their preparation for the great struggle with the whole Turkish power which every one knew was rapidly approaching.

The Knights, however, exercised a noble revenge; for when, some time after, Negropont, a dependency of Venice, was attacked by the Turks, they immediately came to its aid.

Erizzo, the commander of the island, made a gallant defence; but, at last, being without food and ammunition, and most of his soldiers being wounded and disabled, he was forced to capitulate. He would not, however, do this till the Sultan had given his word of honour to spare his life. That prince swore by his own head that Erizzo's should not be touched; but no sooner did he get him into his power than he ordered him to be sawn in two, and, mixing raillery with cruelty, he said that he had indeed given Erizzo assurance for his head, but that he had never meant to spare his body.

The gallant Venetian had a beautiful daughter, and fearing a dreadful fate for her, entreated his executioners to put her to death before they despatched him; but they replied that she was reserved for the Sultan. They led her to him, and he was charmed with her beauty, and desired to add her to his harem, making rich presents and great promises to win her consent. But nothing could move her resolution; and Mahomet, more proud than sensual, cut off her head with one blow of his sword, thus fulfilling the wishes of the Christian maiden, who preferred death to dishonour and apostasy.

It would be difficult to describe the cruelties executed by the Turks after the taking of Negropont. The island, we are told, was covered with slaughter and horrors, and every species of violence and torture was inflicted upon the inhabitants without respect of sex or age till death released them from their miseries.

Such ever has been the treatment that the vanquished have received at the hands of the savage Turks from their first appearance as a military power even down to our own day. They never spare, they never change, they are never civilized. They are still the Asiatic barbarians they were at the beginning, and if ever they have power they can but destroy and lay waste.

It is a heavy debt of gratitude that Europe owes to the Knights of St. John, by whose persistent resistance and dogged courage the flood of Turkish desolation was held back so long, and who stood almost alone and single-handed, with bold front and unconquered spirit, when the princes of Christendom either basely gave way, or occupied themselves in selfish schemes, or miserable squabbles between themselves.

A touching incident is mentioned as occurring at this time, by one of the chroniclers of the Order.

The Turkish governor of Lycia came to Rhodes, offering to restore certain captive knights and other Christian prisoners on payment of a large sum of money. The Grand Master had good reason to suspect the motives of the Turk, having had sad experience

of the treachery and bad faith of his countrymen, and feared that the real object of his mission was either to obtain money by a pretended offer which would never be fulfilled, or to take an opportunity of acting the spy upon the fortifications of Rhodes, and so to obtain information which would be only too useful in the coming attack.

The negotiations were therefore protracted and carried on with extreme caution; but, ultimately, they were brought to a successful issue, and a number of knights and others were redeemed from the most miserable slavery.

A scene that moved the spectators even to tears occurred, when the captives were landed, worn and emaciated with ill-usage and starvation; bearing the marks of their chains, and the wounds and bruises of the cruel blows which they had receved, these soldiers of the noblest families in Europe could scarce believe their happiness in finding themselves once more free men and among friends and Christians.

It was enough for them that they enjoyed life and liberty, of both of which they had lost hope, but it was too much to be overwhelmed with the congratulations of friends, and the kindnesses of all classes who deemed it an honour to be allowed to minister to their necessities and supply their wants. They saluted the Grand Master as their father and saviour, while he replied, "It is to the Order, my friends, that you owe your thanks and gratitude, not to myself, and I only beg of you to make it a due return, by exerting your well-known valour against

the enterprises of Mahomet, who daily threatens us with a siege and extermination."

This was perfectly true, for the Order had spies at Constantinople, and even in the Sultan's palace itself, and the plans and preparations of the intended expedition were no secret.

It was known, too, to the Grand Master that the Venetians were secretly negotiating a treaty with the Turks for the protection of their commerce; that the Persians, who had for some time been the most successful opponents of the Turks, were no longer engaged in active hostilities; and that the princes of Europe were even tearing each other to pieces; he felt, therefore, that the time was drawing near when the Sultan would have leisure and opportunity to attack Rhodes, the one obstacle in his way to the conquest of Europe, and especially of Italy, which had long been the chief object of his ambition and covetousness.

CHAPTER IX.

Peter D'Aubusson Grand Master-His character and ability— Letter to the members of the Order-The Sultan's designs upon Rhodes-D'Aubusson's address to the knights--State of Rhodes -The Turkish expedition against the island.

"A true knight,

Nor yet mature, yet matchless; firm of word,
Speaking in deeds, and deedless in his tongue,
Not soon provoked; nor, being provoked, soon calmed;
His heart and hand both open, and both free."

SHAKESPEARE.

FOR some time past, preparations had been going on for the expected attack upon Rhodes; provisions, stores, and ammunition had been laid in in great abundance, and a general chapter of the Order was held to arrange all the details of the campaign.

The Grand Master, at this time, was Peter D'Aubusson, one of the greatest and most able of those who rose to that office during the history of the Order. He is said to have been a universal genius; a firstrate engineer; a practical chemist, manufacturing his own gunpowder; a brave soldier; a skilful general; an admirable financier; and, not least, a clever physician and surgeon in the wards of the hospitals of the Order.

He now issued a summons to all the houses of the Order throughout the world, commanding the knights, one and all, to repair to Rhodes, bringing with them money and supplies of all kinds.

G