in Jerusalem with liberty to entertain others for a time, that they should be free from all tribute taxes; that pilgrims should have access to the Holy Places; that the Order should have power to redeem any Christian captives by paying the same money that they cost their masters, or by giving a Moslem in exchange; that there should be free commerce between the Order and the Sultan; that there should be knights maintained at Jerusalem, Rama, and Alexandria, to act as consuls to protect Christians from the exactions to which they were exposed; and that there should be free export of corn from the Sultan's dominions.

The very advantageous character of these terms, in return for nothing but a cessation of hostilities, is the best proof of the power of the Order at this time, and the dread with which it had inspired the Moslem ruler.

There was, however, an internal element of weakness through the schism in the Papacy. As the countries of Europe were divided, some following one Pope and some the other, so the knights of those countries were divided. The convent of Rhodes, the knights of the East, with those of France, Castile, Scotland, and part of Germany, acknowledged the authority of the Grand Master who adhered to Benedict XIII., successor to Clement VII.; whilst the Popes that succeeded Urban VI. had, in order to retain in their obedience the Arragonian, Italian, and English knights, as well as those of the kingdoms of the north, Bohemia and Hungary,

appointed Italian commanders to be their superiors under the title of Lieutenants of the Grand Mastership; and who, as if that great dignity had not been filled up, governed those portions of the Order without having the least intercourse with the Grand Master of Rhodes.

It is easy to understand what injury this must have inflicted upon the Order, which saw its forces divided, and received for a long time no contribution from the Priories and Commanderies that had separated themselves from the main body of the Order.

There was, however, one happy feature of unity in Rhodes. There alone the union between the Greek and Latin Churches was maintained, and the two rites were used side by side without jealousy or conflict.

The Council assembled at Pisa with a view to putting an end to the Papal schism, which was inflicting such injury upon Christendom and bringing all religion into contempt, only ended in creating worse confusion; for the two Popes being deposed, and a new one elected, the two refused to acknowledge the power of the Council; and so there were now three Popes instead of two, each claiming to be the Vicar of Jesus Christ, each anathematizing the other two, each declaring all acts, consecrations, and ordinations of the others void and sacrilegious!

At the death of Alexander V. Cardinal Baltazer Cossa was elected by the cardinals of one faction to

be Pope. This infamous man had been a pirate, and had turned ecclesiastic only from sordid motives, his life being still scandalously wicked. He contrived to be appointed Archdeacon of Bologna, and, still ambitious, he set out for Rome, telling his 'friends, "I am going to the Popedom." Bribery, intrigue, and poison were freely and unscrupulously used by him, and with success, for he obtained the object of his ambition, and was actually elected Pope, and took the title of John XXIII.

His conduct continued to be regulated by the same vile principles after his elevation, and the Knights of Rhodes suffered among others from his wickedness. He sold a Commandery and appointed a boy of fourteen to it. In another case, in consideration of a heavy bribe, he caused a natural son of the King of Cyprus, a child of only five years old, to be admitted to take the vows of the Order, and to be collated to a rich benefice.

On various pretexts also he seized upon the Priories as they became vacant, and sold the office of Prior to the highest bidder.

These and a thousand other and worse crimes at last roused the whole of Christendom; the Council of Constance was convoked, the three Popes were deposed, and once more unity was restored by the election of Martin V.; and, after some difficulties, delays, and controversies, the Order of St. John was again united, and all the Knights of every Lange acknowledged the authority of the Grand Master.

The Sultan of Egypt now made an attack upon Cyprus, and the Knights of Rhodes went to the assistance of the king. The war proved long and bloody.

At last there came a battle, the particulars of which we are not acquainted with. We only know that the Christians lost it, and that a great number of Cyprian lords and gentlemen, and many Knights of St. John were slain, the great Commandery of the Order in the island was ravaged, the houses demolished, the trees cut down, the vines rooted up; so that this, the richest establishment of the whole Order was utterly ruined.

Nor was this the only misfortune that fell upon the Order at this time. The wars with the English in France had impoverished the Commanderies in that country, and they could contribute little or nothing to the common fund; Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia were engaged in civil war; Poland was fighting the Teutonic Knights, and so, one way or another, small help came to Rhodes for maintaining the Order in its conflict with the Moslem hosts.

At this juncture the Sultan of Egypt, who owed the knights a grudge for their aid to Cyprus against him, fitted out a fleet and attacked Rhodes (1440).

He was unable, however, to effect a landing, and not being provided with appliances for a regular siege, was therefore obliged to retire to one of the neighbouring islands. Hither the galleys of the knights followed him, and a battle ensued, which,

though not decisive, prevented his making any further attempt upon Rhodes at the time.

In 1444, however, another attack was made upon Rhodes, and the city was actually besieged forty days; but so strong were its defences, and so brave its defenders, that the Egyptian forces were once more obliged to retire without attaining their object.

CHAPTER VIII.

Weakness of the Eastern Empire-Mahomet II.-Siege of Constantinople-A new era in warfare-Capture and sack of Constantinople-Rhodes the bulwark of Christendom-The Venetians make war upon the Order-Negropont taken by the TurksTheir cruelties-Their bad faith-The services of the Order in keeping back the Turks-A touching incident.

"The ways of Sion do mourn, because none come to her solemn feasts, all her gates are desolate, her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper."-JEREMIAH.

BUT a more terrible siege was now at hand, and a more disastrous defeat for the Christian cause.

The Turks had gradually been extending their dominions, and had left but a very small territory, indeed to the Greek Emperor at Constantinople. Even that little was now to be wrested from him, and the last remains of the Roman Empire in the East were to be absorbed into the vast possessions of the successor of Mahomet.

The Greek Emperors had long ceased to be power