124

THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book in.

(among which numerous embassies to all ChristianCourts, including the English, by Sir ThomasSheffield) proving vain, he gave up the league, and^ 9 directed himself to England alone, through

the Turcopolier, Sir Thomas Newport, pro-posing a strong and quiet demonstration on Con-stantinople, which, without hostilities, could not butin such circumstances be successful. Whereas tobesiege Lesbos would be very bloody, and decidenothing. But in London also he met with ice thathe could not melt; seas and mountains with acypher for product . 1

Kendall dead, Sir Thomas Docray was elected1503 *° ^ ie •^ >rior y> from his Bailiwick of the

Eagle, which went to the Turcopolier, SirThomas Newport, and Sir Robert Daniel was madeTurcopolier . 2

In D’Aubusson’s fifth chapter general, Sir ThomasDocray was Prior of England; and the turcopolier(named to command the second of the four galleyswhich formed the order’s contingent) was repre-sented by Sir Robert Rebeston. The knight forEngland was Sir Thomas Sheffield.

But that grand master’s biographers must tellthe further details of his honoured life. Have I notbeen already too long?

1 Bosio: par. ii., lib. xvi., anno 1502.

2 Id. : id., id., anno 1503.