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The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 09 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countriesMonstrelet, Enguerrand de

History

The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 09 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countries

Name: The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 09 [of 13] : $b containing an account of the cruel civil wars between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy, of the possession of Paris and Normandy by the English, their expulsion thence, and of other memorable events that happened in the kingdom of France, as well as in other countries
Author: Monstrelet, Enguerrand de

Monstrelet, Enguerrand de

Europe -- History -- 476-1492 -- Sources; France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589; Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453

'When all was ready for an assault, Mohammed sent to offer lives,
liberty, and goods, to the emperor and people, with settlements in
Greece, if they would give up the place,--but in vain. The Turks were
at first gallantly repulsed, Constantine defending the breach, and
Giustiniani bravely seconding his efforts: unhappily the latter being
seized with a panic, on receiving a slight wound, and quitting his
post, the Italians, who were the strength of the besieged, followed,
and the enemy burst in with hardly any opposition. The wretched emperor
saw that all was lost,--and was only heard to say, 'Alas! is no
Christian here to strike off my head?' A Turk performed that office;
and Mohammed with his army rushing in, every bar to slaughter, rapine,
and violence, gave way.

'Meanwhile numbers of the Greeks stood calmly around the church of
Santa Sophia, while others coolly employed themselves in a solemn
procession, deluded by a fanatic, who had foretold, that as soon as
the infidels should force their way to a certain part of Europe, and
enriched every province, but particularly Italy, with their science.

'The whimsically superstitious are fond of a silly remark, that as the
western empire began and ended with an Augustus so did that of the east
begin and end with a Constantine; but a much more useful speculation
from the dreadful fate of this metropolis, and still more from that of
Rome in 1527, presents itself to the rich and indolent citizen, viz.
that opulence, far from securing its owners, only holds out a bait to
the destroyer; and that no wealthy city should think itself secure
without union, good government, and military exertions, among its
inhabitants.'

  _Andrews' Hist. of Great Britain._]


[Footnote 173: Totaldi. Q.]

[Footnote 174: John la Rendour. Q. Giacopo Loredan? He sailed from
Venice with only five galleys, and was to take up five more in the
ports of Dalmatia and Candia.

_Storia della Repubblica di Venezia.--Laugier._--Tom. vii. p. 63.]

[Footnote 175: Megara. This must be a mistake: indeed, the whole
chapter is exceedingly confused.]

[Footnote 176: Sagripoch. Q.]

[Footnote 177: John Waiwoda. Q.]




CHAP. LVII.

 THE TURK SENDS LETTERS TO THE POPE, WHO, IN CONSEQUENCE, WISHES TO
 FORM A CROISADE AGAINST HIM.--LE BLANC[178], KNIGHT-MARSAL OF HUNGARY,
 DEFEATS THE TURKS NEAR THE PORT OF SAMBRINE[179].

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