Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/181

Rh acquiescence in his new scheme. A council held in Rhodes would be attended so largely by those whose attachments and interests would naturally dispose them to vote in favour of remaining in the island, that there would be but a slender prospect of carrying his point. He, on the other hand, trusted to find amongst the dignitaries of the Order resident in France a sufficient number more desirous of securing his favour than careful for the welfare of their own institution. He therefore summoned the chapter to assemble at Montpelier. Before the time of its meeting, however, had arrived, he determined to bring it still closer within the sphere of his influence, and altered its venue to Avignon.

The Pope had also changed his views as to the locality to which he contemplated transferring the convent. Instead of the shores of Asia Minor he now looked to the Morea as a more suitable and advantageous point of occupation. To this suggestion Heredia made no opposition. Provided the convent were removed from Rhodes, so that he might assume the government of the island, it mattered little to him where they established it. He therefore supported the new proposition with the same eagerness as he had shown towards the former one. The title to the Morea was at this time in dispute between James of Savoy and the emperor of Constantinople, but the greater part of it was in the actual possession of the Turks, who were advancing step by step towards its complete acquisition. In compliance with the desires of the Pope, negotiations were entered into with James of Savoy on the part of the chapter to treat for the allocation of a suitable residence for the convent. These negotiations were intentionally prolonged by every possible device, the project. of a residence in the Morea being as little to the taste of the fraternity as that in Asia Minor. The knot was eventually cut by the death of James of Savoy, which took place before anything definite was decided on; the design consequently fell to the ground, and became virtually abandoned.

It has already been mentioned that Peter de Cornillan, or Corneillan, a knight of Provence, and formerly grand-prior of St. Gilles, had been elected Grand-Master in place of Deodato de Gozon. This change had taken place in the year 1353, but Cornillan did not long enjoy his dignity, having died in