CHAP. VI.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

207

placable enemies of Mahomet’s impious law. Itwas the work of God alone, and quite as contraryto human wisdom, as to human passions; whenthe Grand Seignor had a flag of truce hoisted froma church outside the town, on the 10th ofDecember, 1522. And receiving no immediateanswer from so desperate a people, he sent one ofhis prisoners, a Genoese, who wished not for a dis-course in public, but to be permitted to speak withhis countryman, such a one, who lived in such astreet. To which a Rhodian replied, that he de-tested secrecy. L’lsle Adam, who knew that a cityadmitting parley, is half lost, had prohibited allsuch, under pain of death. Yet even so; the meremention of parley and terms made many peoplereflect and think that the Genoa man and anotherfrom Albania had spoken well. “ No wonder'’(says Bourbon), “ for wherever there be populace,there will always be many who prefer their ownlives and those of their children, to honour andlove of country.” The whispers reached the arch-bishop, who was entreated to speak of it to thegrand master. The majority were for listening toterms, since they came from the enemy. TheRhodians, though ready to die, yet the love of lifeengaged them to turn again to their archbishop,and through him, tender a supplication to the