after an extraordinary manner either because the Court had a great esteem for him or because they had a design to keep him in delay He saw through the gentleness and caresses which he receiv'd which way the Court stood affected toward the Holy-war The King would not undertake it by any means whether he thought his Kingdom too much exhausted to defray the expence of a war that might prove of a long continuance or whether he minded nothing but his Repose after his past toiles or that the Charms of the fair Agnes had cool'd his zeal which he formerly had for the interest of the Church or whether it were that he would not submit to the inclinations of his Son who was retir'd male-content to Philip Duke of Burgundie the most zealous of all the Christian Princes and one that had declar'd himself so much an enemy of the Turk that he solemnly swore to make war upon them The Cardinal Legate who was a Frenchman and very understanding ing in affairs appli'd himself wholly to effect this Negotiation After many Conferences in vain with the publick Ministers he treated at last in particular with the King not being able to obtain any thing Calistus being advertis'd of the Kings disposition writ to him very sharp Letters threatning him at length with the Thunderbolts of Rome and the Malediction of Heaven if he refus'd the holy League Those Letters wrought no effect if they did not make it worse The King was incens'd at the Popes threats and not perswaded by his reasons In such a ticklish conjuncture there appear'd no probability of hopes for the Commander D'Aubusson However he ceas'd not to act and in regard that besides the character of an Embassador he had other good qualities which made him esteem'd by the King and his Ministers he was heard more favourably then the Legate He represented at first that Christendom was never in more eminent danger and that there was nothing which we had not to fear if the Progress of the Infidels were not quickly stopp'd that Mahomet since the taking of Constantinople aim'd at nothing but Rome that he was fall'n into Hungaria to enter into Germany with a purpose to make his way that way into Italy That it was one of his maxims that as there is but one God in Heaven so there could not be but one Monarch upon Earth That he had been constrain'd to raise his siege before Belgrade because he had not taken the right course and for that he had been wounded himself but that his misfortune had no way disincourag'd him that he was one of those great men that make the best advantage of their errors and misfortunes or rather that he was like the fiercer sort of Beasts who when they have receiv'd a wound and feel their blood begin to flow are never more furious till then That since his ill success in Hungary he had drawn to his side the Soldan of Egypt the Caraman and the Tartar and that he would return with fresh forces to the siege of the Belgrade and that his Generals who had tak'n almost all the Isles in the Archipelago would soon powre their fury upon Rhodes In short that those two Ramparts of Christendom being forc'd not any of the Dominions of the Christian Princes could be safe either by Sea or Land Aubusson afterwards represented to the King that being the eldest Son the Church he could not forsake their interest without dishonour to himself That as for the transportment of the Pope it was but a transportment of zeal and that his good intentions deserv'd the pardon of a few sharp expressions He added at length that because there were in Rhodes more Knights of the French then of any other Nations in the world the Monarch of France could not in justice dispence with succouring the Island at a time when it lay only in his power to do it That Alphonsus King of Aragon so wise and so brave before he came into Italy was not only effeminated by the delights of Naples but embroyl'd with Pope Calixtus who though a native of Arragon had refus'd to give him the investiture of the Kingdom of Sicily and to assure the succession to Ferdinand his natural son That Henry King of Castile as poor spirited and more vitious then his Father had business at home and abroad and that his Rebellious subjects found him as much work as the Moors of Granada his Neighbours and Enemies Thas Henry of England was not Master at home and that the Duke of York who had usurp'd the Government minded nothing but to sustain himself against his Rivals That the Emperor Frederick liv'd an idle life minding neither his own honor nor the safety of Christendom That besides the war grew hot between the Empire and Hungary and that Ladislaus at the same time was to make head against the Emperor and the Turk That civil dissentions turmoyl'd all Italy and that the Kingdoms of Sweedland Danemark were full of troubles Christiern had been set up in the place of Charles whose irregularities and crimes had render'd him unworthy of the Crown That Alphonso King of Portugal quiet enough at home wanted not a good will but that all he could do was but very little if a Prince more potent then himself did not assist him That thus France being the only Kingdom in Europe that enjoy'd a true peace it was only from France that they could expect relief sufficient to ruine the designes of the Port and for that reason parhaps it was that Heaven had freed it from the power of the English All these reasons propounded after a smart and insinuating manner made a deep impression upon Charles's thoughts That Prince who was so averse before to the holy-Holy-war began to desire it and awaking from the profound sleep wherein his pleasures had lull'd him he only follow'd the motions of his Piety and Courage He gave liberty to Cardinal D'Avignon to leavy a tenth upon the Clergy to defray the expence of the war he entred into a League against Mahomet with Hungarie and that there might be no question of his faithful inclinations he confirm'd the League by the marriage of Magdalene of France his Daughter with King ' Ladislaus As for the Knights he promis'd them all assistance and immediately caus'd sixtie thousand Crowns in Gold to be paid to the Embassador of Rhodes Aubusson lay'd out that mony for provisions of war according to the orders he receiv'd and freighted away Ships laden with Canon Armes Powder and Lead Then he departed himself after he had collected most of the money which was due to the Order in several parts of Europe The success of the Embassie and the Letter which he presented to the Grand-Master from the King of France made him to be acceptably receiv'd by the Knights and all the people The Letter was very generous and very obliging For the King after he had only spok'n a word or two touching the gratifying of their desires
all things before the marriage of the Princess Charlota and was afterwards in little esteem reveng'd the Queen's and her own disgrace by poysoning the Duke of Conimbria She had a Son whom she passionately lov'd and whom during her grandeur she had made a kind of absolute Minister of State The death of the Prince restor'd to the Mother and the Son the authority which they had lost But as persons of mean Birth usually forget themselves when rais'd above themselves the insolence of the one and the other was so excessive that they us'd the Dutchess most contemptuously Charlota deeply resented both the death of her Husband and the scorns put upon her when she was a Widow She complain'd to her Brother James de Lusignan and her Complaints were not in vain for this natural Son of the King equally cruel and ambitious kill'd with his own hand the Nurses Son not so much to satisfie his Sister as to govern in his room and to open to himself by that means a way to the Throne The Queen who tenderly lov'd her Nurse could not be brought to pardon James whom she mortally hated besides so that to avoid the anger of a Woman a Queen and a Mother-in-Law he was forc'd to conceal himself in the Venetian Consuls House and at length to quit the Kingdom In the mean while the Dutchess of Conimbria who was in the flower of her age and in the full splendor of her beauty was remarried with Lewis Son to the Duke of Savoy Soon after this marriage the King and the Queen dy'd The King by his Will declar'd Charlota his only Heir But the natural Son whom ambition blinded had no regard either to the Laws of Nature or the last words of a dying Prince He made War upon his Sister and his brother-in-Brother-in-Law by the assistance of the Soldan of Egypt who rather chose to have a Grecian Prince his Tributary then any other Marc Cornaro a Gentleman of Venice who liv'd at Nicossa and was very rich did not a little help the Bastard to make himself Master of the Isle and usurp the Crown The Usurper therefore to acknowledge his services and to fix the Venetians at the same time to his interests espoused Katharine the Daughter of Carnaro after the Commonwealth had adopted her But this new Dominion was too unjust to endure long or happy The Uncles of Katharine who shar'd in the Government poyson'd the King of Cyprus with a design to raign themselves And it was in favour of his Widow that Michael Salamon came to Rhodes on the behalf of General Loredano who was gone to Cyprus to restore Katharine to the possession of her Kingdom The Venetian Ambassadors deliver'd a Letter to the Grand Master from the Duke of Venice full of reproaching and menacing Language Afterwards he himself declar'd with much haughtiness that since the Common-wealth had adopted Katharine Cornara that it was an injury done to the Venetians to favour Rebels that caball'd against a Daughter of St. Mark and their lawful Queen So proud and surly an Embassy no way pleas'd the Grand Master however he thought it not convenient to provoke the Venetians by too severe an answer at a time when the order had their hands full Nor could he stoop to qualify them with an answer too much beneath himself And therefore he answer'd with a Gentility and sowreness mix'd both together that the Knights of St. John neither meddl'd with the differences in the Kingdom of Cyprus nor would they suffer any Traitors in Rhodes but that the Island being a free Island they denied admittance to no Christians who desir'd to live among them like Christians Salamon was not satisfy'd with the Grand Masters answer and Loredano less He thought his own presence would do more then his Embassador for which reason he hastens away to Rhodes When his Gallies enter'd the Port the Master sent four of the Grand Crosses to congratulate his arrival and to present him with all sorts of fresh Victuals but being informed of the occasion of his coming he sent to tell him plainly that he could make him no other answer then what he had already given him That concise Declaration caus'd the General to understand that his Voyage was lost so that without considering any farther with himself or so much as setting foot ashore he return'd with all the choler that could inspire a fierce and daring person for having tak'n so much pains so little to the purpose The haughtiness of the Venetians was not the only cause of the ill success of their Embassie The kindness which the Grand Master had for Charlota de Lusignan had a deep share therein Though the Knights of St. John had never openly declar'd for Katherine Cornara nor were willing to contest with the Venetians about their affair certain it is that in their hearts they were all for Charlota de Lusignan whether it were that they were satisfy'd in the Justice of her cause or that the compassion which they took upon her misfortunes caus'd them to embrace her interests or whether it were that the most of them were taken with the Charms of her beauty They had seen her several times at Rhodes she was as yet young enough for her misfortunes had not defac'd her beauty nor depriv'd her of her natural gayity of humour She spoke very pleasingly and readily according to the natural Genius of the Greeks she drest her self after the French mode and her disposition her air and manners plainly shewed her to be of Royal Extraction The Grand Master had always admir'd in the person of Charlota besides the graces of her body and mind a prudence that exceeded age and a constancy above all her sex But the chiefest motive was that she had put her self under the protection of the Knights and for that she had already receiv'd all the assisting kindnesses that she could in reason expect Her acknowledgment also oblig'd them to shew her new marks of their esteem and affection For she publickly declared that she had been more oblig'd to the Knights of Rhodes then to all her nearest Relations and because the Commonwealth had adopted her Enemy she was wont pleasently to say that if Katharine Cornara were the Daughter of St. Mark of Venice Charlota de Lusignan was the Daughter of St. John of Jerusalem But perhaps the great esteem they had for Lewis of Savoy her husband contributed more then any other reason to make the Grand Master and Knights favourable to her interests They were all perswaded that the order of St. John were beholding for their preservation to the house of Savoy and it was a common opinion among them that Amadeus the fifth surnam'd the Great coming to the relief of Rhodes and having constrain'd Ottoman to raise his Seige took for his impress these four Letters F. E. R. T. that is Fortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit his Fortitude kept Rhodes And that in his arms he chang'd the Eagle of Savoy into the
to Sigismund touching the Valour of the young French Gentleman engag'd that Prince to give him publick marks of his esteem and acknowledgment But Aubusson not only attracted the praises and favours of the Emperour by his first exploits in War for he also gain'd his good will and kindness by his carriage near his person and the care which he took to please him Sigismund was endu'd with all the noble Qualities of a great Prince Besides that he was valiant wise religious he lov'd Learning in particular and had a great value for learned men whom he preferr'd upon all occasions before persons that had nothing to recommend them but their Birth He was himself learned perfectly well read in History He understood and spoke the Latine tongue as he made it appear at the Council of Constance by the testimony of Gerson Chancellour of the University of Paris who was present there and was charm'd with the last speech of that Prince For that reason he could not endure ignorance in his Courtiers and would say sometimes that he was asham'd of the Electors who had not the least tincture of Learning Though Aubusson were endu'd with a Martial soul and that the love of war overswayd his Inclinations yet had he a disposition and a Genious for Learning He had a quick and piercing wit a happy memory and a solid judgment So that it was no difficult thing for him to conform himself to the humour of the Emperor having in a short time fitted himself for all manner of addresses After he had study'd the languages as much as was requisite for a Souldier to know he apply'd himself to the understanding of all the noble sciences He learnt the Mapps the Mathematicks and above all the rest that part with concernes the Art of war But History was his Principal studie He made a kind of business Exercise of it reading more to instruct then divert himself For he was not contented to charge his memory with great names and strange Accidents as many do that read but he still made Judicious reflections upon what he read proposing to himself as examples to follow the actions of men Illustrious Above all things he examin'd the lives of great men and making advantage of their Vices as well as of their Vertues he became a Master to himself for the governing his own Manners Whatever love he had for reading and what ever pleasure he took in it yet he study'd the world more then books and above all the world and all books the Emperor As he had a free access to his person and was with him every day he was able to observe nere at hand his Maximes his words his actions and all his behaviour But among all the Vertues of Sigismund he was taken with none more then his Zeal for the Christian Faith of which he shew'd so many real marks not only in the Councils which he upheld by his authority and presence but also by the wars which he undertook against the Infidels Thus the Court which is usually the corrupter of youth was to Aubusson a school of wisdom and vertue Where besides the love which it taught him to have for learning and to make a sound judgment of things he acquir'd Integrity and became a man of Vertue and Repute With such noble Inclinations as these he might easily pretend to great employments in a Court where Justice was done to merit And certainly he had attain'd thereto as much a stranger as he was had not his Fortunes been overturnd by the Death of the Emperor Albert Duke of Austria who succeeded Sigismund had not for Aubusson those kind thoughts as his predecessors Whether it were that he did not naturally love the French or whether the Favors of the deceas'd Emperour provok'd his hatred of a stranger Aubusson quickly percev'd that the Emperor had got a new Master and that the best course that he could take was to be gone But though that Consideration might not have prevail'd with him to quit Germany yet his duty would have oblig'd to return to France The Treaty at Arras for the accommodation between the two Kings of England and France not taking effect as it was hop'd the War broke out again between the two Kings So that there happ'nd divers sieges and divers fights with more heat and animosity then ever The English made great spoil in the Provinces of which they were not Masters and the French divided among themselves committed as great violences every where so that what between a Forraign and a Civil War joyn'd together the whole Kingdom was full of confusion and horrour This was the stare of the Affairs of France when Sigismund di'd and that Aubusson forsook Germany to come and serve his own Country John D'Aubusson Lord of Born his Cousin-German and Chamberlain to Charles the seventh brought him to Court So soon as he came there his proper person his sparkling countenance his noble Air attracted the eyes of all upon him but his prudent and honest carriage his wit his politeness his pleasant conversation gain'd almost the hearts of every one In regard he was of the County of Marche and younger Son of the Vicounts of that County the Count of Marche Governour of the Dolphin shew'd him great respect and did him the honour to be his Patron This Relation which Aubusson had to the Count gave him opportunity often to wait upon the Dolphin who was almost of Age. He obtain'd his love being so happy as to share in the exercises and divertisements of the Prince He had also the good fortune to please Charles the seventh who saw in him at first sight something that was great and not common But it was not long ere 〈◊〉 shew'd by his actions that what we conceiv'd of him was not without good ground He signaliz'd himself in a high measure at Montereau Faut-yone whither he attended the Dolphin who commanded at the Siege The King who had been himself a witness of the valour of Aubusson when he carry'd the City by Assault making his entry a little while after into Paris commanded his attendance upon him to Court with the chief of his Nobility This Entry was one of the most magnificent that ever was made And it may be truly said to be the first day that Charles began to reascend his Throne Several Cities follow'd the example of the Capital and those that stood out were for the most part reduc'd by force Aubusson every where gave signal marks of his Courage but upon one occasion he made it apparent that a young Warriour might be as well prudent as cunning At what time the power of the English abated in the Kingdom that of the fair Agnes increas'd at Court. As she was wonderfully charming and one that understood better then any woman of her sex how to govern her Lovers she obtain'd in a short while an absolute Dominion over the King But according to the custom of women whose credit arises from their
Beauty she made but an ill use of the Kings Favours The Dolphin who was not naturally very docible could not endure a haughty and imperious woman who had but little respect for him On the other side the great Authority of Charles of Anjou Brother to the King of Sicily offended him extreamly He took it ill that a Prince for whom he had no kindness should have so great a share in the confidence of his Father So that the Favorite was no less a trouble to him then the Mistress But that which vex'd him most of all was that after the taking of Montereau where he fought so well against the English that in Courtship they applauded him for it before the King he had but a bad reception from his Father instead of the thanks which he expected For the King perceiving that this first Essay had puft up the mind of his son he return'd him under the Discipline of his Goverment and remov'd him also from the Court Whether he were jealous of a valour that made such a noise in the world or whether understanding the bad disposition of the Dolphin he thought this first success of his might transport him too far if he did not take care to curb him The Dolphin dissembl'd his dissatisfaction for some time but a young Prince once provok'd whose passions are violent and who never wants bad counsel is soon aweary of counterfeiting And therefore to revenge himself like the Son of a King he went and put himself at the head of the Rebellious Nobility The Count of Marche to whom the revolt of his disciple was no small dishonour omitted nothing that might reduce him to his duty Besides what he did himself he made use of the management of Aubusson whom the Prince lov'd and who had found a means to preserve his favour without confederating in the revolt Certain it is that the Dolphin was of a jealous ticklish disposition not easie to manage and one of those who are of that head strong obstinate humour that they are seldom to be recover'd when they have once fix'd upon their party But Aubusson knew him very well and understood which way to take him For he had those sweet and insinuating charms which are not incompatible with a fierce and fiery Disposition But above all he had a natural Eloquence that always wrought it's Effect and which perswades so much the more by how much it is the less distrusted So that he had not much to do to make the Prince list'n to reason He so dextrously mannag'd his passions and mollify'd him in such sort by degrees that when the Count of Eu came afterwards to treat with him on the Kings behalf he found him altogether enclin'd to lay down his Armes and beg pardon The King was so satisfy'd with Aubussons address upon this occasion that he employ'd him in other Negotiations of concernment In all which he so behav'd himself that Charles the fifth highly applauded the sharpness of his wit Insomuch that one day speaking of Aubusson he said it was a hard matter to find so much fire and so much prudence both together After the Princes were come to an accommodation the War grew very warm between the French and English and much blood was shed on both sides But the truces that were afterwards made chang'd the whole face of affairs France began to breath a more quiet Aire and the pleasures which afterwards succeded the Toyles of war had perhaps effeminated the hearts of the souldiers if their Marches into Lorrain and Germany had not found them work Rene of Anjou King of Sicily and Duke of Lorrain requested aid of Charles King of France his Brother in Law against some places in the Countrey of Messin that would not acknowledg his Iurisdiction Charles presently appeares before Nancy with a great Army of which one part went briskly to beseige Mets. The City defended it self with great courage and obstinacy Upon which the Dolphin with whom the tediousness of the seige did not agree found a fair occasion to satisfie his boyling and ambitious Humour The Emperor Frederick the third dissatisfi'd with the Swisses who pretended to have nothing to do with the House of Astria and who under that pretence affected a kind of Independencie not much differing from a Revolt invited France by the mediation of Sigismund Duke of Austria to come and defend the Rights of the Empire There needed no more encouragement for the Dolphin who had espoused the Sister of the Dutchess of Austria to enter Alsacia with an Army Aubusson was one of the young Lords that attended him and one who had the greatest share in the defeat of the Swisses near Basle But the Duke having reduc'd some places and cast a terror upon others march'd back again sooner then was expected Either because the Emperour unwilling to draw upon himself ill will for being the occasion of the war in some measure disown'd it or because the German Lord who had conducted the French Army into Switzerland and was to have been their guide through all the narrow and difficult streights of the Mountains being slain there was no safety in proceeding farther In the mean time the Affair of Mets being brought to an accommodation advantageous for the Beseigers and honourable for the Beseiged the Embassadors of the German Princes whom the Dolphins march had alarm'd came to demand a confirmation of the ancient Alliances between France and Germany Their demands were granted them and as there is a time when the Spirit of Peace is predominant the truce was prolong'd for five years between France and England The Court in such a quiet calm began to think of nothing but divertisement and the Marriage of Margaret Daughter of the King of Sicilie with Henry King of England occasion'd such extraordinary rejoycings that they had almost forgot their last troubles Never was a more beautiful Court nor a more numerous then that of Nancy For not to speak of the several Princes and Princesses that were of lesser dignity there were two Kings and three Queens beside The Earl of Suffolk who was sent to fetch the new Queen of England had with him the flower of the English Nobility Several daies were also spent in magnificent Turnaments where the King of France and the King of Sicily ran together But Aubusson soon grew weary of that which employ'd others so much to their delight Besides that he naturally lov'd war he had Principles of Piety which did not correspond with a lazie and voluptuous life On the other side the victories of John Hunniades and George Castriote which they had obtain'd against Amurat inspir'd him with a new zeal for Religion and the Cruelties which the Turks exercis'd against the Christians at the Battel of Varna awakn'd in him the hatred which he had conceiv'd against the Enemies of Jesus Christ He could not but with great grief of mind understand the report which ran at that time that Vladislaus King
and excus'd himself for not having done more at the present juncture frankly engag'd himself to give them farther assistance and assur'd them of his friendship in very civil and affectionate language which Kings were not wont to make use of But whatever obligation the Order had to Charles the seventh the Spanish Knights could not forbear to deal very rudely with the French Knights at a general Chapter held a little after the return of the Embassador and which was no less famous for the attempts of Hostile Nations or enemies of France then for the number of famous Commanders that were present So soon as the Chapter war open'd the Knight de Linian Procurator of the Spanish tongue stood up and said aloud that they ought not to proceed any farther without decreeing one Article which he ought to propose and which was very important the publick tranquility To which purpose he requir'd that all the dignities of the Order should be equal and that there should be no distinction of Languages nor of precedency nor in any other marks of Honour He was seconded in his proposal by the Knight de Rivalta Procurator of the Italian tongue and the Procurators all England and Germany But the French who had alwayes match'd before other Nations oppos'd with all their might the Proposal of Linian and above all the Commander D'Aubusson who held a considerable degree in the Assembly by vertue of his title of Constable of Rhodes and Procurator of the Grand-Master The zeal which he had for the Honour of his Country made him speak louder and more earnest then the rest To shew how unjust the Proposition of the Spaniards was he declar'd in few words that the French being the first Founders of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem deserv'd such honour as should distinguish them from other Languages that were associated with them and which they had adopted That those particular honours being the recompence of their vertue it would be injustice to deprive them of them That their Predecessors had peaceably enjoy'd them without being ever molested or oppos'd That antiquity of Possession was a good Title for precedencie And that in a well regulated Constitution all Innovations were of dangerous consequence After all that it was not a time then to dispute of such matters and that they would incur the malediction of the Church according to the Popes Breif touching the celebration of the Chapter if they discours'd of any other matters then what concern'd the general good of Christendom The Spaniards and their accomplices often interrupted Aubusson and endeavour'd to carry by force what they could not obtain by justice But finding at length that the French party was the strongest and that they were not all hearkn'd to they flung out of the Assembly and afterwards departed the Town notwithstanding the prohibition of the Grand-Master so that this Affair which as the Spaniards pretended so much imported the publick tranquility was but a trick to divide and break up the Assembly But the Commander D'Aubusson had another occasion to stand up for the honour of France while he defended his own The news being brought to the Grand-Master that Mahomet was equipping out a great Fleet and that the Turks might attacque the Island of Rhodes the Knight Villemarin a Spaniard and a person of merit but ambitious and naturally turbulent propos'd in Council with much heat that he might immediately give order for all things necessary for the defence of the City and made a large recital of what was needful with all the marks of a sedulous care Aubusson who was Castellaine of the City and who besides that exercis'd the Command of Captain General in the absence of the Marshal of the Order fearing least Villamarin whose haughty and daring humour he knew should usurp the charge of Captain General answer'd him sternly that there was no want of power that he might set himself at rest for that and that he had nothing to do to intrude himself upon those duties that did not belong to him That it was the Captain General who was to take care for the security of the City That that employment anciently belong'd to the Auvergnon Tongue and that the Spanish Language bad nothing to do with it Villemarin made a semblance of submitting to his reasons and gave no reply at that time either to conceal his design or to give himself time to consider what he had to do But the next day having consulted the Knights of his own Nation which were return'd to Rhodes whose behaviour the Grand-Master had also pardon'd he appear'd at the head of them in Council and with an affected Air of modesty said that the Spanish Language did not pretend to the charge of Captain General but that he and all the rest of the Nation desir'd that they might have the opportunity to perform their duties to the utmost of their power as well as the French Aubusson who saw that this manner of proceeding was only a meer fetch and that the Spaniards under pretence of demanding the exercise of their duty had a design upon the Command it self repli'd with more sternness and vigour then before that the charge of Captain General was annexed to the dignity of Marshal of the Order that only belong'd to the Auvergnian Language of whom the Marshal was the chief to do the duties of it and that Spain had nothing to do to meddle with France as to that particular The Council adjudg'd that Villemarin's wariness was without any ground and the Affair was decreed in favour of the French to the disgrace of the Spaniards who in vain protested against all that was done in regard that their Protests could not be Register'd Notwithstanding the advantage which France had in these Contests that hinder'd not but that Peter Raymund Zacosta a Castillian was chosen Grand-Master in the room of James de Milli who dy'd at that time the Spaniards were also divided into two Languages the one Arragonian the other Castillian in favour of the latter of which there was a new Dignity created under the of Chancellor of the Order Yet neither the credit which the Spaniards had with the new Grand-Master nor the animosities which they had conceiv'd against the French could hinder but that the Commander Aubusson had alwaies his share in the management of Affairs and was highly honour'd by the Chapter General which was held at Rome To understand this part of the History it is convenient to relate the reason which oblig'd the Grand-Master to pass into Italy with the principal Knights at a time when it was thought that they ought not to have been absent The Negotiation of the Embassador which Mahomet sent to Rome to treat of peace or rather to lull the Knights asleep while his Arms were employ'd in other places having not taken effect the Grand-Master thought it convenient to lay up a bank for the War and began to levy the Tax which had been impos'd upon
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
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
Enemy at his Gates And besides that his own Interest engag'd him to act he thought himself oblig'd in Honour to wipe off those reproaches which the death of Zizim had thrown upon him and to repair by some notable action what had been irregular in his Government Thereupon he undertook with all the heat imaginable to unite the Christian Princes that he might put a stop to the incursions of the Barbarians Nor was his diligence unsuccessful The Kings of Castile Portugal and Hungary declar'd themselves first of all Maximilian whom the Wars of Guelders and Switzerland had diverted from the Turkish War entred into this Holy League with Louis the 12th when their differences about Milan were ended by the Marriage of the King's Daughter with the Emperor's Son The Grand Master convinc'd more then ever of the Infidelity of the Grand Signior and not believing himself oblig'd to have any more respect for them who had no more for him Leagu'd himself with the Croisado'd Princes And now Forces are raising all over Europe Ships making ready Money gathering together in all places and the bloody Crosses that fell from Heaven in Germany which Maximilian himself saw seem'd to portend a happy success The Turks take the Alarm at these Prepartions and Prodigies though that which most affrighted them was the choice that was made of the Generalissimo of the League Alexander who among his wicked qualities had some good ones and who had a very ready wit bethought himself that to bring about so important an Expedition nothing could be more available then the choice of an Experienc'd Captain and such a one as should be acceptable to all the Princes He cast his eye upon the Grand Master D'Aubusson and propos'd him in a full Consistory after he had made him a large Encomium All the Cardinals applauded the Popes Proposition However Alexander before he made the Choice publick resolv'd to try the Inclination of the Grand Master To this end he wrote to him in a very obliging style nevertheless with a chargeable condition in his Brief that the Order during the time that the Grand Master should continue General should keep out at Sea four Galleys and four Barks well appointed for the Service of the League The Grand Master who lov'd to act at his own liberty ponder'd upon the Condition and it may be his modesty had made use of this pretence to rid himself of an Employment which he thought above him if the Council had not advis'd him to accept of the Condition at any rate whatever and that the Letters of several Cardinals his Friends had not at length brought him to an absolute determination Thereupon he wrote to his Holiness That with all acknowledgment and humble bashfulness he was willing to take upon him the Charge with which he was pleas'd to honour him And he sent a very ample Procuration as to this Affair to the Commander of Avignon then Vice-Procurator-General of the Order in the Court of Rome The Pope not doubting but that his Proposal would be as acceptable to the Princes as it was to the Cardinals gave them advice of his choice so soon as he had receiv'd the Grand Master's Answer All the Courts of Christendom applauded so wise a Choice and this one Action did Alexander so much honour that his Reputation was much repair'd thereby Thereupon before all the Ambassadors of the Confederate Princes he publickly declar'd the Grand Master D'Aubusson Captain-General of the Croisado After which his Holiness by a Solemn Brief fill'd with his Praises gave him information of it The Purport of the Brief was That the Princes had approv'd the Choice which he had made of his Person That they were very readily dispos'd to obey him and that his Experience Valour and Piety gave them confident hopes of Victory The Pope added That he was resolv'd to go to the War himself notwithstanding his Age resolv'd to partake with the Grand Master in all the Labours of a Christian Warfare and to lay down his life if occasion should be to render the Expedition successful He sent word That there were 15 Galleys which he had expressly caus'd to be made ready and that the Bishop of Tivoly had orders to send them away so soon as they were fitted out He also wrote him word that he had given notice to the Princes by their Ambassadors that his intention was that they and all their Forces should render to him the same Honour and the same Obedience as to the Head of the Church Exhorting him him at length to defend the Faith upon this occasion with the same Courage and Virtue with which alone he had defended it when he forc'd Mahomet to raise his Siege from before Rhodes Lewis the XII would not stay to acknowledge him till he was publickly proclaim'd at Rome but so soon as he understood the Pope's intentions he wrote to the Grand Master That being willing to contribute to the Successes of so noble an Expedition notwithstanding the Affairs he had in Italy he was setting forth a Navy Royal and that knowing his Prudence and long Experience in the Wars against the Turk he had order'd his Admiral Philip de Cleves Ruvesteine to follow his Counsels in all things and to Act by his Instructions The Praises and Applauses which the Pope and the King of France gave him did but re-double the zeal and diligence of the Grand Master So that being now acknowledg'd the Captain of such a famous Enterprize his whole study was how to bring it to good issue The Summer being now past and no Princes Fleet appearing or if they had appear'd the Season being now past for any considerable Action his first consideration was to settle a Bank for the paiment of such Forces as should arrive that they might not think of returning for want of Money For he knew well that onely Money could keep Souldiers together idle in the Levant To this purpose he sent to the Pope and the King of France intelligent Knights to let them understand that without that precaution there was nothing to be done against the Turk That if the Souldiers of the League came not forthwith they would not be in a condition for action the next Season and that if being once arriv'd they should return for want of subsistence the common Enemy would take advantage of their Retreat He let them further know That while the Forces of the Confederate Princes attack'd the Turk by Sea it was necessary that the King of Hungary should assail him by Land to make a diversion But in regard the safety of Christendom in some measure depended upon the safety of Rhodes he was of opinion that the Ships belonging to the Order should not distance themselves any farther then Cape Malio He also thought it necessary that the Fleet of the Confederate Princes should not come to Rhodes to spare them the labour of returning back to the Morea and Rhodes the inconvenience of being eaten out by so
So that in stead of marching against Ishmael he fled to the Mountains and abandon'd the Throne that belong'd to him to save his life Thus the Usurper became the Master and though all the Kingdom had not yet submitted to his Scepter he caus'd himself to be call'd King of Persia These Revolutions appear'd no way favourable to the King of Hungary nor to the intentions of the Grand Master There was no probability that Ishmael Sophi would engage in the Affairs of the League while Persia was not yet at Peace within it self and all those accidents were still to be fear'd that might ruine a new Dominion unjust and unsetl'd besides that the Successes of Ishmael naturally bred suspitions in the King of Caramania's breast Which reasons would not permit him to enterprize against the Turks when he had enough to do to secure himself at home Nor was the Soldan of Egypt in a better condition to favour the Princes of the Croisade for besides that he was embroil'd in the Domestick Dissentions of his own Court he fear'd the victorious Arms of Ishmael who by the advice giv'n him by Attula Turcoman threaten'd to begin his Conquests with those of Syria and Egypt when he had setl'd himself in Persia Nevertheless when the Grand Master better consider'd he bethought himself that the Troubles of Persia would be no way disadvantagious to the Enterprize of the Christians for that the Turk alarm'd with the Success of his Victorious Neighbour and Enemy would be oblig'd to keep very numerous Armies upon the Fronteers of Turky and that being thereby much weaken'd he might be the easier vanquish'd at home The noise of the League no less perplex'd Bajazet then the Revolutions of Persia Understanding therefote that the Grand Master was the Head and Soul of the Enterprize he be thought himself of dealing with him by the means of Sultan Corcut the best belov'd of all his Sons to whom he had giv'n the Government of Anatolia Corcut being well instructed by the Ministers of the Port what part he was to act sent very rich Presents to the Grand Master with a most obliging Letter wherein he requested his friendship and conjur'd him after a thousand offers of his services that they might live together in Amity and good Correspondence and that there might be a freedom of Trade between each others Subjects He added that his Father had given him all power in reference to a peace and that he was ready to do what ever the Knights desir'd But these fair words could not dazle the Grand Master He knew by the Turks themselves who were his Spies that the famous Pirate Camali who had fitted out several Vessels at Gallipoli for the service of Bajazet was just ready to set Sail out of the Straits with above fifty men of War to attack the Isles that belong'd to the Order So that without entring into any further Negotiation he frankly declar'd That being nominated General of the League by the Pope he could not forsake the Common Cause nor could hearken to any Peace which the Grand Seignior would not make with all the Princes of Christendom as well as with the Knights of Rhodes The Grand Master declar'd himself upon this point so much the more boldly because he knew that seven of the Popes Galleys were joyn'd to the Venetian Armado at the Island of Cerigo and that his Holiness was setting out thirteen more the care of which he had given to the Knight Fabricio de Caretta who was then at Genoa This news was brought to Rhodes by an Envoy of the Bishop of Baffo under whose Conduct the Galleys set Sail and who had also in Charge a Brief from the Pope to be deliver'd to the Grand Master This Brief contain'd many Applauses of the Grand Masters Actions and many Excuses of the Popes Neglect That he had the most sincere intentions in the world but that the misfortunes of the times would not suffer him to keep his word that he would repair what was past with advantage and send Twenty Galleys instead of Fifteen But to return to the Sophi He had no sooner establish'd his Throne partly by fair partly by foul means but he resolv'd to extend his Conquests Instead of advancing against Egypt as he intended he fell into Armenia with fourscore thousand fighting men drawn thither by the Neighbourhood and the hatred which he bore the Turks In this Expedition Ishmael soon mastered Armenia after he had cut in pieces above twenty thousand men Bajazet alarm'd by the Success of the Conqueror gather'd all his Forces together to defend himself but he could not believe himself able to resist so potent an Enemy while he was at odds with the Christians For that reason he made Propositions of Peace to the Grand Master and the Republick of Venice The Grand Master who had intelligence of every thing and in particular knew the Consternation of the Grand Signior fail'd not to give notice of it to the Pope that never a fairer opportunity offer'd it self to ruine the Common Enemy That Bajazet was oblig'd to go in Person against the Persian for want of a Basha experienc'd in Military Affairs in whom he could absolutely confide That the Sophi a liberal and affable Prince drew to his Party the Militia of the Grand Signior That there was no likelihood of any accord between Persia and Turky in regard a Conqueror hates nothing more then Peace Therefore he besought his Holiness not to neglect the opportunity that Providence presented But the Commotions in Italy render'd all these Remonstrances void For while the Turks and Persians make War one against another the French and Spaniards break the Peace which they had made They had contracted an Alliance against Frederick of Naples who succeeded Ferdinand his Nephew and had got possession of his Dominions by force of Arms. But Ambition soon divided them which it had united Lewis the XII and Ferdinand King of Castile became jealous each of other neither could endure a Competitor nor a Companion both of them claim the whole Kingdom which they had parted betwixt them And the differences of their Ministers touching the limits of their common Conquests serving for a pretence occasion'd a most bloody War that fill'd all Italy with horrour and confusion The Bishop of Baffo who had joyn'd himself with the Fleet of the Venetians had intelligence of the Rupture between the two Crowns at what time the Naval Army of the Venetians had taken the Island of Santa Maura from the Turk with the assistance of a Squadron of Knights which the Grand Master sent them and some Galleys of a French Captain call'd Pre' Jan de Bidoux a very understanding Seaman and a very stout Souldier Presently the Bishop gave a shrewd guess at the ill success of the League by the state of affairs in Italy and according to his Instructions he gave notice to the Grand Master That new divisions hinder'd his Holiness from being exact to his word
Additions to C. Ciaconius says That all was great in him his Wit his Courage and his Piety That being invested with the Sacred Purple he was never the more remiss in Military Duties and that he had perform'd at one time Actions worthy of a Holy Cardinal and a Generous Souldier The same Author adds That the Magnanimous D'Aubusson in all the Conduct of his Life had no other aim then onely the Glory of God and Honour of his Order That he govern'd his Subjects with as much Lenity as Justice and that his Paternal Goodness was principally eminent towards the Poor The Ecclesiastical History speaks of him as of a most admirable Person and one that merited all manner of Applause In short the History of the Knights of St. John extolls him above all the Grand Masters equals him to the Hero's of Antient times and propounds him as a Model to all the Princes of Christendom A CONTINUATION Of the HISTORY OF Rhodes Under the Government of Philip de Villiers Lisle Adam Containing the Siege of Solyman the Magnificent no less famous â—â—â—n that Mahomet the II. UPon the death of Peter D'Aubusson Emery D'Amboise Prior of France then absent was chosen in his place in whose time though Bajazet swore to besiege Rhodes with a puissant Army yet he attempted nothing He was a Prince vertuous valiant charitable and successful in his Enterpizes so that under his Government the Knights perform'd several notable Exploits to the honour of the Order and won among the rest that famous Victory at Sea from the Soldan of Egypt signaliz'd by the death of the Soldan's Nephew who commanded the Fleet. To Emery D'Amboise succeeded by a fair Election Guy de Blancefort Prior of Auvergne In his time Sultan Selim having caus'd his Father Bajazet to be strangl'd and put to death Achmac and Corcutt his two Brothers with their Wives and Children possess'd himself of the Empire wherein he was â—o sooner settl d but he design'd to lay siege to Rhodes The Report whereof alarum'd the Grand Master to make preparations for his defence wherein he proceeded as far as could be expected considering the short time of his Government for in less then a year he dy'd and left his place to be supply'd by the Admiral de Carretta who the first thing he did made a League with Ishmael Sophi the King of Persia against Selim. For understanding that the Turk still continu'd his vast preparations for War he thought it was but a piece of common Providence to provide for himself But the Storm fell upon the Soldan of Egypt who being overthrown in Battel lost all Syria together with his life in the first place and soon after his Successor having twice unfortunately fought Selim himself and being by him at length taken and hang'd upon one of the Gates of Caire lost all Egypt of which Selim made himself absolute Master But whether Selim intended any mischief against Rhodes or no his death hasten'd the fate of Rhodes for upon that the Empire fell to his Son Solymon the Magnificent the shock of whose fury and puissance upon the death of the Admiral Caretta Philip de Villiers Lisle Adam Prior of France was chosen to withstand being elected Grand Master the 22d of January 1521. whose deportment in so Grand a Siege would he too unkindly left out where D' Aubusson's Fame is so honourably expanded it being certain that never two Courages were better mated in story Never was a City more valiantly defended nor more valiantly lost And it is a question undetermin'd whether of the two got most Amurach by rising from it or Solyman by taking it while the one prudently sav'd the other became a meer prodigal of blood Philip de Villiers was absent at the time of his being elected and therefore Gabriel de Pomerols was chosen his Lieutenant till his arrival Which dignity while he executed he thought fit to send to the Pope a Model of the City of Rhodes that he might see how it was fortifi'd But that which might have prov'd of higher concern was the arrival of another Embassador from the Grand Sophi to continue that private correspondence which was begun with Carretta Unluckily he finds Carretta dead so that his Commission being at an end he went to visit Amurath the Son of Sultan Zelim in the behalf of the Sophi That young Prince was entertain'd by the Order at their own Expences in the Castle of Ferracla whither the Knights sent several Presents to the young Sultan that he might be able to gratifie the Embassador who soon after return'd home to his own Prince not so much as mentioning any thing of the business for which he was sent The Grand Master being in France at the time of his Election made all the haste he could to his charge departing from Marseilles in the Carrack of Rhodes together with four other hir'd Vessels But his Voyage seem'd to be somewhat inauspicious For one of the Vessels was split by the way and the great Carrack it self had like to have been burnt being all on fire through the carelesness of the Cook but was happily quench'd again through the industry and authority of the Grand Master More then this having past by Nice and Corsica a flash of lightning shot it self into the main Cabin of the Carrack and melted his Sword without hurting the Scabbard Which little accidents were by some interpreted as ill omens of the success of the Siege of the Rhodes that soon after happen'd Cortogoli also the Grand Turkish Pirate laid way to intercept the Grand Master with a great number of Gallys and Galeots partly out of hopes of booty partly to revenge the death of his Brothers which the Knights of Rhodes had slain and to set the third at liberty being then a slave in Rhodes However the Grand Master contrary to the advice and entreaties of the Knights and great Personages that attended him with full sails made the Cape of St. Angelo and in the might time pass'd the place where the Turks lay in wait for him and arriv'd safe in Rhodes Cortogoli mad that he had so miss'd his prey some time after enters into the Channel of Rhodes hoping by his unlookt for coming to find some opportunity to do mischief But being discover'd the Grand Master sent forth the Rhodian Fleet against him the sight whereof not only put him to flight but made him forsake a Vessel of Candia which he had almost taken While things were thus transacted at Rhodes Solyman being come to the Empire contrary to the Opinion of all men that he would be a peaceable Prince soon after displaying the inordinate Ambition of his Predecessors with a vast power of men besieg'd Belgrade in Hungary and took it This Victory swell'd him up so that burning with a desire to conquer Rhodes yet willing to conceal his design that he might the better make his preparations he sent an Embassador to the Grand Master to whom he deliver'd a
Letter written in the Greek Language wherein he magnifi'd the Grandeur of his Empire and his Victories highly extoll'd the Vertues of the Grand Master and offer'd him peace and friendship The Grand Master and those of the Council immediately understood the craft and fallacy of Solyman and that being young and full of Ambition his courage and deliberations tended to other designs then the Tenor of his Letter imply'd And therefore there was an Answer return'd him in the name of the Grand Master by which he plainly understood that he was discover'd that the Rhodians neither fear'd nor trusted him so that he was likely to find it afar more difficult task to conquer them then he had found at Belgrade Therefore he enter'd into several consultations about this Enterprize concerning which the most part of his Council laid before him the difficulties he would meet with and disswaded him from hazarding either his Forces or his Reputation upon an attempt so unlikely to succeed And indeed Mustapha Basha and Curtogoli were the only persons that fix'd him in his Resolution Among other things they represented to him that there was no other means for him peaceably to enjoy the Provinces of Egypt and Syria for that the shortest and only way for him to receive intelligence from thence and to send thither was cut off by the Knights of Rhodes who spread themselves upon those Seas and intercepted all his Vessels For which reason he was constrain'd to keep a Fleet alwaies out at Sea Besides that as long as those of the Order kept footing in Rhodes they would be continually animating and inciting the Christian Princes to make War upon him and to league themselves together for the Recovery of the holy Land He had found among the private Memoirs of Selim his Father that the onely way for him to secure his own affairs was to make himself Master of Belgrade and Rhodes by the scituation whereof the Christians had alwaies an opportunity to bring the War into the midst of his Territories He was also importun'd and press'd thereto by the complaints of the Inhabitants of Metelin Negropont Caramania the Morea and his new Subjects of Egypt and Syria who were perpetually alarum'd pillag'd and plunder'd by those of the Order He was also the more incited thereto by the opportunity which presented it self by reason of the Divisions and Wars between Charles the fifth and the King of France from whom all the main Succour must come which the Knights could expect and more then all this by the daily intelligence which he had receiv'd from a Jewish Physician whom Selim had sent to live in Rhodes for a Spy This Physician expert in his Art had perform'd many excellent Cures and by his officiousness and diligence toward all people had so insinuated himself into the acquaintance and favour of the Principal Knights of the Order that he easily div'd into their secrets and sent his Advices to a Greek of Scio who convey'd them to Constantinople Among other things he advertiz'd Solyman that there was a great part of the Wall thrown down near the Bulwark of Auvergne to be rebuilt according to the Design and Directions of the Engineers so that the City might be easily surpriz'd if his Fleet came in time to attacque it in that place But the best Intelligence that Solyman receiv'd was giv'n him by Andrew D'Amarall Prior of Castile and afterward Chancellor of the Order who bare in his mind a mortal hatred and enmity against the Grand Master ever since the difference that happen'd between them ever since the Battel of Layasso and against the Order it self for that notwithstanding all his underhand dealing for the Honour they had elected with an unanimous consent the Grand Master both for his merit and his vertues This venom of Ambition Malice and Revenge so strongly possess'd him and gain'd so far upon him as to make him resolve upon this hideous Act of Treason The day of the Election he was heard to say that this would be the last Grand Master of Rhodes And some daies before the Siege he wish'd his soul in the hands of the Devil so that Rhodes and the Order might be ruin'd He had in his service a Turkish slave of a quick and ready apprehension to whom he pretended to have giv'n his Liberty as being ransom'd This slave he sent to Constantinople with a particular and exact discovery of the State of the City of the Provisions and Ammunition therein and what Corn was wanting perswading the Great Turk to send his Fleet with all speed promising him a certain Victory and to give him all the Intelligence that should be requisite Solyman found this to be sound Intelligence knowing that Amaral was one of the Principal Knights and being of their Council knew whatever was decreed or voted for the defence of the City and sent back the slave laden with gifts and promises of future rewards Amaral entertain'd him pretending he had brought his Ransom This Action caus'd in many an extream dislike and a general suspition of him but by reason of his Dignity and Authority there were none that durst to speak their minds freely In the mean time Leo deceas'd after he had govern'd the Papacy eight years and Solyman made all his preparations 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