CHAP. VI.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

231

in the hurry, and those pieces, only, which were of

most importance were embarked. Thus grand

master, and knights, and Rhodians, huddled their

things on board, as well as they could, in „ „ „° . . 1523

that brevity of time. And after dinner the

1st of January, 1523, the former mounted onhorseback, to take leave of the tyrant; who toldhim to go, and wished him a good voyage, and tosail at once, and ordered another ample safe conductto be given him to take with him by sea, in case hefell in with Turkish corsairs, to permit him and hiswhole fleet to pass without hindrance. So Bourbonsays, who was present; but also Fontanus waspresent, yet, as more among those Rhodians whoemigrated, knew they believed it was Solyman’sintention to kidnap the grand master, and knights,and all at sea, and take them to Constantinople;but the fact is unlikely, as the Moslem could havedone it more easily and publicly at Rhodes. Stillit is very likely that among the terrified Rhodianssuch was the rumour universally; which was there-fore written as the common belief, as it was, with-out any slur, whatever, on Fontanus’s historicintegrity.

On board being all of the Rhodians, male andfemale, fathers, mothers, children, and what theycould take with them, some of them the richest and