Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/219

Rh carrying his design into execution. Availing himself of the vast interest which his position had secured for him amongst the cardinals and others whose voices were likely to control the electors in their choice, he caused himself to be put in nomination. The council had so often felt the weight of his influence when exerted prejudicially to themselves, that they were not slow in realizing the policy of disarming such potent antagonism by linking his interests indissolubly with their own. It was universally admitted that he was at the time the most able man within the ranks of the fraternity, and had he not so often proved a bitter enemy to its interests, his election would have been unanimous; as matters stood, it was not till after a long and acrimonious discussion that his partisans were able to carry their point. Eventually they were successful, and Heredia found himself duly elected to the post he coveted, and to which it had hitherto appeared so improbable that he could ever attain.

It was at this time that Gregory carried into execution the project he had long entertained of restoring the seat of the papacy to Rome. A period of seventy years had now elapsed since Clement V. had removed it to Avignon, and Gregory began to perceive that unless some such measure wore speedily adopted, the allegiance of the City of the Seven Hills would in all probability be lost to the pontificate. The Pope was escorted on his voyage from Marseilles to Italy by the new Grand-Master, who had assembled a fleet of eight galleys for his own conveyance to Rhodes, and it is recorded that he steered with his own hands the galley in which his Holiness was embarked. In the Gulf of Lions they encountered a severe tempest, during which Heredia, in his novel capacity, displayed most excellent seamanship in extricating his vessel from peril. It is much to be doubted whether this statement can be credited. his career, although a varied and a notable one, had not led him much upon the sea; it is therefore more than probable that whatever skill may have been shown at this crisis was due to the presence of some humbler individual, whose nautical knowledge was at the service of the Grand-Master.

Having seen the Pope securely established in his new home,