Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/142

116 direction, and leaving Syria on his right, entered a port in Asia Minor. All were now eager to learn their destination, but Fulk continued impenetrable in his reserve. To the members of his own Order only did he unfold his design, with the strictest injunctions to secrecy, for from them he felt sure not only of cheerful, but enthusiastic support. To the remainder of his force he still maintained the fiction of a Crusade, with the prospect of which it was his intention to blind them until the proper moment had arrived for throwing off the mask.

His immediate object in thus putting into port was the sending of an embassy to Constantinople, to demand from the emperor the sovereignty of Rhodes, as soon as he should have achieved its conquest, promising to furnish an annual contribution to the Greek empire both of men and money, should his request be granted. The authority of the emperor over Rhodes was at that time purely nominal, the reality having long since slipped from his grasp; still he declined to accede to this proposal. It is not improbable that he thought he would retain a better prospect of regaining possession of the island whilst it remained in the hands of the Saracen pirates, than could possibly be the case were it once to become the stronghold of the Order of St. John. This refusal on the part of the emperor having been fully anticipated by Fulk, had but little weight in dissuading him from his task, on the prompt execution of which he was more than ever intent. Whilst awaiting the answer from Constantinople, he had despatehed spies into Rhodes with the view of obtaining really accurate information with respect to the island. These spies had returned with such glowing accounts of its wealth and fertility, the beauty of its towns, the verdure of its fields, and the commodiousness of its harbours, that his impatient spirit yearned to hold within his grasp the possession of so lovely a spot.

Once more embarking his forces, he now at length revealed to them what he proposed as their real destination. The island was speedily sighted, and without allowing the inhabitants time to recover from the surprise and panic into which the sudden apparition of his fleet had thrown them, he made a descent