he unworthy chief?"

But Helion de Villeneuve was of too wise and kindly a nature to make his
decree absolute, and having thus vindicated his authority he shortly
afterwards released Gozon and made him happy by his praises and more
material benefits.

The Abbe de Vertot tells us that the learned Bochart argues that the
Phoenicians gave to this island the name of Gefirath-Rod (from whence the
name "Rhodes"), or the Isle of the Serpents, and that when the Romans were
at war with the Carthaginians Attilius Regulus slew a monster in the island
of Rhodes the skin of which measured one hundred feet. Thevenot, in his
Travels published in 1637, states that he saw the head of Gozon's serpent
still attached to one of the gates of the town of Rhodes, and that it was
as large as the head of a horse.

Upon the death of Helion de Villeneuve in 1346, a Chapter of the Order was
held as usual to elect his successor. When it came to the turn of the
Commander Gozon de Dieu-Donne to speak, he said:

"In entering this conclave I made a solemn vow not to propose any knight
whom I did not consider to be most worthy of this exalted office, and
animated by the best intentions for the glory and well-being of the
Order. After considering carefully the state of the Christian world, of
the wars which we are perpetually obliged to wage against the infidel,
the firmness and vigour necessary for the maintenance of discipline, I
declare that I find no person so capable of governing our 'Religion' as
myself."

He then proceeded to speak in a purely impersonal tone of the magnificent
services which he had rendered, not forgetting the famous episode of the
serpent, and drew their attention to the fact that the late Grand Master
had constituted him, Gozon, his principal lieutenant. He ended: "You have
already tried my government, you know well that which you may hope to
expect. I believe that in all justice I shall receive your suffrages."

Naturally the assemblage was stupefied at hearing a man thus recommend
himself; on reflection, however, they decided that he had spoken no less
than the truth, and Gozon de Dieu-Donne, "the hero of the serpent," became
twenty-sixth Grand Master of the Order. He died in 1353, when he was
succeeded by Pierre de Cornillan, and upon his tomb were graven these
words:

"Cy Gist le Vainqueur du Dragon."

In the years 1480 and 1485 under the Grand Master Pierre D'Aubusson, Rhodes
withstood two great s