Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/254

228 dery, summoning the members to hasten instantly to the defence of Rhodes. In this document he says: “After weeping over the miserable downfall of the illustrious Constantinople, as we have recorded in previous letters, this is to command you to come hither instantly where the want of your assistance is most urgent, for not a day elapses without our hearing of some new slaughter of Christians by the Grand Turk, and of his inhuman cruelties, not from idle rumour, but from our own confidential emissaries, who record only what they have seen with their own eyes, so that it is a certain fact that the most fearful horrors have been already perpetrated. Wait for no further letters or exhortations from us, but the instant you receive these lines set out at once for Rhodes.”

At the same time de Lastic sent the commander, D’Aubusson, to the various courts of Europe to endeavour to procure such aid, either in men or money, as the almost exhausted enthusiasm of the monarchs of Christendom might still induce them to contribute for the defence of their advanced post in the Levant. It was in this embassy that D’Aubusson, whose name was destined eventually to shed such lustre over his Order, displayed the first germs of that ability by which he was afterwards so distinguished. Although he was everywhere met by the most disheartening lukewarmness and chilling neglect, he succeeded, by dint of perseverance, in extorting considerable sums of money from both Charles VII. of France, and Philip of Burgundy. Part of this he expended in the purchase of arms, ammunition, and stores, the remainder he forwarded to Rhodes to be laid out in such manner as the Grand-Master might deem expedient.

Meanwhile the most energetic measures were being taken to increase the strength of the fortifications. Ditches were deepened and widened, ramparts were heightened and strengthened. No point was omitted which, in the opinion of the engineers of the day, could tend to insure the safety of the place. Whilst in the midst of this occupation de Lastic fell sick, and after a short illness died on the 19th of May, 1454. Although, as has been already recorded, the title of Grand-Master was first awarded to Hugh de Revel, and was continued to most of his successors, still Bosio and Sebastian Paoli both assert