concern'd the honour of the order and the General Interest of Christendom that his person should not be expos'd to the Assassinates of Bajazet he orderd that the Knight de Blanchefort should take as many Knights as he pleased for the Guard of Zizim commanding strictly those that were nam'd to obey him without any more to do declaring withall that such as should be bound to attend upon Zizim should enjoy all the prerogatives of Residence and precedency as if they had stay'd at Rhodes THE HISTORY OF Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master of RHODES Book Fifth WHILST Zizim had a private and obscure life in France one Bajazett almost unknown till then appear'd in the world resolv'd to take advantage of the divisions of the two Ottoman Brothers He was their Uncle being the Brother of Mahomet and Son of Amurath After the loss of Constantinople he was taken by the Christians in his Infant years and carry'd to Rome in the Pontificat of Nicholas the fifth who took care himself of his Education The Instructions which he receiv'd were not altogether unpofitable For he renounc'd the law of his fals Prophet and became a Christian He apply'd himself afterwards to the study of humane Learning and as he wanted not wit he perfectly attain'd the Latine Language But Nicholas the Fift being dead he left Italy to travell into Germany There he was well receiv'd and the Germans lookt upon him as a person that might be useful to them in their Wars against the Turks After he had stay'd sometime in the Emperor Fredericks Court he went into Hungary and there settl'd himself not dreaming to raise his fortune any higher for the example of the brave and vertuous Matthias made so little impression upon him that he only minded his repose and pleasure in the Court altogether Warlike and altogether Christian But the Quarrel between Bajazet and Zizim which made such a noise over all Asia and Europe awak'nd him out of that dream wherein he lay and rous'd his ambition by causing him to remember his birth The flight of Zizim begat in him a desire to make war against Bajazet He revolv'd in his mind that having but one enemy to deale with he might without fear dispute for the Empire but at the same time he thought there was no way for him to compass his design but by the assistance of the Knights of Rhodes And he had a belief that infallibly he should attain his ends provided he could engage the Grand Master to his side To this purpose he wrote to him a long Letter in Latin Wherein he first declar'd himself the only heir to the Ottoman Crown as lawful Son of Amurath pretending that Mahomet was but his bastard then he spoke of his great feats of arms like a true Knight errant and because the Christian world might not be so well inform'd he referr'd the Grand Master to the Turks for a clearer understanding of things But the Turks knew him not so well as the Christians for he was carry'd away so young from Constantinople that it was impossible for him to have done any thing remarkable in Turky At last he highly extold the services he could do for Christendom and the information he could give the Grand Master touching several important secrets of affairs advising him not to let slip so fair an opportunity earnestly desiring his speedy answer The letter was written with his own hand but as if he had the management of all the business in the world he concluded that it was writ in haste They were not convinc'd at Rhodes of Bajazett of Hungaries reasons That Braggadochio stile wherewith he thought to win the assistance of the Knights was in part the reason why they refus'd it him On the other side the Grand Master who had a tender love for Zizim and was loath to embroil himself with the Port took no care to listen to the Propositions of an Adventurer of whom he had no knowledge and to who he had no engagement so that this new Actor soon return'd to that obscurity wherein he had alwaies liv'd and which he so much the rather deserv'd because he had sought too late to quit it The Grand Signior took it the most kindly in the world that he had behav'd himself in that manner and as a mark of his acknowledgment he began from that time to pay him the forty thousand Duckets which he had promised him The first payment was made by Vssambei one of the Principal Officers of the Port. He was sent expresly to Rhodes with order nevertheless to go for France under pretence to thank Charles the Eighth for receiving Zizim into his Territories but indeed to learn certain intelligence of his Brother However Bajazett fearing lest Vssambei should find some obstacle in his Embassy conjur'd the Grand Master that he should give him letters of recommendation for France But the Grand Master did not think it enough to write to the King He was resolv'd that the Hospitalier of the Order should accompany the Turkish Embassador to be his Guide and to introduce him into the Court. And indeed Vssambei was better receiv'd than Zizim had been for the complements of Bajazett highly pleas'd the French In the mean time the war of Terrara rais'd many combustions in Italy and was meditating to have brought the Infidels into Italy For Hercules D'Este became so proud through the Alliance of Ferdinand King of Naples who had giv'n him his Daughter Elenor in Marriage that he loftily scorn'd the friendship of the Venetians which the Dukes his predecessors had alwaies highly sought for He came to that degree of contempt that he usurp'd their Lands abus'd their subjects not considering the kindnesses which he had receiv'd from the Republick when after the death of his elder Brother the Son of his other Brother took up Arms to have depriv'd him of his Dominions The Venetians could not brook the loftiness nor ingratitude of the Duke of Terrara They rais'd puissant Armies against him and leagu'd themselves again with the Pope who was displeas'd with the King of Naples both because that Prince had retain'd in his service about four hundred Turks of the Garrison of Otranto and because he took little care in his Kingdom of the duties of the Holy See Ferdinand sent Alphonso Duke of Calabria to the succour of Hercules his Son-in-law of whom the Common wealth had got great advantages Alphonso had already pass'd the Mark of Ancona and was advancing with his forces toward the Terraras's when the Colonna's and Cavelli who were risen up against the Pope invited him to joyn with them in the Compagna of Rome Robert Malateste who commanded the Army of the Republick was soon at his heels gave him battel and absolutely defeated him Which Victory fill'd the Venetians full of hopes and undertakings but while they ransack'd the Ferraresi and were going to make themselves Masters of Ferrara the Pope of a suddain abandons them whether he were gain'd by the
the Turkish Army at his own doors And therefore whatever strength the Cairbie had he thought himself but weak without the assistance of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem For that reason to engage them to his Interests he dispatch'd to Rhodes Riccio de Marini a Gentleman of Cyprus and the same person who formerly came to serve Queen Charlotta against the Republick of Venice Marini had Instructions to declare to the Knights that the advantages which they had gain'd in so many encounters against the Turks put the Soldan in hopes of a happy success provided they would embrace his quarrel and that he should think himself invincible if he could but have Prince Zizim at the head of his Troops The Grand Master sensible of the generous proceeding of Cairbei toward Zizim almost forgot the ill usage which the Rhodians had receiv'd at his hands and therefore he very civilly testified to his Embassadour that he was very much troubl'd that the present condition of the Rhodian Affairs would not permit him to assist Egypt That the Knights of Rhodes had made a peace with the Turks and that they alwaies religiously observ'd the faith of Treaties But in regard the Grand Master desir'd nothing more then to see two potent enemies of Christianity destroy one another he added that since the refusal of Zizim's Wife and Children was the only cause of Bajazet's anger it was his advice that the Soldan should go on with the War not doubting but that Heaven would favour so just a Cause as his As for Zizim whom the Soldan requested he told the Emdassadour at length that he could conclude nothing without advice from Rome But that he would write to the Pope and signifie to him that the Soldan had provok'd Bajazet to make War upon him only for detaining and preserving the Wise and Children of Zizim unwilling to sacrifice to his Brothers fury what Zizim had most dear in the world The Grand Master's answer satisfi'd the Egyptians and rais'd their courages which the defeat of the Grand Caraman their neighbour had almost dejected For the Ottoman Army consisting of a hundred thousand men being got by several ways into Caramania and having quarter'd themselves between Pyramus the Sar and Cidnus near the old Castle of Adena and the ruins of the ancient City of Tarsus the Egyptian forces that were not above fifty thousand strong presented themselves in view of the Turks upon the banks of Pyramus after they had cross'd with an extraordinary swiftness the famous streights that separate Syria from Caramania The Souldiers that compos'd the Egyptian Army were call'd Corcassian Mamalucks all Christians that had renounc'd their Religion or else never profess'd any being ravish'd from their Mothers breasts and bred up in war from their Infancy The Eunuch Basha General of the Turkish Army gave them no time to rest but attacqu'd them with fifty thousand Horse before they had time to understand the Ground It was in one of those plaines that extend to the Mountain Aman and where Alexander defeated Darius that the Captain of the Spahi's having pass'd the Pyramus over the Bridg of Adena went on to assail the Mamalukes Wearied as they were they bore with an extraordinary vigour the first brunt and fell on with such fury that the Assailants were forc'd to defend themselves After an obstinate fight which Night parted the Mamalukes remain'd Masters of the Field Above thirty thousand Turks were slain upon the place the rest sav'd themselves in the Mountains or else retir'd to the Castle of Adena which they had fortifi'd a little before though it were taken soon after by the Victors But that which made this victory more compleat was that the same day ten Gallies which Achmat Basha the Grand Signiours Son in Law and Admiral at Sea had sent from the rest of the fleet to wast the Coast of Syria were overtaken by a furious tempest and dash'd against the Rocks This misfortune constrain'd Achmat to return to Constantinople with the rest of the fleet Passing through the Channel of Rhodes in view of the City not content to salute the Knights by discharging all his great Guns he resolv'd to shew their Captain a particular Kindness For having set up a magnificent Pavilion in one of the fairest of his Gallies adorn'd with a great number of rich Pendants and Banners he sent a young Turk his Favourite call'd Osman to visit the Grand Master on his behalf The Gally enter'd the Port with the sound of Trumpets and Drums mix'd with the joyful acclamations of the Turks that attended Osman They were all richly habited nor had they the faces of men that made a shameful retreat When the young Turk came into the Grand Masters presence he saluted him after the Mussulman fashion and presented him a Letter wherein the Basha made him a thousand protestations of friendship and service Afterwards having presented him with several stuffs of great value and several rare pieces of workmanship he told him with a good grace that such a small present was not worth the famous Prince of the Rhodians The Grand Master would not be behind either in civility or liberality toward the Barbarians for besides the Caresses and the entertainment which he gave to Osman he sent one of his most Illustrious Commanders with all sort of refreshments for the fleet and rich presents for himself Scarce was Osman who stai'd not above 3 hour in Rhodes joyn'd with the fleet but the Grand Master had Intelligence of their defeat of which he heard not a word from them the spies which he had in most parts of Caramania and even in the Castle of Adena it self giving him an exact accompt hereof Besides that the Soldan himself well satisfi'd with the advantage he had won with his own forces fail'd not in honour of his dignity to give him a relation himself as the person who had foretold his success But this prospority did not blind Cairbey who knew it was not enough to vanquish unless he made advantage of his victory To this purpose he thought that an Embassie to the Pope might produce good effects and he communicated his thoughts to the Grand Master not daring to enterprise such a thing without his counsel nor hoping to obtain his desires without his intercession In the mean while the Pope who made it his business to unite the Christian Princes against the Turk was every day extraordinarily pressing for the removal of Zizim and he began to talk somewhat like a Commander For how mild and moderate soever Innocent might be in his particular conduct he was jealous of his authority and would make himself to be obeyd when he acted for the publick good The Grand Master who knew what obedience he and the rest of the Knights ow'd to the Pope as head of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem was not desirous to stay for an express command He therefore gave Zizim to understand the intentions of his holiness and finding the
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
all the Estates of the Order The most part of the absent Commanders who lead lives irregular enough and for whom great Revenues were not large enough to maintain their luxury refus'd to pay that which was their due However to excuse themselves in some measure they cry'd out that the Tax was too high that Zacosta sought only to ruine them and enrich himself and that his Government grew every day more and more tyrannical They also did him ill offices to the Princes which they found enclin'd to hear them The Italians and French did all they could to animate against him the Duke of Venice and the King of Naples but the Spaniards render'd him altogether odious to the King of Arragon already provok'd for that the Council of Rhodes had tak'n from an Arragonois the Commandery of Emposta to put Zacosta in his room That Prince who was one of the Greatest of his time and who wanted not for credit at Rome inform'd the Pope of all and advis'd him to send for the Grand Master and to examine how he had carry'd himself The Pope believ'd the King of Arragon but to save in some measure the honour of the party accus'd he order'd the General Chapter which should have been held at Rhodes to be held at Rome where the affairs of the Order might be better consulted then in any other place Zacosta who was ignorant of the evil designs of his enemies blindly obeys the Orders of the Pope and his innocency seem'd to afford him strength to undergo the toil of a Voyage in the extremity of old age In this famous Assembly it was wherein Paul the second presided in Person that the Commander D'Aubusson was highly preferr'd For besides that at the opening of the Chapter he was chosen for one of the Procurators of the Treasury he was one of the sixteen Knights that were afterwards elected and who according to the Statutes of the Order had a joint power to look after the most important affairs But his principal business was to justifie the innocence of the Grand Master Zacosta to which purpose he ply'd Cardinal Vrsini and the Arch-Bishop of Milan who were brought into the Chapter by the Popes order being persons in whom the Pope had a great confidence After he had well inform'd them of the loose life of the Knights who refus'd to pay the Tax he easily made them understand that the Complaints which they made against the Grand Master had no other foundation then the dissoluteness of his Enemies But to remove out of the Popes thoughts all apprehensions of any tyrannical Government exercis'd by the Grand Master he engag'd several of the most sober and prudent Knights to give testimony to the Pope of the conduct and management of Zacosta The Pope was asham'd that he so easily believ'd the accusers of Zacosta and to make him some kind of publick satisfaction he caress'd him and shew'd him more then ordinary favours before all the world But as his Holiness had been inform'd by Cardinal Vrsini and the Arch-Bishop of Milan of the debauchery of the disobedient Knights he consulted with the Grand Master how to reduce them to their duty He also made a speech in Latin to the Knights that were assembled upon the obligation that lay upon them all together to lead a life not only vertuous and regular but holy and irreproachable The zeal of the Pope rais'd up that of the Chapter They seriously fell to consider what way to take to remedy the disorders that were crept into the Order and made Laws for the Reformation of Manners which after they had been examin'd by the sixteen Knights and some of the Cardinals were approv'd and confirm'd by the Pope himself Aubusson was extreamly rejoic'd that he had not labour'd in vain but he had not the satisfaction to see the Grand Master himself put the Laws in execution Zacosta dy'd as soon as the Assembly was broke up The Pope was so much the more aggriev'd at it because he lookt upon himself to be in some sort the cause of his death for it was the general report that this journey to Rome had shorten'd the days of that venerable old man He was buried with a magnificence extraordinary in the Church of St. Peter before the Chappel of St. Gregory The Marble that was laid over him sufficiently testifies him to have been illustrious in piety in charity and in wisdom and his Epitaph might have serv'd him for an Apology had he had any need of it after his death Baptista Vrsini Prior of Rome was elected Grand Master before the Knights were separated He departed for Rhodes presently after his election upon information that his presence was absolutely necessary there When he came there he found the Treasury wasted the Fortifications decay'd good part of the Ammunition spent and all the Inhabitants of the Island alarm'd at Mahomets preparations The Barbarian puft up with his former Conquests advanc'd every day like a surious Torrent that finds no resistance or which becomes more impetuous and rapid by the resistance which it meets with The death of the generous Scanderbeg made him more insolent then ever insomuch that when he heard the news he said that he would now be soon Master of Christendom since she had lost her Sword and Buckler The first step which the Grand Master made to remedy these disorders was to recall all the Knights which the journey to Rome had scatter'd or which the pleasures of Italy or the affairs of the Order hinder'd from returning The Commander Aubusson who was recall'd by name came to Rhodes at the same time that two Gallies were preparing to succour the Island of Negropont into which Mahomet was enter'd by land with an Army of two hundred thousand men by the help of wooden Bridges built upon great Barks in the Streight of Saint Mark while Basha Mahomet his Favourite assail'd it by Sea with a Navy of two hundred Sail. The impatience which Aubusson had to fight the Infidels made him eager for employment upon this occasion The Grand Master had already nam'd the Knight Cardona to command the Gallies so that all he could do for Aubusson was to give him the Command of a Troop of stout men that were order'd to be the Companions of Cardona's Fortune When the Gallies were ready they set sail 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
first ascended fell upon the Turks with such a fury that they forc'd them to retire But the Turks being presently reinforc'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 which was spread that the Enemy had carry'd the Jews Quarter struck terror and confusion every where But so soon as the Grand Master saw this beginning of a Rout with a half pike in his hand he mounted the Wall having already kill'd some that were got down and considering that the loss of all depended upon this post he resolv'd to hazard all or regain it The old Commanders and young Knights that were near to his person mounted after at what time the Grand Master breaking into a thick 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 mauger 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 Grand 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 sail 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 assault 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 take to a course so contrary to his design and humour In the mean time the Grand Master who felt himself very much weaken'd by his wounds return'd into the City all bloody after whom follow'd the victorious Knights with the Imperial Standard which they had tak'n from before the Pavilion of the Basha but the condition of their Prince put them into such a consternation that they could not rejoyce for their Victory One of his wounds was accounted mortal and the second day they began to despair of his life So soon as the Basha had recover'd the Sea-shore with the remains of his Army he never stood to consult whether he should raise the Siege or no. Whatever confidence he had had till then in
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 Islanders 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 Gallipoli 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 rumbl'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 out 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 â—â—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 to Nicomedia He was three and fifty years old so vigorous that he endur'd all the travels and labours of War without any detriment to his health the anguish that perplex'd him for raising the Seige of Rhodes did not a little contribute to his death He always appear'd melancholly after that misfortune and upon the very naming the word Grand Master he fell into such dull fits as made him insupportable to himself William Caoursin who liv'd at that time and was Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes makes him to dye after a very strange manner For he reports in his memoires that Mahomet passing thorough a Forrest of Bithynia a young Man clad in white of a shape something more then Human presented himself before him with
Court of the Grand Caraman The Embassadors gave him an accompt of the favourable Inclinations of the Grand Master and the Knight told him that Don Alvare a kinsman of the Kings of Castile Captain General of the Armies of the Order and the Grand Masters Lieutenant was come on purpose to conduct him safely to Rhodes The Prince who found something that was very acceptable in so strange an Adventure and who perhaps out of pride would not at first confess his flight and his fear to an unknown person smartly reply'd that not questioning the generosity of the Grand Master he thought it convenient rather to come and expect him upon the Coast then to put him to the trouble of searching after him After which the Knight returning to the Brigantine and coming up with the Vessels at Sea Don Alvarez made to the Prince himself to salute him in his own Galley He presented him the Grand Masters safe conduct and Letter and then carry'd him into the great Ship with a loud noise of Trumpets and the Thunder of the Canon The Prior of Castile was one of those Spaniards who being rarely bred perfectly understood the world being no less polite then dextrous in his behaviour and therefore he faild not to pay Zizim all those respects and offices which were due to an unfortunate and afflicted Prince For though ill fortune had not abated the courage of the young Sultan it had however somewhat encreas'd his natural melancholy The Procedure of Don Alvare affected Zizim in such a manner that he testified at first how sensible he was of his kind offices and gentle services Generous Knight said he in loosing a Throne I have not lost those thoughts which Nature bequeaths to the most barbarous And if fortune do not altogether destine me to misery you shall find that I was not born ungrateful But I see your generosity is altogether pure and that in treating an Vnfortunate so worthily you only seek the honour of doing good Yet I cannot wonder enough added he that so much civility should be shewn to the Son of the most implacable enemy Your Order ever had and I must confess that therein I admire your ingenuity Great Prince Repli'd the Knight Reason commands that we should give honour to persons of high birth and real merit whatever their condition be and they are but mean souls that rather follow the Fortunes then the persons of Kings You are forc'd to fly ill intreated by your subjects and depriv'd of your Dominious but you are still a King you are still Sultan Zizim We receive you as a Prince whose virtue and misfortune render him worthy the esteem of Christians and not as an enemy Nor are you to wonder that the Grand Master entertains in this manner the Son of an Emperour who mortally hated us Mahomet your Father did all he could to ruine us we have done all we could to withstand his triumphant Arms and by the mercy of God we obtain'd a signal Victory against him the remembrance of which After-Ages will preserve The Knights of Rhodes know how to vanquish those that assail them but they know how to relieve with humanity those that cast themselves into their Protection nor are there any Injuries which they do not forget when their enemies are no longer able to do them harm The Answer of Don Alvares convinc'd Zizim of the generosity of the Knights and entirely gain'd his confidence The Grand Master had commanded that he should be treated like the Son of an Emperour and a King To which purpose the Officers that first serv'd him at his Table made an Essay of the meat according to the custom of the Courts of Europe Zizim seem'd to be surpriz'd because that Ceremony is not in fashion among the Turks but it was told him it was the usual practice at the Tables of the European Princes and that it was an Assurance against poison Oh! said he I am not afraid of being poisoned by such generous Knights as you I have put my life and fortune into your hands and I hold my self secure Besides I had rather you should treat me as a friend then a Prince Concluding those words he took something out of every dish of which no Essay had been made and putting all the meat into one plate he began to eat to let the Knights know how much he confided in them After that he began to be more gay and pleasant while the good entertainment that he receiv'd had almost made him forget his past misfortunes Nevertheless when the Ships were under sail and that the Coasts of Lycia began to disappear he then began to be apprehensive that nothing could be more worthy of composition then a fugitive and wandring King driven to seek an Asylum in the territories of strangers and of enemies So that the sad thoughts which seiz'd him all of a sudden caus'd him to be profoundly sad for some hours so that all his courage was but little enough to bring him to his former humour For the mean while the Ship kept on their course and they had so fortunate a passage that they came in a small time within view of Rhodes Don Alvarez speeded before in a Brigantine to give the Grand Master notice of the Prince's arrival All things were already order'd for his Entry and among the rest of the preparations there was a bridge of wood which reach'd from the gate of the Port above ten paces into the Sea to the very place where the Ship that carri'd Zizim was to lye The most ancient Commanders which the Grand Master sent before to meet the Prince receiv'd him with all the respect which was due to the Son of their Emperour Mahomet So that while the Artillery play'd from all parts he pass'd over the Bridge which was cover'd with cloth of Gold in the midst of the Acclamations of the people whom curiosity had drawn to the shoar From whence after he had mounted a Spanish Courser richly harnessed he rode forward to the Great Piazza with the sound of fifes and Trumpets conducted by Don Alvarez who did him the Office of a Squire The Streets were all strew'd with herbs flowers and an infinite number of people fill'd the plat-forms and windows Zizim entring 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 sufficient Guard there being very few Assassinates that would atattempt the persons of great men at the hazard of their own lives The more disinterested and the wiser sort were of a contrary judgment that a removal was the only way to preserve Sultan Zizim from the misfortunes that threatned him that war did no way secure him that after a refusal of Peace with the Turks they had no way to secure him from poison or assassination while treason enters every where and the fidelity of servants and guards is not proof against any large sum of money That while Bajazet sought to get him into his power by all the waies imaginable they could neither surrender him without betraying their faith given nor
keep him without drawing upon themselves the indignation of the Sultan Zizim who saw that his affairs would spin out too much time unless he determin'd something speedily and well enough understood the danger of delay press'd the Grand Master to give him his liberty to be gone and conjur'd him to permit him that he might go to the King of France as being the person most capable to protect him against the Tyranny of his Brother For besides that he guess'd at the French Humour by the behaviour of the Grand Master he had heard frequent discourses of their generosity nor did he question but that the successors of Clovis and Charlemaigne whose famous deeds he had read would take delight in restoring a Prince to his Throne The Grand Master could not withstand neither the reasons nor the powerful instances of Zizim He approv'd his determination touching his retreat into France But that which made him approve it the more was that he thought that Zizim ran no hazard in a Countrey which produc'd no Monsters and where poison was unknown So that the safety of a poor Prince who had thrown himself into the Arms of the Knights made the Grand Master in some measure forget his own Interests and those of his people for not troubling himself about the ill consequences that so hasty a Retreat might draw after it he gave all orders necessary for the Voyage into France He redoubl'd at the same time his civilties to the Sultan and the eeve before his departure made him a most magnicent Feast Zizim admir'd more then once the variety and dressing of the meat and the order of the service confessing that the magnificence of the Ottoman Emperours had nothing so sumptuous During the feast there was a noble consort of musick and among the rest of the Musicians an English man who sung rarely and plaid upon a certain unusual Instrument compos'd of four Pipes joyn'd together charming all the company except the Prince whose ears were not accustom'd to such sweet musick Whereupon the Grand Master who perceiv'd it and sate alone at the Table with him sent for a Turkish Slave whom he thought would better please him This Slave singing a Turkish Air and playing upon I know not what sort of Instrument making faces and using ridiculous postures delighted Zizim so well that he caus'd him to laugh heartily He eat plentifully and as strict as he was in the observation of his Law he drank wine sometimes mix'd with Aromatick juices and sometimes neat without any composition The Feast was in the Grand Master's Palace where they sate upon two Chairs with a Table before them after the fashion of Europe but that posture was uneasie to the Sultan who was wont to eat cross-legg'd so that he cast his eyes up and down to see if no body observ'd his disturbance But after all these lesser observations Zizim was extraordinarily satisfi'd with the marks of friendship which he receiv'd from the Grand Master during his stay at Rhodes he return'd him thanks several times and as a testimony of his gratitude he caus'd three Authentick Acts to be forthwith made ready which he put into the Grand Master's hands The first was an absolute power for him to conclude a Peace with the Port as he should see good The second was a kind of a Manifesto for the discharge of the Knights by which the Prince declar'd that he had earnestly desir'd to go out of Rhodes and to be conducted into France which is alone enough to justifie the Grand Master whom some ill-meaning or ill-inform'd people have blam'd for letting the Prince go The third Act was a perpetual confederation of the Prince with the Order in case he should ever come to be restor'd to the Dominions and Territories of his Ancestors This last Act is so much for the honour of the Grand Master and so highly manifests the acknowledgment of Zizim that I thought it might not be troublesom to the Reader to see it Let all the world know that King Zizim of the Race of the Ottomans Son of the invincible Mahomet King of Kings and Soveraign Emperour of Greece and Asia is infinitely beholding to the thrice generous and thrice illustrious the Lord Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master of Rhodes Let all the world also know that for the kind Offices he hath shewn me in the most perilous adventures of my life and to testifie my acknowledgment as far as the present condition of my fortune will give me leave I promise solemnly to God and our Great Prophet that if I ever recover either absolutely or in part the Imperial Crown of my Father I promise I say and swear to hold a perpetual friendship and inviolable peace with the Grand Master and his successours according to the Articles following In the first place I engage my self my children and the children of my children to have an eternal kindness for the order of St. John of Jerusalem so that neither I nor my children shall do them any injury either by Sea or Land That we will be so far from stopping the Vessels or disturbing the commerce of the Merchants of Rhodes or of any other Ilands appertaining to the Order that our ports shall be free to them in all the Provinces under our obedience as if they themselves were our subjects or rather we will entertain them as our friends permitting them to buy sell or transport what Merchandize they please without paying any custom or duty Besides this I consent that the Grand Master shall every year take out of my Territories three hundred Christians of both sexes and at what age he pleases to put into the Islands of the order or to do with them what he thinkes best And in some measure to make satisfaction for the expences which the Grand Master has bin at and every day so liberally allows for my sake I oblige my self to pay in ready mony a hundred and fifty thousand Crowns in Gold Lastly I promise upon oath to restore him all the Isles all the Lands and all the Fortresses which the Ottoman Emperours have taken from the order And for a testimony that this is my will I have sign'd with my hand and seald with my seal this present Act given at Rhodes in the palace of the French Apartiment the fift of the month Regeb the year of the Hegira 887. The 31. Of August in the Year of grace 1482. The third of September which was the day that the Prince took shipping he was attended to the Sea with the same Pomp and the same ceremonie with which he was receiv'd He took his leave of the principal Knights after a most obliging manner wherin there appear'd nothing of Barbarism He also laid aside all his haughtiness when he gave the Grand Master his last farewel For it is reported that he threw himself at his feet and kiss'd his hand with a profound respect The Grand Master tenderly embrac'd him and wept for some time over him either
through compassion or through some secret dictate that he should never see him again The Knight de Blanchefort who was return'd to Rhodes since the raising of the seige the Knight de Rochechenard had order to conduct the Sultan into France not to mention the Knights who were nam'd to accompany him and to serve him as a convoy but they enter'd all together with Zizim into the great ship of the order and set saile the same day with a favourable wind The Grand Master who had already given advice to the Pope of the arrival of the Ottoman Prince gave him also notice of his departure by this opportunity and sent him word in particular that Zizim of his own accord had made choice of France for the security of his life that he had good ground for his fears in regard that for the forty dayes that he had stay'd in Rhodes he was certainly enformd that the Grand signiour had us'd all his endeavours either to take or murder him The departure of the Prince did not work that ill effect which some were afraid of For though Bajazet was soon inform'd of what had pass'd yet he desir'd peace with the same earnestness as before because he always lookt upon the Grand Master as the Arbiter of the Sultan his Brothers fortune So that the Embassadours that departed for Constantinople the next day after Prince Zizim was gon were honourably receiv'd by the Grand Signiour and the peace had bin presently concluded had not the pride of Achmat put a stop to it This Basha equally proud cuning who in his letters had given a blank paper to the Grand Master could not endure that the first proposition which the Embassadours made should be that no mention should be made of Tribute He brake forth upon that subject with a haughtiness which made him almost forget the respect to the sacred Persons of the Ministers of Soveraign Princes The Knight Guy de Mont Amaud who was one of the Embassadours and who in his instructions had express order to bear up briskly against the Basha took him up short and spoke to him with that sharpness that had absolutely broke off the Negotiation if Misach Paleologus who was at the conference had not allay'd their passions After the death of Mahomet he was returned to the port and had gain'd the favour of Bajazet by espousing his Interest He well acquainted with the humour of the Knights and having prov'd to his cost the constancy of the Grand Master knew it was in vain for Achmat to contend so obstinately upon the point of tribute and told him his reasons breifly though in the Turkish language that the Embassadours might not understand him The Knight Leonard Duprat who was the other Embassadour and understood Turkish understanding the Basha's discourse and repeating it in French to the Knight de Mont Amaud was the occasion that both standing stifly to their principles Achmats heat began to cool so that of himself he began to give way to their demands Bajazet promised not only to live in good amity with the Knights of Rhodes but not to trouble the rest of the Christians The Grand Master undertook for his part to keep Zizim always in the power of the Knigths and to endeavour all he could that the Sultan should not fall into the hands of any Prince either Christian or Infidel Upon this the peace was concluded according to the Articles which the Embassadours propos'd and it may be said that never was any Accommodation made with the Port either more honourable or more profitable to Christendom That which was most remarkable and extraordinary was that Bajazet engag'd himself either through weakness or Policie to pay the Grand Master a kind of Tribute To this purpose he sent to Rhodes Cagritaim his principal favourite and the two Knights bestirrd themselves so well that they carry'd him along with them upon their return Cagritaim declar'd in full councel that the Port would pay to the order thirty five thousand Duckets money of Venice for the subsistence of Zizim and besides that the Grand Signiour would pay every year to the Grand Master in particular ten thousand Duckets to make him amends in some measure for the excessive charges he had bin at in the last war Achmat who was the proudest person in the world and one that mortally hated the Christians especially the Grand Master and the Knights could not brook this condesciention in the Grand Signor He accus'd him of lowness of Spirit and cowardice he murmur'd in publick and made sharpe scoffs upon it Bajazet who for some time before began to grow jealous of the Basha as of a person that did not love any thing more then war and was therefore likely to take Zizims part took these murmuors and rebukes for the symptomes of a revolt And believ'd that only the death of such a dangerous enemy could break his designs True it is that he owd to him for the Crown but usually great benefits are look'd upon as crimes weak Princes often find their safety in the destruction of those that rais'd them and are able to pull them down again So soon as the peace was concluded between the Knights and the Turkes the Grand Signiour put to death this famous Basha at a Magnificent feast where were all the grandees of the Port and where Bajazet was present himself The discourse of the table falling upon the Peace and Zizim Bajazet to provoke Achmat and to engage him to speak somthing to be layd hold on publickly declar'd that he would lessen the Souldiers pay and deprive the Grandees of the port of their emploiments that were not loyal to their lawful Prince The Basha who well understood that those words concern'd him presently took fire and went so high in the heat of the debauchery as to tell the Grand Signor that it was but an ill way to establish a throne to provoke the Souldiery and that the Ottom in Monarcks were not assur'd of their Empires so long as they had Brothers alive He had no sooner spoke the words but a mute instructed before gave him six stabs with a poignard Others say that after the feast was over Bajazet who loved wine kept Achmat to drink with him alone under pretence of friendship and that seeing him half drunk he commanded two Eunuches to strangle him However it were Cagritaim succeeded at the Port in his place though he had neither the merit nor experience but he knew perfectly how to humour Bajazet who only minded â—ase In the mean while the Grand Master who made little accompt of the friendship of the Infidels of whose perfidiousness he had a thousand times experienc'd and for that the person of Zizim seem very proper for him to make use of in case of a rupture he apply'd himself wholly to make a league between the Christian Princes against the common enemy He wrought several Letters to them he sent them perticular Agents to let them
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
wisest of the Company had not adviz'd them to have recourse to the Grand Master There upon they earnestly besought him to be their protectour at such a time of calamity wherein only his authority could save them The Grand Master hated too much injustice and violence to suffer the oppression of a poor people that were altogether Innocent and were not in a condition to defend themselves Thereupon he wrote to the Port and did it so effectually that Bajazet cancell'd the Judgment and remitted the Tax which himself had impos'd Cardinal Paul Fregosa Duke of Genoa immediately return'd thanks to the Grand Master in a very civil Letter But the Lords Monesi who were the chief in Scio and happen'd to be at Genoa at the same time deputed Signior Lanfranco Patera a person of quality and merit to carry him a testimony of their Gratitude It was a Bason and Eure of Gold of exquisite workmanship on which these Latine words were graven Dominorum Chii Reverendissimo Petro D'Aubusson MAGNO MAGISTRO RHODI DE SE OPTIME MERITO DONVM Much about the same time the Grand Master receiv'd Intelligence of the death of Charlota de Lusignan Queen of Cyprus and Armenia This unfortunate Princess was constrain'd to quit Rhodes and travel to Rome as I have already said in the beginning of this History Pope Sixus the fourth receiv'd her magnificently and undertook her interest very zealously so that he perswaded the chief of the Island more then once to acknowledg her for their Soveraign Queen The Letters from his Holiness were read publickly at Nicosia before the Church of Santa Sophia and made so deep an Impression upon their spirits that the people took Arms ran in throngs to the Pallace and massacr'd the Uncles of Katherine Cornara who were accused to have poyson'd James of Lusignan her husband But the Venetians by whose authority Katherine raign'd or rather who rul'd under the name of Katherine appeas'd the sedition and quickly master'd it Charlota seeing that all the sollicitations of the Pope produc'd no good for her went to Lewis her husband in Piemont The Lord of Montjeu whom the Duke of Burgundy sent Embassadour to Venice gave a visit to Lewis and Charlota at Montcalier where they liv'd and promis'd them according to the Instructions he had receiv'd from his Master to represent their rights to the Senate But all his Remonstrances proving ineffectual the Princess return'd to Rome and there settl'd herself after the death of Lewis who piously ended his days in a kind of solitude whither he was retir'd She superviv'd him some years and during her widowhood she gave the Kingdom of Cyprus to Charles Duke of Savoy her Nephew to whom it otherwise belong'd by the articles of marriage between Charlota and Lewis This Donation was solemnly made to the procuratours of Charles of the number of which was the Admiral of Rhodes and by vertue of this Act it is that the Dukes of Savoy take upon them the Title of Kings and pretend to the Kingdom of Cyprus The news of her death sensibly greiv'd the Grand Master who had always lookt upon her as one of the most accomplish'd Princesses of the world In the mean time the Emperour of the Turks having rais'd a numerous Army and made himself Master almost without any trouble of those Provinces that were left the Grand Caraman he turn'd his Arms against Syria and Egypt incens'd at the Soldan for that he had with disdain deny'd him the wife and children of Zizim For how false soever he were in other respects he was faithful in that out of I know not what fantastick piece of honesty which shews us that men are sometimes contrary to themselves and that the wicked like mad men have their lucid Intervals Now though the preparations all over Turky seem'd only to bend against the Dominions of Cairbei yet the King of Hungary took the Alarum And as thunder when at first it begins to grumble in the clouds seems to threaten most they that hear it nearest this Prince probably thought the Tempest would fall upon him if he took not care in time to divert it Yet as great a Souldier and as a Potent as Matthias was he thought that the Grand Master would be a necessary assistance to him for which purpose he sent to him Pauli de Rhetas his Secretary and his favourite Rhetas declar'd at the first Audience which he had at Rhodes that the King of Hungary was resolv'd to make War against the Turks and in prosecution thereof neither to spare his treasure nor his life and therefore desir'd to joyn his Arms with those of the Knights of St. John but above all to follow the Counsels of the Grand Master in an enterprize of so much hazard and difficulty The Hungarian Embassadour likewise added that his Master had private correspondence with the Grandees of the Port that several Basha's had resolv'd to forsake Bajazet's Party so soon as Zizim should appear upon the Confines of Hungary and at the head of the Hungarian Troops That the interest of Christendom requir'd that he should send the Ottoman Prince in all haste and that it was a favour which a King illustrious for his piety and his valour requested from the most generous Knights in the world The Proposal of Rhetas seem'd rational to the Grand Master and his Council But there are certain nice conjunctures wherein the wifest of men cannot follow sometimes neither the common Rules of Prudence not their own particular Judgments Though to all outward appearances and upon a serious consideration of the bottom of things it had been but reason to have trusted Zizim with the King of Hungary yet the engagement which oblig'd the Grand Master to keep the Prince by vertue of the Treaty of Peace made with the Port according to the Prince's own desire and the fear of offending his Holiness were the cause that the Hungarian Embassadour could obtain no other answer then a handsom denial However the Grand Master wrote to the King and after he had insisted a while in particular upon the Advantage which Christendom might receive from the person of Zizim in case that Bajazet should make any attempt against the Treaty he told him that it being impossible for any War to be carried on against the Turk without a firm league between the Christian Princes it belonged to the common Pastor of the Church to assemble them together That such sort of enterprises seldom prosper'd unless upheld by the Authority of the Church and lastly that if the Ottoman Prince were to leave France he could be no where better then at Rome where he would be in the view of all Christendom neither too far off nor too near the Estates of the Grand Signior The Conquest which Bajazet had made of Caria and of other Provinces of the Grand Caraman made the Soldan to believe that after he had refus'd to Bajazet the Wife and Children of Zizim that he was certainly to expect
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 averr'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 antlent 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 had the Subjects any thing more to fear but onely the Rapines of certain Pirats that infested their Coasts the most famous was Don Diego Ordonna a Spaniard by Nation a person bold and daring of a savage humour and a bestial valour more barbarous than the Infidels cruising all Coasts with an Armed Caravel and acknowledging no Right but Force nor any God but Interest He had taken a little before certain Merchants Vessels within sight of Rhodes and his power at Sea was grown so formidable that the Ships of the Order durst hardly venture out of the Port. The Grand Master could not brook the Insolencies and Robberies of this Castilian Pirate And knowing
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 as privately as possibly he cou'd 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 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 bigness and that there was a stop upon 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 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
making toward them retir'd skirmishing under the English and Spanish Guns which then playing upon the Enemy made a dreadful havock among them in regard they came on so thick that it was impossible for a bullet to miss The Christians afterwards made some Sallies with like success but because some one or other still fell the Grand Master considering that the loss of one man was more to him then the loss of a hundred to the Enemy forbid any more Sallies to be made For it was observ'd that during the Siege the first Army was recruited with above a hundred thousand men which was an easie thing for them to do having the Land so near them to befriend them and such a number of Vessels every day ready at command The Salleys being over the Turks advanc'd their Trenches with more freedom So that they rais'd in several places above sixty Batteries chiefly against the Posts of England Provence Spain and Italy but the Artillery from the Town overthrew so many that only thirty four remain'd At that time arriv'd at Rhodes a Gentleman whose name was Gabriel Radin Martinengo a person well known for his skill in Fortifications whom Bozio had perswaded to leave Candy and come to the assistance of the Rhodians Him the Grand Master highly honour'd gave him the habit of the Order and permission to wear the Cross made him supernitendant over the Artillery with a promise of the first Vacancy that fell in the Italian Language honours which he highly deserv'd by carrying himself so nobly and vertuously all the time of the Siege Now that the Grand Master might set him at work he signifi'd his desire to know the condition of the Turkish Army and what they intended to do Whereupon a Mariner born in Trebizond then in the service of the Order took seven or eight young men of his acquaintance and having shav'd and clad themselves in Turkish Habit they took Melons Cowcumbers and other fruits and secretly embark'd themselves the next night and avoyding the Turkish Fleet made out to the Sea and so return'd by break of day in sight of Rhodes as if they had come from Turky From thence they made to the Cape which is nearest to Lycia where the Merchants met from all parts to sell Refreshments of all sorts to the Army There they put to sale their Melons and Cowcumbers and I rankly inquir'd what news of the Army The Turks who took them for natural Turks as willingly satisfy'd them and told them the whole condition of their Forces When they had sold all and understood all they made out to Sea again having receiv'd two Turks into their Vessel with much entreaty that were weary of an Army Life Those they bound hand and foot and brought along with them into Rhodes and presented to the Grand Master who order'd the Prior of St. Giles and Martinengo to examin them These two Turks being carry'd up to the steeple of St. John shew'd the Prior and Martinengo how the Quarters of the Turkish Army were dispos'd told them the Number of the Souldiers that Solyman himself was speedily expected that the Souldiers grew out of heart and mutined against their Commanders being weary of a war to which they cry'd they were lead as to a Slaughter House with many other things not believ'd at first as being thought to have bin spoken out of flattery or to procure good entertainment to themselves but which were indeed really true For Peri Basha observing a manifest and dangerous Mutiny in the Army dispatch'd away a Courrier to Solyman to give him Intelligence and to supplicate him to come in person forthwith that he might put a stop to the sedition by his presence and Authority Solyman flies through Asia the less with an incredible speed and embarking at Port Fisco arriv'd in Rhodes the 28th of July where he was receiv'd with great triumph and lodg'd himself four or five miles from the City at a place call'd Megalandra out of the reach of the Canon Solyman held a council and resolv'd upon a strict enquiry whence the Mutiny proceeded and a severe punishment of the Authors But Peri Basha by his grave remonstrances soon softned and appeas'd his wrath He laid before him that this mutiny rather proceeded from fear an apprehension of danger then from Malice or Rebellion and that therefore his Majesty might by his authority reduce them to their duty knowing that the Turks had the Ottoman name in so much Veneration that upon his appearance they would soon recollect themselves and return to their Obedience but that Rigour was now unseasonable especially against the old Souldiers without whose assistance he could never compass so great a design as the taking of Rhodes Solyman hearken'd to his advice assembled all the Army together made them lay down their Armes and prostrate themselves upon the Ground then sitting on a Royal Throne under a Rich Canopy turning his face this way and that way with a Majestick and stern Countenance He first accus'd their Infidelity hightn'd the injuries done by the Knights of Rhodes to his Subjects advanc'd his own power his Triumphs and his Victories upbraided the Old Souldiers of Ingratitude as having enrich'd themselves by his fortune in war of Cowardice to let such a handful of men make head against such a Potent and flourishing Army Lastly said he am not I here the Companion of your dangers Nor will I part from hence till I have them in my power I swear it by the holy head of divine Mahomet and if I fail may my Kingdomes and my house be ruin d and my own person perish eternally Go then and think of nothing else but what you are commanded Nor let any man distrust my clemency nor my word but build upon my Liberality For I am here the spectator and judge of your Valour your Merits Solyman had no sooner ended his Harangue but he withdrew into his Pavilion and commanded that the Souldiers should be all sworn anew to their Captaines And from that time it was that the Souldiers recover'd their courage became more obedient and deliberate and proceeded in all things with more order and conduct Now they continu'd their batteries more terribly then before They also play'd in three several places with two great brass-Cannons like Morter-Peices that carry'd marble-bullets of a prodigious weight and yet all the harm then to kill 25 men and the Chevalier Lyoncel that commanded the Bastion of Cosquin This battery they left off by the advice of the Jewish Physitian who gave them notice how little good it had done After the Turks made it their business to advance their trenches and to fill up the moats with Earth and though the Artillery of the Christians continually fir'd upon them nevertheless they gave not over their work till they had finish'd a great battery between the Spanish and Auvergnian Post and another against that of Italy and there they lodg'd their Cannon that play'd upon the besieg'd
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 Barbacan 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 himself 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 overwhelm'd with grief and vexation gave his 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 promises of his Majesty 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 the Moat of the Spanish Post where 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 accompani'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 Reynald Annal Ecclesiae An. 1495. * Fast fourty days and be whipt twice a week before the High Altar Anno 1503. Sept. 11. 1421.