Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/278

250 energy unattainable under such a regime, they unanimously agreed to free him from its yoke, and to grant him the unlimited authority of a dictator until the troublous hour had passed away. Once before, it will be remembered, the same step had been taken, and then with the happiest results. It was, therefore, with the more readiness that they again resorted to the measure, having already experienced its successful operation. D’Aubusson was at first unwilling to accept the undivided responsibility thus imposed upon him, but his reluctance was speedily overcome, and when the council broke up it was announced to the citizens that from that moment he was their sole and autocratic chief. Never was authority vested in hands more capable of exercising it wisely, and the confidence which D’Aubusson felt in himself he was able at that critical juncture to impart to his friends.

The plans by which Mahomet proposed to carry out his invasion were these. As a preliminary step a fleet was to be equipped under the command of Paleologus, which should make a descent on the island and commit such ravages as would harass and terrify the inhabitants, and in some degree exhaust the strength of the defence before the main struggle commenced. Early in the ensuing spring the bulk of the army was to march across Asia Minor to the port of Phineka, a commodious harbour about forty miles to the eastward of Rhodes. The artillery and heavy stores were to proceed to the same spot from Constantinople by sea. The pasha, after having harried the Christians to the best of his ability, was directed to be at the place of rendezvous at the appointed time, when, picking up the force there assembled, he was to make his grand descent upon the point of attack.

In accordance with these instructions, Paleologus sailed with a considerable squadron in the winter of 1479, and at once made a bold dash at the island of Rhodes itself. D’Aubusson had taken every precaution to prevent any disastrous effects from descents of this kind. He had caused a number of fortified posts to be constructed in addition to those already existing, and behind these the inhabitants of the open country were in cases of alarm to seek shelter. The pasha therefore gained but little by his move. His troops effected their landing a