian and that he was Baptiz'd at Rome before the death of Innocent the 8th But those Authors who have spoken most of this Prince say nothing of his Conversion which makes me believe that to aggravate his misfortunes he dy'd a Mahumetan THE HISTORY OF Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master of RHODES Book Sixth THe Grand Master who took very heavily the news of Zizim's Captivity could not receive the news of his death without indignation and horrour and he found himself laden with all the grief that a man could have for the death of a person so extremely dear to him But when the Interest of Christianity intermix'd with that tenderness all his Fortitude was little enough to support him from being wholly deprest by an accident so Tragical He ador'd the profound wisdom of God that would not suffer the Christians to reap any advantage from the person of the Ottoman Prince and permitted them who had most interest to preserve him to be his destroyers But he admired as well the conduct of Providence that would not give the Infidel liberty to gain any benefit by his death but to unhinge all their designs gave Victory to the Triumphant Arms of France in Italy Ferdinand King of Naples being dead of an Apoplexy after Matthias Corvin King of Hungary and Pope Innocent the Eighth who both died of the same disease Alfonso a wicked Prince hated by the Nobility and People succeeded his Father but terrifi'd by the rapid march of the French and fearing besides the dire effects of publick Rage he left his Crown to his Son Ferdinand and retir'd into Sicily The new King also follow'd the example of Alfonso and after he had awhile disputed with the French the Avenues of the Kingdom abandon'd it quite so that the King of France made himself Master of the Capital Cities without striking one stroke All Turky trembled at the progress of the French Army and the terrour was so great at Constantinople that the Priests of the Mahumetan Religion publickly cri'd out That the Turkish Empire was lost without redemption Now before the Forces appointed for the Expedition of Italy set out of France Charles the 8th had sent to Rhodes the Grand Prior Blanchefort to desire the Grand Master to meet him at Rome He also dispatch'd away to him the Commander of Anger 's with very urgent Letters so soon as he had cross'd the Mountains More then this as he earnestly desir'd this Enterview though whether to be truly instructed as to the design he had upon the Levant or to dazle the World that it should not be known which way he bended is uncertain he desir'd the Pope to write to the Grand Master and wrote to him also with his own hand And indeed his Letter was the most civil and engaging in the world For after that he had declar'd that he could not live without his counsel nor enterprize any thing upon the Levant but under his Conduct he conjur'd him to hasten his Voyage for the reasons which he had declar'd to the Grand Prior Blanchefort his Nephew to whom he had open'd his mind as to a Knight of great prudence and of absolute experience This Letter coming to Rhodes before the Grand Prior whom stress of weather had beaten off from the Island the Grand Master who believ'd such flattering expressions could not be sincere and who saw but small foundations for a design that France made such a stir about return'd for answer to the King That he could not but highly applaud his Majesty's Zeal That it was too much honour for him to fight under his Banners or to contribute any thing to the Glory of his Atchievments But in regard the Grand Prior Blanchefort had order to declare to him the whole secrets of the Affair he daily expected to obey his Majesty's Orders The King out of his impatience to see the Grand Master in Italy wrote him a second Letter so soon as he was enter'd Naples He also desir'd Cardinal Briconnet and Cardinal de Garce who accompani'd him and to whom the Pope had given Caps at his instance to write both of them to the same effect The first only exhorted him in general terms not to deny that which was requested of him with so much ardenoy The second who had more zeal went more home to the business and after he had given him an account of all that had pass'd in the Kingdom of Naples desir'd him that he would condescend to be a Tutor to a young Conquerour who was wholly intent upon the delivery of Greece and whose hopes depended upon the Counsels of a Captain so experienc'd and so formidable to the Enemies of the Faith He added That in that little time that so glorious an Enterprise was delay'd the opportunity was in danger to be lost That it was to be fear'd lest the debaucheries that usually attend upon great Conquests might corrupt the Courages of the French Soldiers That the sins of Victors might draw upon them the malediction of Heaven That the Enemies of France sow'd jealousies in the minds of the Princes of Italy to engage them to cross the designs of Charles and that all preparations were making to form a League against him That several under the pretence of the good of his Kingdom advis'd him to return into France before he enter'd upon the Holy War The Cardinal at last concluded That the sole presence of the Grand Master was enough to stay the King and to ascertain the Expedition into the Levant But the Letters of the Cardinals did not work that effect which they expected The Grand Master was confirm'd by their own reasons that the Expedition which they projected against the Turks was not an Enterprise that had any solid ground he was a little distrustful of the inconstancy of the French and the Youth of the Conqueror Besides he understood that the League against France was almost come to a period and that the Pope the the Venetians the Emperor and
after an extraordinary manner either because the Court had a great esteem for him or because they had a design to keep him in delay He saw through the gentleness and caresses which he receiv'd which way the Court stood affected toward the Holy-war The King would not undertake it by any means whether he thought his Kingdom too much exhausted to defray the expence of a war that might prove of a long continuance or whether he minded nothing but his Repose after his past toiles or that the Charms of the fair Agnes had cool'd his zeal which he formerly had for the interest of the Church or whether it were that he would not submit to the inclinations of his Son who was retir'd male-content to Philip Duke of Burgundie the most zealous of all the Christian Princes and one that had declar'd himself so much an enemy of the Turk that he solemnly swore to make war upon them The Cardinal Legate who was a Frenchman and very understanding ing in affairs appli'd himself wholly to effect this Negotiation After many Conferences in vain with the publick Ministers he treated at last in particular with the King not being able to obtain any thing Calistus being advertis'd of the Kings disposition writ to him very sharp Letters threatning him at length with the Thunderbolts of Rome and the Malediction of Heaven if he refus'd the holy League Those Letters wrought no effect if they did not make it worse The King was incens'd at the Popes threats and not perswaded by his reasons In such a ticklish conjuncture there appear'd no probability of hopes for the Commander D'Aubusson However he ceas'd not to act and in regard that besides the character of an Embassador he had other good qualities which made him esteem'd by the King and his Ministers he was heard more favourably then the Legate He represented at first that Christendom was never in more eminent danger and that there was nothing which we had not to fear if the Progress of the Infidels were not quickly stopp'd that Mahomet since the taking of Constantinople aim'd at nothing but Rome that he was fall'n into Hungaria to enter into Germany with a purpose to make his way that way into Italy That it was one of his maxims that as there is but one God in Heaven so there could not be but one Monarch upon Earth That he had been constrain'd to raise his siege before Belgrade because he had not taken the right course and for that he had been wounded himself but that his misfortune had no way disincourag'd him that he was one of those great men that make the best advantage of their errors and misfortunes or rather that he was like the fiercer sort of Beasts who when they have receiv'd a wound and feel their blood begin to flow are never more furious till then That since his ill success in Hungary he had drawn to his side the Soldan of Egypt the Caraman and the Tartar and that he would return with fresh forces to the siege of the Belgrade and that his Generals who had tak'n almost all the Isles in the Archipelago would soon powre their fury upon Rhodes In short that those two Ramparts of Christendom being forc'd not any of the Dominions of the Christian Princes could be safe either by Sea or Land Aubusson afterwards represented to the King that being the eldest Son the Church he could not forsake their interest without dishonour to himself That as for the transportment of the Pope it was but a transportment of zeal and that his good intentions deserv'd the pardon of a few sharp expressions He added at length that because there were in Rhodes more Knights of the French then of any other Nations in the world the Monarch of France could not in justice dispence with succouring the Island at a time when it lay only in his power to do it That Alphonsus King of Aragon so wise and so brave before he came into Italy was not only effeminated by the delights of Naples but embroyl'd with Pope Calixtus who though a native of Arragon had refus'd to give him the investiture of the Kingdom of Sicily and to assure the succession to Ferdinand his natural son That Henry King of Castile as poor spirited and more vitious then his Father had business at home and abroad and that his Rebellious subjects found him as much work as the Moors of Granada his Neighbours and Enemies Thas Henry of England was not Master at home and that the Duke of York who had usurp'd the Government minded nothing but to sustain himself against his Rivals That the Emperor Frederick liv'd an idle life minding neither his own honor nor the safety of Christendom That besides the war grew hot between the Empire and Hungary and that Ladislaus at the same time was to make head against the Emperor and the Turk That civil dissentions turmoyl'd all Italy and that the Kingdoms of Sweedland Danemark were full of troubles Christiern had been set up in the place of Charles whose irregularities and crimes had render'd him unworthy of the Crown That Alphonso King of Portugal quiet enough at home wanted not a good will but that all he could do was but very little if a Prince more potent then himself did not assist him That thus France being the only Kingdom in Europe that enjoy'd a true peace it was only from France that they could expect relief sufficient to ruine the designes of the Port and for that reason parhaps it was that Heaven had freed it from the power of the English All these reasons propounded after a smart and insinuating manner made a deep impression upon Charles's thoughts That Prince who was so averse before to the Holy-war began to desire it and awaking from the profound sleep wherein his pleasures had lull'd him he only follow'd the motions of his Piety and Courage He gave liberty to Cardinal D'Avignon to leavy a tenth upon the Clergy to defray the expence of the war he entred into a League against Mahomet with Hungarie and that there might be no question of his faithful inclinations he confirm'd the League by the marriage of Magdalene of France his Daughter with King ' Ladislaus As for the Knights he promis'd them all assistance and immediately caus'd sixtie thousand Crowns in Gold to be paid to the Embassador of Rhodes Aubusson lay'd 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
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 Kings of 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 stare 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 〈◊〉 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
understand that there was never a fairer opportunity to ruin the Ottoman Empire or at least to weak'n it very much that Zizim at the head of a croisade world do as much as many Armies together that the death of Achmat had depriv'd the Turkes of the most able Minister and the most valiant Captain that perhaps they ever had That the Grand Caraman and other Princes of Asia expected only when Europe would move to declare themselves and in short that all the present conjunctures renderd that enterprize easie which was so difficult of it self But I know not by what fatality if it were not rather the Incomprehensible disposal of providence the Christian world was not at all enclin'd to take advantage of the opportunity which Heaven it self seem'd to put into their hands All Italy was then divided The King of Naples the Duke of Milan and the Florentines were in arms against the Pope and the common wealth of Venice France was notess in trouble after the death of Lewis the 11th The party of malecontents stirr'd up by the Duke of Orleans who pretended to the regency and by the Count of Angoulism his cousin had excited troubles over all the Kingdom Besides the French desir'd quiet at home only that they might be at leasure for the conquest Naples And young Charles the 8th Who naturally loved honour made that the aim of all his ambition The war of the Moors made work enough in Spain And the bad correspondence which daily encreas'd between the Emperour Frederick and Matthias Corvin King of Hungary prevented them from uniting together against the Turk so that all the designs of the Grand Master vanish'd in smoak and with all his zeal he had only the greife to effect nothing But if the Christian Princes were not in a condition to make use of the person of Zizim for the common good of Christendom they were no less disappointed in making advantage of him for their particular Interests How importunate soever the most part of them were to have him the Grand Master would never give his consent and his orders were so well observ'd in that particular that the order of St. John was always the Mistress of him Zizim being arriv'd in France the King receiv'd him but coldly either because that France would by no means embroil themselves with the Port just before the expedition against Naples or else because they fear'd that an honourable reception was an engagement too high in the entertaining a Turkish Prince so that he stay'd but a very little while at Court the Knights conducting him to the commander of Bourgneus this was a place upon the confines of Poicton and March pleasently situated where the Grand Priers of Auvergne kept their Residence The Knight Blanchefort with whom the Grand Master had particularly entrusted the person of Zizim took care that the Prince should not be presently displeased He gave him all the honour that his birth deserv'd and shew'd him all the sports and pastimes that the Country could afford But notwithstanding all these civilities the Knight Blanchefort omitted not to have an eye upon the Prince and to keep a strong guard about him to hinder those that sought for him from getting him into their hands either by cunning or force But as the love of liberty is more natural to Princes then to other men Zizim soon perceiv'd that he was watch'd too narrowly That reflexion made him suspect the diligences of the Knights and caus'd him to think that he was rather kept as a prisoner then a Prince He testify'd his displeasure at it which caus'd those reports that ran about the world in prejudice of the Grand Master's honour They gave out that it was a violation of the publick faith to retain Zizim in prison against his will That the Knights had sold his liberty to the Ottoman Port for forty thousand Ducats a year and that it was therefore no wonder they had such a strict eye over him That such a prisoner was a treasure for them and that their insatiable avarice made them foget the more holy duties of civil society They that thus discours'd either through jealousy or else judging by outward appearances did not consider that at a time when all Europe was in an uproar there was nothing more to be done for the good of Christendom nor for the safety of Zizim then what the Grand Master did And had they been well inform'd of all the snares that the Grand Signiour laid for Zizim they would then have chang'd their Opinion and found that the Knights that so guarded him were the true defenders of his life and of his liberty Nor had Zizim reason to complain of the conduct of the Grand Master as well in reference to him self as the Ottoman Port for in desiring a safe conduct of him he expressly declar'd that he intended to follow his counsel and orders in every thing so that by the consent of Zizims Imbassadours the safe conduct was dispatched upon that condition as the Grand Master observ'd in a Letter which he wrote to Pope sextus the 4th Besides the Sultan had given the Grand Master a sufficient liberty to treat with the Grand Master as he pleas'd himself and it was by vertue of that liberty that the Grand Master had concern'd Zizim in the treaty of peace As for the thirty thousand Ducats certain it is that the money was spent in maintenance of Zizim By which the Grand Master was so far from getting any profit that he made an addition to it out of his own revenue Which may be easily thought to be true considering with what royal magnificence the Ottoman Prince was always entertain'd not to mention the infinite expences of receiving and sending Embassadours But Zizim's discontent lasted not long For the Knights made him soon to understand that the Guard that was upon him was against his Enemies and not him Thus being quitted of his suspitions and perswaded more then ever of the friendship of the Grand Master he complain'd no more but of his bad fortune that had reduc'd him to a country and solitary life Now the peace between the order and the Fort having open'd a freedom to trade several Turkish Vesselss came to Rhodes And most of the Turks that Landed were so taken with the beauty of the Rhodian women that they spar'd for nothing to satisfy their desires This glister of Gold grew such a temptation that several of the Rhodians without regard to the Christian law or their own yeilded themselves to the Mahometans But the Grand Master abhorring such a shameful prostitution and to stop the torrent of such a scandal condemn'd the Christian women that were convicted of such a crime as lying with a Turk a Moore or a Jew to be burnt alive and he order'd the punishment to extend to the very procurers of that infamous familiarity Some while after the Grand Master made a regulation upon Zizim's accompt For considering how much it
Christendom Nevertheless the Christian Princes whose Dominions were neighbouring upon the Turk did not yet think themselves safe fearing that Bajazet would not long keep his word For that reason Matthias King of Hungary Ferdinand King of Castile Arragon and Sicily made it all their most earnest suit to the Grand Master to have Zizim in their power He would by no means grant them their request but he promis'd them that so long as he had the Sultan at his disposition he would keep the Grand Signior from enterprizing any thing upon their Dominions Bajazet lookt upon this Refusal for a signal piece of service and thought himself so oblig'd to the Grand Master that he resolv'd to make him a considerable present as a mark of his Gratitude But not finding any thing of value enough to his mind amidst all the wealth of his Empire he understood by some of his Renegado Confidents that he could not make a more pleasing or acceptable present to the Grand Master then the hand of St. John Baptist which was then in his Father Mahomet's Treasury The Grand Signior overjoy'd at such a discovery caus'd the hand to be immediately sent for together with the shrine wherein it was kept and causing it to be put into a Cypress box lin'd within with Crimson Velvet and set without with an infinite number of precious stones he sent it by one of his favourites call'd Cariaty Bey with a Civil Letter the Inscription whereof was thus Bajazet King of Asia and Emperor of the Turks to the thrice wise and thrice illustrious Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master of Rhodes thrice generous Prince and Father of a most glorious Empire This hand was said to be the right hand of John the Baptist which was learnt out upon this occasion if the Vice-Chancellour Caoursin may be believ'd It was an ancient Tradition confirm'd by the Histories of the Greeks that St. Luke the Evangelist having embrac'd the Christian Faith the love which he had conceiv'd for St. John Baptist inspir'd him secretly to take up his body bury'd in the City of Sebastia between Eli and Abdias To this purpose he went thither with some of St. John's Disciples who were then living but considering that they should hardly be able to carry the body away without being known and stopp'd he cut off the hand that baptiz'd Christ as the most noble part of the whole body and carry'd it to Antioch where he kept it all the while he stay'd there But going to preach in Bithinia he left the Relick with some of his most trusty friends still at Antiochia where it was publickly ador'd for the space of three hundred years till Julian the Apostate attempted to abolish the worship and memory of Martyrs burning what remain'd of them Particularly he caus'd this hand to be thrown into the fire but the piety of particular persons sav'd it from the fury of the Pagans at that time In the time of Justinian the Emperor to honour the Consecration of Santa Sophia the head of St. John was by the Emperour's command fetch'd from Edessa and the hand from Antioch though he return'd them again after the Consecration was over But in the time of Constantine Porphyrogenites an Emperour that was mighty devout and had a huge fancy for this Relick one Job a Deacon of Antioch stole this hand to present to the Emperour who put it in the Church of St. John of the Stone where it remain'd till the time of Mahomet the second who remanded it into the Imperial Treasure with other Relicks and rich shrines out of which Bajazet took it to present to the Grand Master who laid it up with great ceremony at Rhodes These Marks of affection which the Ottoman Emperour shew'd to the Grand Master open'd the eyes of the Soldan of Egypt That Barbarian had violated the Peace without any pretence as we have said and his perfidiousness carry'd him so far as to stop the Rhodians who traffick'd under the publick faith at Alexandria and in other places of his Dominions But now he began to alter his behaviour when he saw the good correspondence which was between the Port and the Order of St. John The fear he had lest the Knights should take a fresh revenge made him before hand in appeasing them To that end he sent an Embassadour to Rhodes with rich presents and a very civil Letter wherein he blam'd his past proceedings and accus'd the folly he had committed Duan Aga for that was the Embassadour's name did the best he could to enhance the value of his Master's presents and excuses He promis'd solemnly an inviolable fidelity and offer'd all sorts of Pledges for performance Whatever resentment the Grand Master had of the Injuries of Cairbei he said nothing then for though he made little accompt of his promises and judg'd of the future by what was past he thought it not amiss to make his advantage of the present and that which made him determine it the rather was because he had intelligence that Bajazet notwithstanding all his publick and specious demonstrations of Amity had an inveterate enmity against the Order not only because it protected his Brother Zizim but also because he had oblig'd him to quit his design upon Italy So that the little reliance which the Grand Master had upon the Turkish Faith made him renew a peace with one that was openly perjur'd Now because the advice which they daily receiv'd at Rhodes of the ill intentions of Bajazet were every day confirm'd the Grand Master thought it necessary to precaution himself against whatever might happen He sent Barks into Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples for Corn he also made use of the seeming friendship of the Grand Signior to fetch all sorts of grain out of the most fertile Countries of Turky before the Ottoman Court had laid aside its Vizor and had openly brok'n with the Order he gave command at the same time to lade the great Ship of the Treasury then upon the Coasts of Provence with ammunition and souldiers and that a great Vessel of Ragusa then in the Port of Rhodes should sail to Samos for wood proper to build the Ships and Engines of War As for the fortifications besides that he made all the ditches wider and larger he rais'd new works toward the Sea and among the rest a Ravelin that extended from the Tower of Naylac to the Bulwark of France But while the Knights prepar'd for War in the midst of a profound Peace Sixtus the fourth dy'd in the heat of the troubles of Rome which the Colonna's and Vrsini had divided into two Factions The Cardinal of Santa Cecilia a Genoese and of the house of Cybo but originally of Rhodes as being the place where his Father was born succeeded Sixtus in the Government of the Church by the name of Innocent the Eighth He was no sooner elected but he wrote to the Grand Master in such terms as shew'd a particular esteem for his person Among other things
and serve the Venetians The Grand Master who before he broke with the Turk was desirous to see the success of the War with Venice hesitated at first upon the proposal of his Nephew but the bus'ness being deliberated in Council it was order'd that the Grand Prior should have his liberty but that he should not take along with him above thirty Knights at most So that Blanchefort came to Modon at the same time that the French Ships arriv'd there As for the Venetian Fleet they had not so many Vessels as the Turks But they had better men and Ships more fit for fight The Turks therefore avoided meeting with the Christians minding onely to husband themselves for some greater Enterprise But the Adventurers of Rhodes desiring nothing more then a Battel press'd Grimani not to lose the opportunity And indeed they might have sought found and vanquish'd the Infidels had not the over-prudence of the Venetians rendred the heat of the French unprofitable But the Ottoman Fleet consisted of 260 Sail a number that astonish'd Grimani so that instead of engaging he did nothing but follow them aloof off Thereupon the Grand Prior and the French Admiral who had a full resolution to have signaliz'd themselves disgusted at the conduct of the General quitted him with a generous disdain The Infidels embolden'd by the Cowardice of the Venetians and by the retreat of the French fiercely skirted along the Coasts of Morca and enter'd into the Gulph of Lepanto whether Bajazet was come with his Army The City was taken almost in sight of Grimani who had not the courage to relieve it This untoward news very much troubl'd the Grand Master but the Pestilence that increas'd in Rhodes much more afflicted him He made excellent Orders to stop the Torrent of the Contagion and to the end the Barbarians might not attempt any thing at a time so seasonable for them he kept in pay four Galleys which his Nephew brought along with him from Provence and having re-inforc'd them with Knights and Souldiers he commanded them to cruise about the Islands wherein he did two good acts at one time for he preserv'd the Islands from Pirats and empti'd the City of a great number of People which might have been swept away by the Pestilence Lewis the XII who made himself Master of the Dutchy of Milan while the Turks took Lepanto and who had a design to re-conquer the Kingdom of Naples out of which the French had been driv'n thought himself oblig'd to assist the Venetians in the low Ebb of their Affairs but he was perswaded he could not do it unless he acted by consent with the Grand Master For that reason he sent to him two Heralds at Arms who carri'd a Letter also to the Port to the end that by his means they might travel safely through Turky and have a favourable Audience So soon as the Heralds came to Rhodes the Grand Master who had made no open Breach with the Turks wrote to Constantinople for Letters of safe Conduct To which Bajazet did not onely freely consent but gave order to the Basha's of Lycia to go and meet the Heralds of France and convoy them to the Port. Esarcho Centurino a man of good judgment and one of the principal Inhabitants of Rhodes departed along with them carrying a Letter of Credence to beseech the Grand Signior not to detain the Heralds long and to make some small Complement to his Highness as to the War which he made against the Venetians Now though the Letters from Lewis were very haughty and threaten'd the Ottoman Empire with the Force of France if he did not cease to molest the Venetians and restore all that had been taken from them Bajazet nevertheless receiv'd them very well nor did he send them back without good Words and magnificent Presents As the King of France had sent two Heralds by the way of Rhodes the Grand Signior by the same way also sent to the King of France two Grandees of the Port of which the one was called Sivanbeii and the other Musibeii to excuse himself likewise to the Grand Master In some sort he endeavour'd in a large Letter to lay the blame upon the Venetians and gave the reasons that mov'd him to declare War against them He pretended that the Venetians had violated the Faith of Treaties and the Right of Nations exercising all manner of violences upon the Turks of which to the end he might be believ'd he gave a long List And the more to defame the Venetians he added that the most Illustrious King of France knew well enough what wrongs they had done the French when being onely Duke of Orleans he accompani'd Charles the 8th to the Conquest of Naples when they proffer'd him ten Duckats for every Souldier to invade Italy alledging that if they did not stop the progress of the French Arms they would at length assail the Ottoman Empire All this the Grand Seignior wrote to justifie himself but mention'd not a word how Lodowic Sforza finding the King of France in League with the Venetians against him had invited the Ottoman Arms against them aggravating to the Port that Lewis the XII would certainly put in execution what Charles the VIII design'd for the Conquest of Milan and Naples In the mean time a Ship of Rhodes being bound from thence to the Coast of Egypt was attack'd by a Turkish Gallion near ro Alexandria The Knights who were in the Ship defended themselves stoutly and had reduc'd the Turk to the last extremity but when the Ship was just upon the point of yielding another Vessel well arm'd came to her relief so that the Knights were forc'd to quit her They made for Alexandria and putting up the Soldan's Colours enter'd the Port. But the Admiral of Alexandria a perfidious Brute without any regard either to the Peace and Laws of Nations made the Knights Pris'ners and sent them to Caire with all the Christians that were in the Ship The Grand Master conjectur'd by the attempt of the Gallion that the Turks had no intentions any longer to keep fair with the Order However he complain'd to the Soldan of the Admirals behaviour and that in high terms too as of a violence insupportable The Soldan understanding that such sharp complaints were as good as threats and that he that made them would be as good as his word disown'd the Admiral and releas'd the Pris'ners But the Grand Signior's proceedings were far different For all his Civilities to the Grand Master and his Embassie to the Court of France did not hinder the Infidels from continuing the War against the Venetians nor from invading Italy Twelve thousand Spahi's entred into Friuli through uncouth and difficult passages and putting all to Fire and Sword carri'd away above 20000 Christians into Slavery The Pope who minded nothing but the advancement of his Family till then had onely been a Spectator of the War but now he began to think himself concern'd when he saw the
He added That of Twenty Galleys promis'd by the Holy See he had receiv'd but Thirteen That he could not keep them above four months without express command from the Pope which were almost expir'd and most certainly would not be prolong'd That the French Fleet would not come at all That Captain Pré Jan de Bidoux was gone from St. Maura upon the first intelligence of the Broils between France and Spain That the Venetians being resolv'd to fortifie St. Maura could not spare their Fleet any farther so that Winter being at hand he did not believe that the Confederate Princes would undertake any thing against the Turk this year However the eager longing which the Grand Master had to see the League renew'd and his joy for the taking Santa Maura made him believe that the flames of War between the French and Spaniards might be as easily extinguish'd as they were kindled upon this consideration he resolv'd not to give off so So that without taking any notice of the Bishop of Baffo's advice he fell again to writing to the Pope After he had congratulated the Pope for the Success of his Galleys in the taking Santa Manra he besought him to keep them still in readiness and to excite the Venetians to prepare the most powerful Armado they could He besought him to endeavour the reconciliation of the two Kings and to make use of all his Art in that particular He press'd with new vehemency the Emperour and other Kings particularly the King of England who was very powerful at Sea and who was very zealous for the Interests of the Church After which committing the rest into the hands of Providence he set himself to regulate the Customs both of the People and the Knights In the first place understanding that the Jews that dwelt in Rhodes led a very scandalous life and that their bad example was the occasion of many sins committed in the City he took up a resolution to expel them Having assembl'd a Council for this effect he set forth in a long discourse all the evil that the Trade of the Jews might produce among the Faithful and that an Order particularly consecrated to the defence of Christendom ought to abhor a Nation which was so much the Enemy of Christ himself Then he came in particular to the Jews of Rhodes whom the Prodigies of the last Siege and those upon the Wall had harden'd the more The Grand Master's judgment was approv'd in Council and they all decreed with one accord that the Jews should depart the Island and all the Territories of the Order within fifty days They were also forbid to settle in the East lest they should prove spies to the Turks and all that was permitted them was to put off their Goods in fourty days But all sorts of Liberty and priviledges were offer'd on the other side to those that would turn Christians As for their little Children it was decreed that they should be Baptiz'd whether their Parents would or no. And the Decree of Council was drawn in express terms That since it was the opinion of all Divines and Canonists that the Jews were the Slaves of the Christian Princes they had not the Right nor Jurisdiction of Parents over their Children So that the Grand Master might dispose of them for the good of Christendom and the Salvation of their Souls Thereupon according to the power of the Laws the Jews Children were Baptiz'd And lest they should renounce their Christianity when they came to years of discretion the Grand Master kept them at Rhodes and brought them up at the publick Charge in some measure doing the Duty and Office of a Father to them After this the Grand Master appli'd himself to examine the Statutes of the Order which the Vice-Chancellor Caoursin had reduc'd into a Method some years before Some he cancell'd that were grow nout of use the observation whereof did more harm then good serving onely to multiply Quarrels and Suits of Law Others he made new according to the Constitution of the present Time For seeing how far the Impiety and Luxury of the Knights had extended it self who liv'd more like Seculars and Libertines then men in Holy Orders he ordain'd That whosoe'er should swear by or blaspheme the Name of God or speak a word to the dishonour of the Virgin Mary or the Saints for the first fault should undergo the punishment of Lent for the second two months imprisonment in the Castle and for the third be put in the publick Prison during the pleasure of the Grand Master and the Council and that they that were put into these Prisons should lose three years priviledge of Precedency He also forbade that the Knights should habit themselves like other people of the world or wear any thing that had the least semblance of Gallantry or Vanity He order'd particularly that their habits should be plain and of one colour and that if any Knight disobey'd this Order besides the punishment of the Quarantine his Habit should be confiscate to the Publick Treasury But though he lov'd Modesty in Habit he was Magnificent in all things that concern'd the Ornament and Beautifying of the Church as the stately Tapestries Statues of Silver Crosses of Gold Chalices and Image-Chariots of Malta engraven with his Arms for the most part testifie to this day While he employ'd himself in this manner in expectation of his Embassie Letters in reference to the League the Spaniards who had for their Captain in the Kingdom of Naples Alexander Cordova sir-nam'd the Great Captain made most cruel War against the French and both Parties grew so violent one against another that there was no likelihood of Peace The Pope instead of labouring an accommodation and reconcilement between the two Nations as the Grand Master had desir'd him openly favour'd the Spaniards and fed the fire which he ought to have extinguish'd Besides he had no other thoughts in his head but how to Aggrandize Cesar Borgia his Son Duke of Valentinois whom he passionately lov'd so far as to dare any thing and think any thing lawful for his advancement and enrichment But that which directly ruin'd the Croisade was this That the Venetians tir'd with the War made Peace with the Turks after several private Negotiations wherein the Knights of Rhodes were not taken notice of in the least By this Peace the Venetians restord the Island of Santa Maura which Pesara had fortifi'd at great Expences and the Grand Signior engag'd himself to restore what he had taken from the Venetian Merchants from the begining of the War Ladislaus King of Hungary soon follow'd the example of the Republick making an agreement though not very Honourable with Bajazet These sad tidings pierc'd the very heart of the Grand Master and to add to his affliction he understood at the same time that his Holiness had conferr'd Commanderies of the Order upon Secular Persons and that he had promis'd the Priorie of Castile to Don Henry of Toledo