lord de l'Esparre, the lord de Rosem, and from three to four thousand English, and as many or more Gascons, one half of whom were quartered in the town, and the other half in the blockhouse, to guard their fleet.

Thus were these powers employed on the same duty in their separate blockhouses from the first day of August until the 17th of October, annoying each other by every possible means. Provision began at length to fail in Bordeaux, to the great alarm of the English, as was natural; and as they daily heard of towns in all directions submitting, by force of arms, to the king, they made offers of a surrender on a fair capitulation. The king consented for two reasons: first, because he was ready to render good for evil; secondly, considering the mortality that was to be dreaded, if matters were pushed to extremities, he was glad to compound for the departure of the English on the following terms :-The city of Bordeaux was to be yielded up to him, and the inhabitants were to remain his true and loyal subjects; they taking an oath never to rebel again, but to acknowledge the king of France as their true and legal lord. The English were to be allowed to transport themselves in their own vessels to England, or to Calais, as they should please. But because some of the lords of that country and city had maliciously and traitorously sought the alliance of England, and had gone thither for that purpose, contrary to their oaths and declarations made to the king in the preceding year, who, at a very great expense and loss of men, had conquered them, the king would reserve to himself the power of banishing from the country of Bordelois twenty persons, according to his pleasure, such as had gone to England to seek the aid of the English, and particularly the lord de Duras, the lord de l'Esparre, and others. capitulation was signed on the 17th day of October, in the year 1453.

This

In truth, the king laboured greatly in these matters, both in body and mind; for after the aid of God, he was indebted for the peaceable recovery of this country to his own prudent conduct, and to the gracious manner with which he received those who returned to their obedience. He was also supported by his vassals and subjects with the same earnestness as if the recovery of his kingdom had personally concerned themselves.

Sir Pierre de Beauveau, lord de la Bessiere, died of his wounds three days after the taking of Châtillon, which was a great loss. Sir James de Chabannes, grand-master of the household, was likewise slain there: he was much lamented, as he was a most valorous knight.

The country being thus recovered, the king determined on going to Tours, after leaving for its defence the count de Clermont, his lieutenant-general, sir Theaulde de Valpergue, and sir John de Bureau, treasurer of France and mayor of the city of Bordeaux, with a sufficient force of men-at-arms, archers, and cross-bows. This was become absolutely necessary by reason of their late treacherous conduct; for, according to a maxim of law,"Semel malus, semper præsumitur malus." It was therefore expedient to keep a heavy hand on them, that they might be under greater subjection, and prevented from rebelling again.

CHAPTER LXVII. THE GRAND TURK BESIEGES CONSTANTINOPLE, AND BATTERS THE CITY WITH HEAVY ARTILLERY.-IT IS TAKEN BY STORM. THE CRUELTIES COMMITTED

THERE. A REMEDY PROPOSED TO RESIST THE TURK

ON the 4th of April, after Easter, in this same year 1453, Morbesant, son of Orestes, great lords in Achaia, advanced near to Constantinople, and, on the 5th day of this mouth, besieged that city all round with two hundred thousand men ; sixty thousand of whom were archers, and from thirty to forty thousand cavalry. About a fourth part of them were armed with haubergeons and coats of mail, others after the French manner; some in the

*M. du Cange says that this chapter must be compared with Phrantzes. This chapter, containing tho hearsay account of transactions which took place at a considerable distance from the kingdom of France, abounds, as it might be expected, with errors, the correction of which, as they occur, would be a task equally laborious and unprofitable.

Whoever wishes to make himself acquainted with tho
details of the siege and capture of Constantinople by
Mahomet II. may peruse the 68th chapter of Gibbon's
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Morbesan. Mahomet II. son to Amurath or Morad II.

Bulgarian manner, and in different fashions. Many had helmets of iron, and others were armed with bows and cross-bows. The greater part, however, of the sixty thousand were without any other armour than targets and Turkish blades. The remaining hundred were composed of merchants, artisans, followers of the army, pillagers, and destroyers of the country. There were very many bombards and culverins made use of at this siege; and one particularly large bombard, that shot stones twelve spans and four fingers in circumference, weighing eighteen hundred pounds. These bombards shot daily from one hundred to sixscore times; and this thundering lasted for fifty-five days, expending a thousand weight of powder each day, which was necessary for the numerous culverins that were employed. The Turk had likewise a fleet of sixteen or eighteen galleys, and from sixty to eighty galiots, having each eighteen or twenty oars, and from sixteen to twenty small barks, called palendrins*, to transport horses in, and plenty of gun-carriages. When the siege had been regularly formed, Sangombassa †, principal minister to the Turk, and who had the greatest credit and authority with him, had transported over land, the distance of two or three miles, from sixty to eighty galleys, and other armed vessels, into the Melse Mondagarin‡, near to Pera, and between the two cities. The Turks could not by any other means enter the harbour of Constantinople, as the Bosphorus and the straits of the Dardanelles were strongly guarded by the Christians, who were so posted that they could relieve each other when attacked.

The commander of this expedition was a Turk called Albitangoth§, who broke through four of the Genoese ships. The Turk appointed another commander to surround the city by sea and land. Constantinople is a very strong city, of a triangular form, twenty miles in circuit on the land side, and five miles wide from the land boundary to the harbour and gulf. The walls on the land side are very strong and high, having barbicans and loopholes on the top, well fortified without by the ditches and ramparts. The principal walls are from fifteen to twenty-two fathoms high: in some places six, and in others eight fathoms wide: the outworks are twenty fathoms high and three in thickness, and the ditches ten deep. The city contained from twenty-five to thirty thousand persons, and six thousand combatants. In the harbour were thirty ships and nine galleys, to defend the chain that had been thrown across it: of this number were two armed vessels, and three merchant ships, from the Venetians; three belonging to the emperor,-and one to sir John Justinian, a Genoese in the pay of the emperor.

Constantinople, although besieged by sea and land, and strongly battered by bombards and cannon, held out for fifty days, during which a captain of one of the galleys, in conjunction with others ordered on this service, attempted to set fire to the Turkish fleet; but the galley was sunk by a heavy stone from a bombard, and the others ran on the sharp stakes with which the Turks had fortified the van division of their fleet. On the land side, Sangombassa, king of the Albanians, had in his army many who had been accustomed to work in gold and silver mines, and he ordered them to open fourteen mines under the walls of the city, to throw them down. As these mines were opened at a distance from the walls, the Christians countermined them, and at times stifled the Turks in their mine with smoke, or suffocated them with stinks: at other times they drowned them, by introducing water suddenly on them, or destroyed them by fighting hand to hand. Sangombassa constructed a high and strong tower of wood that overtopped the walls, and threw across an arm of the sea a bridge of boats one thousand fathoms in length and seven wide, for the army to cross, besides erecting other smaller towers that were both light and strong, and could be moved from one place to another when wanted. There were daily skirmishes, in which many were slain on each side, but for one that was killed in the town one hundred were destroyed of the besiegers.

At this siege were many Greek Christians, and others from different parts, who, although subjects to the Turk, are not constrained to renounce their religion: they therefore pray to and adore God at their pleasure. There were besides several captains and powerful Turks, who, out of spite to Sangombassa, as he oppressed them much, gave information to those in Melse Mondagarin. Q. the sea of Marmora ? § Albitangoth. Q.

*Palendrins,-palendric,-a flat boat.-Du Cange's + Sangomnbassa. Q.

Glossary.

the town, by letters fastened to arrows and by all other possible means, of what was going forward in the camp. Among other things, the Christians were informed of the Grand Turk having held a council of his ministers and principal persons for four whole days; and that in this council a captain, called Colombassa *, had advised the raising of the siege, saying to the Turk, "Thou hast done thy duty: thou hast already given many great battles to the Christians, and at each time numbers of thy people have fallen. Thou seest from the fortifications and defence of the city that it is impregnable,-insomuch that the more thou sendest to attack it, so many more are left dead before it. Those who have mounted the walls have been repulsed or slain,-and thy ancestors never had the power nor the inclination to advance so far as thou hast done, which ought to satisfy thy ambition, without wishing the total destruction of thy people."

So much was said by others, in consequence of this harangue, that the Turk doubted within his own breast whether he should return and erect two columns on the spot where he then was, to proclaim to the world that he had done more than any of his predecessors had ever undertaken, and to inform posterity that no Turk had ever before dared to approach so near to Constantinople. Sangombassa was of a contrary opinion, and thus addressed the Turk: "Thou hast shown thyself the strongest. Thou hast overthrown part of the walls; we will completely destroy the remainder. Only let us give one more determined attack,and, if we then fail of conquest, we will submit to act according to thy pleasure." He expressed himself with so much warmth and earnestness, that the Turk consented to his proposal; and intelligence thereof was conveyed into the town, with exhortations to hold out with courage for a few days longer, and the siege would assuredly be raised.

The Turk, being resolved to storm the city, ordered a solemn fast to take place three days before the time fixed on, in honour of the God of Heaven, whom alone he adores. It was kept very strictly for the three days, none of the army eating anything during the daytime; but at night they feasted, and their camp and fleet were then illuminated with a multitude of torches, so that land and sea seemed on fire: they added loud music with drums and other instruments, for with trumpets they were ill provided.

When the time arrived for the storming, both parties seemed determined on victory or death. The attack began very slowly in the evening, and the Turk had made the following arrangement of his forces:-Siglardyt, captain-general of Turkey, was posted, with twenty thousand men, at the gate of Pucchi, where was the heat of the battle: Sangombassa, with about a third of the army, was posted at the gate of St. Romain, about a mile distant from Pucchi. Ebbigabeth, governor-general of Greece, was placed on the side of Galigaria, near to the emperor's palace. The greater part of the mines were two miles distant from St. Romain. The renegade Albanian, Sangombassa, was posted on the other side of the canal near to Pera, with other renegade Christians; for, in these countries, many daily recant from their religion.

At the commencement of the attack, the Christians defended themselves well, particularly at St. Romain, which was the weakest part of the walls; for lately good part had been damaged, and even thrown down. The heavy cannon and the culverins kept up so brisk a fire that breaches were made of many fathoms wide in several places; and the firing was so incessant that the sky could scarcely be seen for the thickness of the smoke. The besieged instantly repaired the breaches with old casks and bags of earth, and defended themselves as well as they could. At this spot was sir John Justinian, who behaved with great courage indeed, the whole city placed their dependence on his abilities.

As a last effort, the Grand Turk now advanced thither in person, with two banners and ten thousand chosen men for his guard, besides an infinity of Turks, with scaling-ladders, moveable wooden castles, and other engines. The attack was become very bloody: the ditches were filled, and the walls scaled. At this critical moment was sir John Justinian wounded by a ball from a culverin, and carried off to be dressed, after he had resigned his command to two Genoese gentlemen. The Turks pursued their success,-and the Christians, seeing themselves overpowered, and that sir John Justinian had quitted his command, which they mistook for his having fled, abandoned the walls, and ran away. Thus did the Turks Colombassa. Q. † Siglardy. Q. Galigaria. Q. Galata ?

enter Constantinople, the 28th day of May, in the year aforesaid, putting all to the sword who made any resistance *

No attack was made on Pera, for the greater part of the inhabitants were in Constantinople assisting in its defence. Those who had remained did not attempt to carry away any of their effects, but deliberated to send the keys of their town to the Turk, and offer him the city, in which were six thousand men, and throw themselves on the mercy of God. A good many of both sexes, however, embarked on board a Genoese vessel to, escape, and one ship laden with women was seized by the Turks. The emperor of Constantinople died there. Some say that he was beheaded,-others, that he was squeezed to death by the crowd as he was attempting to escape by one of the gates: both may perchance be true,-as he may have been pressed to death, and the Turks may have cut off his head afterwards.

This was a melancholy event for the Christians; for after the Turks had gained peaceable possession of the city, they entered the churches, more especially the cathedral of St. Sophia, which is a very large and magnificent building; and finding it full of ladies, damsels, and others of high rank, they ravished them all without any distinction, and in contempt of God our Creator and of the Catholic faith. The Turk even violated the empress in this church, made her his concubine, and carried her with him when he departed from the city. His troops indulged themselves with impunity in every luxury and detestable vice. The large galleys of the Venetians, and from Trebisonde, waited until the middle of the

ensuing day to save some of the Christians, and about four hundred embarked on board, In the number was Jacques Totaldi*, who had been on guard at a part of the wall distant from where the Turks had entered; perceiving that all was lost, he made for the shore, and by swimming saved himself on board one of these galleys. Had the Venetian fleet, under the command of John la Rendour†, arrived the preceding day with his troops, most assuredly, the city would have been relieved; for it consisted of nine galleys and twenty other vessels. It arrived the day after the conquest at Negropont.

It has been estimated, that the plunder the Turks made in Constantinople amounted to four thousand millions of ducats: the loss of the Venetians alone was said to be fifty thousand ducats. The Genoese saved on board their galleys twenty thousand: the Florentines lost twenty thousand; the merchants of Ancona fifteen thousand. From conversations with different Turks, we have heard that the Grand Turk, when only twentythree or twenty-four years old, was more cruel than Nero, and delighted in shedding blood: he was bold and ambitious, and more ardent to conquer the world than Alexander or Cæsar. It is alleged that he possesses larger territories, and greater power, than any other monarch whatever. He has different histories read out to him; and demands the reason why such and such things have been done. He holds it an easy matter to throw a bridge from Megara to Venice, for a passage to march his army thither. He inquires where Rome is situated; and after the duke of Milan, of his valiant deeds, and other affairs. He can talk of nothing but war; and declares that he will make Constantinople his seat of empire, for that he is able and desirous to establish a large navy. He imagines that there is not a prince on earth but will bring him the keys of his towns before he calls for them, considering that he has taken by storm Constantinople, the strongest city in Europe, and so powerful, that it was thought no army, however great, could accomplish it, and that he and his troops are bold in arms, holding their lives of no value to gain an object. It is supposed that the Turk will not this summer attempt any other warlike enterprise, but attend to his new settlement in Constantinople, unless some places he may wish for should surrender quietly. His soldiers want to return to their homes to enjoy and repose themselves, but he keeps them strictly to good discipline, that he may be prepared to resist any attacks that shall be made upon him. However, if the Christians would firmly unite, and act promptly, they would drive him out of Europe, never to return again.

This would be the plan I would offer for so desirable an object: First, a universal peace must be established in Christendom; then the Venetians, the duke of Milan, the Florentines, and the other princes of Italy, should raise an army of twenty thousand horse, well appointed, and under able captains, who should lead them to Pera, through Albania, as far as the possessions of the Christians, where they should halt in a country well supplied with all kinds of provision. They will be there secure, and instantly joined by the Albanians, Sclavonians, and other Christian nations, who will unite in the defence of the Catholic faith. In addition to this army, another should be formed at sea by the king of Arragon, the Venetians, the Genoese, the Florentines, and other maritime nations, whose fleets will be fully sufficient to conquer that of the Turk if it be not greatly increased to what it is at present. This fleet should sail for the port of Negropont, and take Sagripoch§, and other places, from the Turk it should likewise blockade the passage of the Dardanelles, and prevent any intercourse between Turkey and Greece.

:

The emperor of Hungary, the Bohemians, the Poles, the Walachians, and other nations in that quarter, should raise an army under the command of John Waiwoda ||, who is much feared by the Turks, and enter Turkey by Adrianople; and all these armies should so manage that their invasions take place at the same time, and that good intelligence reign among them, that the success may not be doubtful. The Turk, with all his efforts, cannot raise a greater army than two hundred thousand men, including bad and good; and it must be added, that

*Totaldi. Q.

† John La Rendour. Q. Giacopo Loredan ? He sailed from Venice with only five galloys, and was to take up five more in the ports of Dalmatia and Candia.

Storia della Repubblica di Venezia.—Laugier. Tom. vii. p. 63.

Megara. This must be a mistake: indeed, the whole chapter is exceedingly confused. § Sagripoch. Q. Salonichi. John Waiwoda. Q. John Corvinus Hunniades, waivode of Transylvania; who is also, most probably, the person meant by "Le Blanc, knight-marshal of Hungary," in the following chapter.