Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/223

Rh by the fact that on the death of Carracciolo, which took place before that of Heredia, Boniface IX., who had replaced Urban, refrained from nominating a new chief, and contented himself with making his own near relative, Boniface of Caramandra, lieutenant of the Order. He at the same time annulled all the appointments which had been conferred by Carracciolo, in order to remove, as far as practicable, any further cause for schism.

During these disputes and disorders Heredia found it was impossible to enforce due obedience to his authority from many of the European commanders. Availing themselves of the doubtful nature of his position they neglected to pay their responsions; and repudiating all submission to the decrees of the council, they assumed an independence most fatal to the interests of the fraternity. Under these circumstances Heredia was requested to return to Avignon, and to seek at the hands of Pope Clement the means of reducing the refractory commanders to submission. Mindful of the bad use which he had once previously made of his authority on a similar occasion, the council, prior to his departure, extracted from him a pledge that he would faithfully remit to the public treasury all the responsions which he might collect. So as to compel him to hasten his return to Rhodes they further decreed that during his absence from the convent the power should be withheld from him of nominating to any vacant dignities. They carried their precautions still further by selecting four knights, who were to accompany him, ostensibly as an escort, but in reality as a check on his movements. Their suspicions proved groundless. Heredia, as Grand-Master, was a very different person from the young and ambitious knight, with his fortune still before him and his way to push in the world. At his request the Pope summoned several chapters- general at Avignon, at all of which he presided, and in which many beneficial regulations were enacted. By precept and example he succeeded in recalling a. great majority of the recusants to their duty, and obtained for the treasury the payment of many arrears in the responsions.

As at this time Smyrna and Rhodes were threatened by the Turks, he despatched to both places, at his own cost, vessels laden with provisions and munitions of war. He also made