Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/316

286 other hand, who were more disinterested, and who felt that the interests of their Order could never be permanently benefited by a breach of faith, were equally urgent that he should be permitted to follow his own inclinations. The danger which he hourly ran from the attempts of an assassin whilst at Rhodes was so imminent, and at the same time so dilficult to guard against, that they thought it most important he should be removed as soon as possible from the chance of such a contingency. This argument was warmly supported by D’Aubusaon, and ultimately prevailed in the council. Sanction was given to Djem to retire to France, and a suitable escort was appointed, under the command of two knights of high rank to act as a guard to himself and his retinue in the new home of his adoption.

At this juncture ambassadors from Constantinople, despatched by Achmet pasha on behalf of Bajazet, arrived at Rhodes with pacific overtures, and with a request that plenipotentiaries might be sent by the Grand-Master to arrange with the sultan the terms of a durable peace. There can be no doubt that the presence of Djem at Rhodes had much disquieted his brother. Bajazet felt that unless he could secure a treaty of peace with the fraternity he would be constantly liable to the risk of the rival claim which, supported by its arms, the prince might be tempted again to put forward. This embassy, so contrary to Mussulman pride, proved to Djem that his brother would leave no means untried to secure himself against aggression; he became, therefore, more than ever anxious to quit a spot in which he was surrounded by so many dangers.

On the 1st of September, 1482, he embarked with his retinue and escort on board one of the largest galleys in the fleet of the Order, and set sail for France. Before leaving, he placed in the hands of the Grand-Master three documents, the contents of which form an ample refutation to the calumnious assertion that Djem was sent to France as a prisoner in furtherance of the political views of the fraternity. In the first paper he gave full authority to the Grand-Master to treat with his brother in his behalf, and to secure for him such appanage as could be extorted from the Ottoman emperor. During his residence at Rhodes the expense of his entertainment had