Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/400

370 their own efforts the safety of those dearer to them than life. On hearing this petition L’Isle Adam called upon the prior of St. Gilles and the engineer Martinigo to report on the state of the town and fortress. Thereupon the latter rose and asserted on his honour and conscience that he did not consider the place any longer tenable; that the slaves and other pioneers had been all either killed or wounded, so that it was no longer feasible to muster sufficient labour to move a piece of artillery from one battery to another; that it was impossible without men to carry on the repairs necessary to the ramparts; that their ammunition and stores were exhausted, and further, seeing that the enemy were already established within the lines at two points, without any power of dislodging them, he was of opinion that the city was lost, and should be surrendered. The prior of St. Gilles corroborated this statement in every particular.

The debate was long and stormy; there were many who, like the Grand-Master, were desirous of emulating the self-devotion of their predecessors, and of burying themselves beneath the ruins of Rhodes. Had the knights not been encumbered by the presence of a large and defenceless population, this line of policy would unquestionably have been adopted. As it was, however, there were present in the council-chamber others, who perceived that by such a decision they were dooming to destruction those who had stood faithfully by them through the long struggle, and were now entitled to consideration at their hands. Moreover, the question was not, they felt, left only to them to decide. Should they attempt to continue the defence, would the people stand tamely by and see themselves thus doomed to slaughter, simply because the council had so decreed? If the town were to be yielded, it was far better that it should be by the unanimous act of the besieged, as they would thereby insure more liberal terms from the sultan than he would grant if he once knew there were divisions in their councils. It was there.. fore decreed that the next offer of parley should be accepted, and that the Grand-Master should be authorized to secure the best conditions procurable.

The chiefs of Solyman’s army were too desirous of putting a stop to the fearful effusion of blood which had now been going on for six months, and of obtaining possession, upon almost any