BetweenConstantineandhisfaithfulministerthiscomfortlesssecretwaspreserved；andasufficientproportionofshields，cross—bows，andmuskets，weredistributedfromthearsenaltothecitybands。Theyderivedsomeaccessionfromabodyoftwothousandstrangers，underthecommandofJohnJustiniani，anobleGenoese；aliberaldonativewasadvancedtotheseauxiliaries；
andaprincelyrecompense，theIsleofLemnos，waspromisedtothevalorandvictoryoftheirchief。Astrongchainwasdrawnacrossthemouthoftheharbor:itwassupportedbysomeGreekandItalianvesselsofwarandmerchandise；andtheshipsofeveryChristiannation，thatsuccessivelyarrivedfromCandiaandtheBlackSea，weredetainedforthepublicservice。AgainstthepowersoftheOttomanempire，acityoftheextentofthirteen，perhapsofsixteen，mileswasdefendedbyascantygarrisonofsevenoreightthousandsoldiers。EuropeandAsiawereopentothebesiegers；butthestrengthandprovisionsoftheGreeksmustsustainadailydecrease；norcouldtheyindulgetheexpectationofanyforeignsuccororsupply。
[Footnote29:ThepalatinetroopsarestyledCapiculi，theprovincials，Seratculi；andmostofthenamesandinstitutionsoftheTurkishmilitiaexistedbeforetheCanonNamehofSolimanII，fromwhich，andhisownexperience，CountMarsiglihascomposedhismilitarystateoftheOttomanempire。]
[Footnote30:TheobservationofPhilelphusisapprovedbyCuspinianintheyear1508，deCaesaribus，inEpilog。deMilitiaTurcica，p。697。Marsigliproves，thattheeffectivearmiesoftheTurksaremuchlessnumerousthantheyappear。InthearmythatbesiegedConstantinopleLeonardusChiensisreckonsnomorethan15，000Janizaries。]
[Footnote31:Ego，eidemImp。tabellasextribuinonabsquedoloreetmoestitia，mansitqueapudnosduosaliisoccultusnumerus，Phranza，l。iii。c。8。Withsomeindulgencefornationalprejudices，wecannotdesireamoreauthenticwitness，notonlyofpublicfacts，butofprivatecounsels。]
TheprimitiveRomanswouldhavedrawntheirswordsintheresolutionofdeathorconquest。TheprimitiveChristiansmighthaveembracedeachother，andawaitedinpatienceandcharitythestrokeofmartyrdom。ButtheGreeksofConstantinoplewereanimatedonlybythespiritofreligion，andthatspiritwasproductiveonlyofanimosityanddiscord。Beforehisdeath，theemperorJohnPalaeologushadrenouncedtheunpopularmeasureofaunionwiththeLatins；norwastheidearevived，tillthedistressofhisbrotherConstantineimposedalasttrialofflatteryanddissimulation。^32Withthedemandoftemporalaid，hisambassadorswereinstructedtomingletheassuranceofspiritualobedience:hisneglectofthechurchwasexcusedbytheurgentcaresofthestate；andhisorthodoxwishessolicitedthepresenceofaRomanlegate。TheVaticanhadbeentoooftendeluded；yetthesignsofrepentancecouldnotdecentlybeoverlooked；alegatewasmoreeasilygrantedthananarmy；andaboutsixmonthsbeforethefinaldestruction，thecardinalIsidoreofRussiaappearedinthatcharacterwitharetinueofpriestsandsoldiers。Theemperorsalutedhimasafriendandfather；respectfullylistenedtohispublicandprivatesermons；
andwiththemostobsequiousoftheclergyandlaymensubscribedtheactofunion，asithadbeenratifiedinthecouncilofFlorence。OnthetwelfthofDecember，thetwonations，inthechurchofSt。Sophia，joinedinthecommunionofsacrificeandprayer；andthenamesofthetwopontiffsweresolemnlycommemorated；thenamesofNicholastheFifth，thevicarofChrist，andofthepatriarchGregory，whohadbeendrivenintoexilebyarebelliouspeople。
[Footnote32:InSpondanus，thenarrativeoftheunionisnotonlypartial，butimperfect。ThebishopofPamiersdiedin1642，andthehistoryofDucas，whichrepresentsthesescenesc。36，37withsuchtruthandspirit，wasnotprintedtilltheyear1649。]
ButthedressandlanguageoftheLatinpriestwhoofficiatedatthealtarwereanobjectofscandal；anditwasobservedwithhorror，thatheconsecratedacakeorwaferofunleavenedbread，andpouredcoldwaterintothecupofthesacrament。Anationalhistorianacknowledgeswithablush，thatnoneofhiscountrymen，nottheemperorhimself，weresincereinthisoccasionalconformity。^33Theirhastyandunconditionalsubmissionwaspalliatedbyapromiseoffuturerevisal；butthebest，ortheworst，oftheirexcuseswastheconfessionoftheirownperjury。Whentheywerepressedbythereproachesoftheirhonestbrethren，\"Havepatience，\"theywhispered，\"havepatiencetillGodshallhavedeliveredthecityfromthegreatdragonwhoseekstodevourus。YoushallthenperceivewhetherwearetrulyreconciledwiththeAzymites。\"Butpatienceisnottheattributeofzeal；norcantheartsofacourtbeadaptedtothefreedomandviolenceofpopularenthusiasm。FromthedomeofSt。Sophiatheinhabitantsofeithersex，andofeverydegree，rushedincrowdstothecellofthemonkGennadius，^34toconsulttheoracleofthechurch。Theholymanwasinvisible；entranced，asitshouldseem，indeepmeditation，ordivinerapture:buthehadexposedonthedoorofhiscellaspeakingtablet；andtheysuccessivelywithdrew，afterreadingthosetremendouswords:\"O
miserableRomans，whywillyeabandonthetruth?andwhy，insteadofconfidinginGod，willyeputyourtrustintheItalians?Inlosingyourfaithyouwillloseyourcity。Havemercyonme，OLord!IprotestinthypresencethatIaminnocentofthecrime。OmiserableRomans，consider，pause，andrepent。Atthesamemomentthatyourenouncethereligionofyourfathers，byembracingimpiety，yousubmittoaforeignservitude。\"AccordingtotheadviceofGennadius，thereligiousvirgins，aspureasangels，andasproudasdaemons，rejectedtheactofunion，andabjuredallcommunionwiththepresentandfutureassociatesoftheLatins；andtheirexamplewasapplaudedandimitatedbythegreatestpartoftheclergyandpeople。Fromthemonastery，thedevoutGreeksdispersedthemselvesinthetaverns；drankconfusiontotheslavesofthepope；emptiedtheirglassesinhonoroftheimageoftheholyVirgin；andbesoughthertodefendagainstMahometthecitywhichshehadformerlysavedfromChosroesandtheChagan。Inthedoubleintoxicationofzealandwine，theyvaliantlyexclaimed，\"Whatoccasionhaveweforsuccor，orunion，orLatins?FarfromusbetheworshipoftheAzymites!\"DuringthewinterthatprecededtheTurkishconquest，thenationwasdistractedbythisepidemicalfrenzy；
andtheseasonofLent，theapproachofEaster，insteadofbreathingcharityandlove，servedonlytofortifytheobstinacyandinfluenceofthezealots。Theconfessorsscrutinizedandalarmedtheconscienceoftheirvotaries，andarigorouspenancewasimposedonthosewhohadreceivedthecommunionfromapriestwhohadgivenanexpressortacitconsenttotheunion。Hisserviceatthealtarpropagatedtheinfectiontothemuteandsimplespectatorsoftheceremony:theyforfeited，bytheimpurespectacle，thevirtueofthesacerdotalcharacter；norwasitlawful，evenindangerofsuddendeath，toinvoketheassistanceoftheirprayersorabsolution。NosoonerhadthechurchofSt。
SophiabeenpollutedbytheLatinsacrifice，thanitwasdesertedasaJewishsynagogue，oraheathentemple，bytheclergyandpeople；andavastandgloomysilenceprevailedinthatvenerabledome，whichhadsooftensmokedwithacloudofincense，blazedwithinnumerablelights，andresoundedwiththevoiceofprayerandthanksgiving。TheLatinswerethemostodiousofhereticsandinfidels；andthefirstministeroftheempire，thegreatduke，washeardtodeclare，thathehadratherbeholdinConstantinopletheturbanofMahomet，thanthepope\'stiaraoracardinal\'shat。
^35AsentimentsounworthyofChristiansandpatriotswasfamiliarandfataltotheGreeks:theemperorwasdeprivedoftheaffectionandsupportofhissubjects；andtheirnativecowardicewassanctifiedbyresignationtothedivinedecree，orthevisionaryhopeofamiraculousdeliverance。
[Footnote33:Phranza，oneoftheconformingGreeks，acknowledgesthatthemeasurewasadoptedonlypropterspemauxilii；heaffirmswithpleasure，thatthosewhorefusedtoperformtheirdevotionsinSt。Sophia，extraculpametinpaceessent，l。iii。
c。20。]
[Footnote34:HisprimitiveandsecularnamewasGeorgeScholarius，whichhechangedforthatofGennadius，eitherwhenhebecameamonkorapatriarch。Hisdefence，atFlorence，ofthesameunion，whichhesofuriouslyattackedatConstantinople，hastemptedLeoAllatiusDiatrib。deGeorgiis，inFabric。Bibliot。
Graec。tom。x。p。760—786todividehimintotwomen；butRenaudotp。343—383hasrestoredtheidentityofhispersonandtheduplicityofhischaracter。]
[Footnote35:It，maybefairlytranslatedacardinal\'shat。ThedifferenceoftheGreekandLatinhabitsimbitteredtheschism。]
OfthetrianglewhichcomposesthefigureofConstantinople，thetwosidesalongtheseaweremadeinaccessibletoanenemy；
thePropontisbynature，andtheharborbyart。Betweenthetwowaters，thebasisofthetriangle，thelandsidewasprotectedbyadoublewall，andadeepditchofthedepthofonehundredfeet。
Againstthislineoffortification，whichPhranza，aneye—witness，prolongstothemeasureofsixmiles，^36theOttomansdirectedtheirprincipalattack；andtheemperor，afterdistributingtheserviceandcommandofthemostperilousstations，undertookthedefenceoftheexternalwall。InthefirstdaysofthesiegetheGreeksoldiersdescendedintotheditch，orsalliedintothefield；buttheysoondiscovered，that，intheproportionoftheirnumbers，oneChristianwasofmorevaluethantwentyTurks:and，aftertheseboldpreludes，theywereprudentlycontenttomaintaintherampartwiththeirmissileweapons。Norshouldthisprudencebeaccusedofpusillanimity。
Thenationwasindeedpusillanimousandbase；butthelastConstantinedeservesthenameofahero:hisnoblebandofvolunteerswasinspiredwithRomanvirtue；andtheforeignauxiliariessupportedthehonoroftheWesternchivalry。Theincessantvolleysoflancesandarrowswereaccompaniedwiththesmoke，thesound，andthefire，oftheirmusketryandcannon。
Theirsmallarmsdischargedatthesametimeeitherfive，oreventen，ballsoflead，ofthesizeofawalnut；and，accordingtotheclosenessoftheranksandtheforceofthepowder，severalbreastplatesandbodiesweretranspiercedbythesameshot。ButtheTurkishapproachesweresoonsunkintrenches，orcoveredwithruins。EachdayaddedtothescienceoftheChristians；buttheirinadequatestockofgunpowderwaswastedintheoperationsofeachday。Theirordnancewasnotpowerful，eitherinsizeornumber；andiftheypossessedsomeheavycannon，theyfearedtoplantthemonthewalls，lesttheagedstructureshouldbeshakenandoverthrownbytheexplosion。^37ThesamedestructivesecrethadbeenrevealedtotheMoslems；bywhomitwasemployedwiththesuperiorenergyofzeal，riches，anddespotism。ThegreatcannonofMahomethasbeenseparatelynoticed；animportantandvisibleobjectinthehistoryofthetimes:butthatenormousenginewasflankedbytwofellowsalmostofequalmagnitude:^38
thelongorderoftheTurkishartillerywaspointedagainstthewalls；fourteenbatteriesthunderedatonceonthemostaccessibleplaces；andofoneoftheseitisambiguouslyexpressed，thatitwasmountedwithonehundredandthirtyguns，orthatitdischargedonehundredandthirtybullets。Yetinthepowerandactivityofthesultan，wemaydiscerntheinfancyofthenewscience。Underamasterwhocountedthemoments，thegreatcannoncouldbeloadedandfirednomorethanseventimesinoneday。^39Theheatedmetalunfortunatelyburst；severalworkmenweredestroyed；andtheskillofanartistwasadmiredwhobethoughthimselfofpreventingthedangerandtheaccident，bypouringoil，aftereachexplosion，intothemouthofthecannon。
[Footnote36:WeareobligedtoreducetheGreekmilestothesmallestmeasurewhichispreservedinthewerstsofRussia，of547Frenchtoises，andof1042/5toadegree。ThesixmilesofPhranzadonotexceedfourEnglishmiles，D\'Anville，MesuresItineraires，p。61，123，&c。]
[Footnote37:Atindiesdoctioresnostrifactiparaverecontrahostesmachinamenta，quaetamenavaredabantur。Pulviseratnitrimodicaexigua；telamodica；bombardae，siaderantincommoditatelociprimumhostesoffendere，maceriebusalveisquetectos，nonpoterant。Namsiquaemagnaeerant，nemurusconcutereturnoster，quiescebant。ThispassageofLeonardusChiensisiscuriousandimportant。]
[Footnote38:AccordingtoChalcondylesandPhranza，thegreatcannonburst；anincidentwhich，accordingtoDucas，waspreventedbytheartist\'sskill。Itisevidentthattheydonotspeakofthesamegun。
Note:Theyspeak，oneofaByzantine，oneofaTurkish，gun。
VonHammernote，p。669]
[Footnote39:NearahundredyearsafterthesiegeofConstantinople，theFrenchandEnglishfleetsintheChannelwereproudoffiring300shotinanengagementoftwohours，MemoiresdeMartinduBellay，l。x。，intheCollectionGenerale，tom。xxi。
p。239。]
[Footnote*:Thefounderofthegun。VonHammer，p。526。]
Thefirstrandomshotswereproductiveofmoresoundthaneffect；anditwasbytheadviceofaChristian，thattheengineersweretaughttoleveltheiraimagainstthetwooppositesidesofthesalientanglesofabastion。Howeverimperfect，theweightandrepetitionofthefiremadesomeimpressiononthewalls；andtheTurks，pushingtheirapproachestotheedgeoftheditch，attemptedtofilltheenormouschasm，andtobuildaroadtotheassault。^40Innumerablefascines，andhogsheads，andtrunksoftrees，wereheapedoneachother；andsuchwastheimpetuosityofthethrong，thattheforemostandtheweakestwerepushedheadlongdowntheprecipice，andinstantlyburiedundertheaccumulatedmass。Tofilltheditchwasthetoilofthebesiegers；toclearawaytherubbishwasthesafetyofthebesieged；andafteralongandbloodyconflict，thewebthathadbeenwoveninthedaywasstillunravelledinthenight。ThenextresourceofMahometwasthepracticeofmines；butthesoilwasrocky；ineveryattempthewasstoppedandunderminedbytheChristianengineers；norhadtheartbeenyetinventedofreplenishingthosesubterraneouspassageswithgunpowder，andblowingwholetowersandcitiesintotheair。^41AcircumstancethatdistinguishesthesiegeofConstantinopleisthereunionoftheancientandmodernartillery。Thecannonwereintermingledwiththemechanicalenginesforcastingstonesanddarts；thebulletandthebattering—ramweredirectedagainstthesamewalls:norhadthediscoveryofgunpowdersupersededtheuseoftheliquidandunextinguishablefire。Awoodenturretofthelargestsizewasadvancedonrollersthisportablemagazineofammunitionandfascineswasprotectedbyathreefoldcoveringofbulls\'hides:incessantvolleysweresecurelydischargedfromtheloop—holes；inthefront，threedoorswerecontrivedforthealternatesallyandretreatofthesoldiersandworkmen。Theyascendedbyastaircasetotheupperplatform，and，ashighasthelevelofthatplatform，ascaling—laddercouldberaisedbypulleystoformabridge，andgrapplewiththeadverserampart。
Bythesevariousartsofannoyance，someasnewastheywerepernicioustotheGreeks，thetowerofSt。Romanuswasatlengthoverturned:afteraseverestruggle，theTurkswererepulsedfromthebreach，andinterruptedbydarkness；buttheytrustedthatwiththereturnoflighttheyshouldrenewtheattackwithfreshvigoranddecisivesuccess。Ofthispauseofaction，thisintervalofhope，eachmomentwasimproved，bytheactivityoftheemperorandJustiniani，whopassedthenightonthespot，andurgedthelaborswhichinvolvedthesafetyofthechurchandcity。Atthedawnofday，theimpatientsultanperceived，withastonishmentandgrief，thathiswoodenturrethadbeenreducedtoashes:theditchwasclearedandrestored；andthetowerofSt。Romanuswasagainstrongandentire。Hedeploredthefailureofhisdesign；andutteredaprofaneexclamation，thatthewordofthethirty—seventhousandprophetsshouldnothavecompelledhimtobelievethatsuchawork，insoshortatime，couldhavebeenaccomplishedbytheinfidels。
[Footnote40:Ihaveselectedsomecuriousfacts，withoutstrivingtoemulatethebloodyandobstinateeloquenceoftheabbedeVertot，inhisprolixdescriptionsofthesiegesofRhodes，Malta，&c。Butthatagreeablehistorianhadaturnforromance；andashewrotetopleasetheorderhehadadoptedthesamespiritofenthusiasmandchivalry。]
[Footnote41:Thefirsttheoryofmineswithgunpowderappearsin1480inaMs。ofGeorgeofSienna，Tiraboschi，tom。vi。P。i。p。
324。TheywerefirstpractisedbySarzanella，in1487；butthehonorandimprovementin1503isascribedtoPeterofNavarre，whousedthemwithsuccessinthewarsofItaly，Hist。delaLiguedeCambray，tom。ii。p。93—97。]
[Footnote*:Thebattering—ramaccordingtoVonHammer，p。670，
wasnotused—M。]
ChapterLXVIII:ReignOfMahometTheSecond，ExtinctionOfEasternEmpirePartIII。
ThegenerosityoftheChristianprinceswascoldandtardy；
butinthefirstapprehensionofasiege，Constantinehadnegotiated，intheislesoftheArchipelago，theMorea，andSicily，themostindispensablesupplies。AsearlyasthebeginningofApril，five^42greatships，equippedformerchandiseandwar，wouldhavesailedfromtheharborofChios，hadnotthewindblownobstinatelyfromthenorth。^43OneoftheseshipsboretheImperialflag；theremainingfourbelongedtotheGenoese；andtheywereladenwithwheatandbarley，withwine，oil，andvegetables，and，aboveall，withsoldiersandmarinersfortheserviceofthecapital。Afteratediousdelay，agentlebreeze，and，onthesecondday，astronggalefromthesouth，carriedthemthroughtheHellespontandthePropontis:butthecitywasalreadyinvestedbyseaandland；andtheTurkishfleet，attheentranceoftheBosphorus，wasstretchedfromshoretoshore，intheformofacrescent，tointercept，oratleasttorepel，theseboldauxiliaries。ThereaderwhohaspresenttohismindthegeographicalpictureofConstantinople，willconceiveandadmirethegreatnessofthespectacle。ThefiveChristianshipscontinuedtoadvancewithjoyfulshouts，andafullpressbothofsailsandoars，againstahostilefleetofthreehundredvessels；andtherampart，thecamp，thecoastsofEuropeandAsia，werelinedwithinnumerablespectators，whoanxiouslyawaitedtheeventofthismomentoussuccor。Atthefirstviewthateventcouldnotappeardoubtful；thesuperiorityoftheMoslemswasbeyondallmeasureoraccount:and，inacalm，theirnumbersandvalormustinevitablyhaveprevailed。Buttheirhastyandimperfectnavyhadbeencreated，notbythegeniusofthepeople，butbythewillofthesultan:intheheightoftheirprosperity，theTurkshaveacknowledged，thatifGodhadgiventhemtheearth，hehadlefttheseatotheinfidels；^44andaseriesofdefeats，arapidprogressofdecay，hasestablishedthetruthoftheirmodestconfession。Excepteighteengalleysofsomeforce，therestoftheirfleetconsistedofopenboats，rudelyconstructedandawkwardlymanaged，crowdedwithtroops，anddestituteofcannon；andsincecouragearisesinagreatmeasurefromtheconsciousnessofstrength，thebravestoftheJanizariesmighttrembleonanewelement。IntheChristiansquadron，fivestoutandloftyshipswereguidedbyskilfulpilots，andmannedwiththeveteransofItalyandGreece，longpractisedintheartsandperilsofthesea。Theirweightwasdirectedtosinkorscattertheweakobstaclesthatimpededtheirpassage:theirartillerysweptthewaters:theirliquidfirewaspouredontheheadsoftheadversaries，who，withthedesignofboarding，presumedtoapproachthem；andthewindsandwavesarealwaysonthesideoftheablestnavigators。Inthisconflict，theImperialvessel，whichhadbeenalmostoverpowered，wasrescuedbytheGenoese；