Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/263

Rh contested, and the prior of St. Gilles, Raymond Riccard, was defeated by only a single vote, he having obtained eight against the nine recorded in favour of Orsini. Had the election been held anywhere but in Rome there is little doubt that he would have been the new Grand-Master.

The general summons to Rhodes which followed on the elevation of Orsini was responded to with enthusiasm. Large numbers of knights and others interested in the welfare of the convent, flocked thither to greet their new chief, and to assist him in his projects of defence. Foremost amongst these was the commander, D’Aubusson, whose name has been already mentioned. Eminently talented as an engineer, and well read in all the most modern and improved details of the art of fortification, he was felt to be a man to whom, in the approaching crisis, all could look for advice and assistance. He was appointed captain-general and inspector of the island. Under his direction the ditches were enlarged and deepened where practicable, and a wall was built on the sea front of the town, about 600 feet in length and twenty in height. The cost of this work was defrayed out of the private purse of the Grand-Master, in spite of which the wall bears the arms of D’Aubusson, surmounted with the cardinal’s hat. It must therefore have been fixed there after the siege, whilst D’Aubusson was Grand-Master.

At this time actual war had not been declared between Mahomet and the Order, but, on the contrary, more than one treacherous and badly kept truce had been concluded. Constant skirmishes were, however, taking place between the rival powers, and it was evident that before long open hostilities must break forth. In the year 1470 the spies who were maintained by the Hospitallers at the Ottoman court, and if report speaks truly, even within the walls of the harem, gave timely notice that a gigantic armament was being prepared, the ultimate destination of which was as yet a secret. Whilst it remained uncertain whether Rhodes or the Venetian island of Negropont was to be the point of attack, an attempt was made by the republic of the Adriatic to enter into a close alliance with the knights. Had this offer been made in good faith, it would, under the circumstances, have been highly advantageous to both