The Caramanian, who is a great prince, and a bitter enemy to the Turks, should he be informed of this intended warfare against the Turk, he will harrass him much, and, with some inducements, may probably become a Christian. In Greece, there will not be a common peasant but will exert himself to bring provisions to the Christian army. On the other hand, the Turks will be straitened for provision, as their resources from Greece will be cut off by sea; and it may be supposed that the Greeks will be anxious to recover their lands by the sword,—and the moment that the two armies shall approach Turkey, the whole of the unbelievers' army must be nearly famished and defeated.
Should the Christians, however, delay their exertions, and allow the Turk time to strengthen himself by sea and land, there can be no doubt but that he will cause great damage to the Christians, which God forbid!
In the venetian galley, eight citizens of Venice returned, who had been settled at Constantinople; but thirty-eight gentlemen and forty others remained behind. May God speedily assist them in their deliverance.
FOOTNOTES:
[163] M. du Cange says, that this chapter must be compared with Phrantzes.
This chapter, containing the 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 the 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.
[164] Morbesan. Mahomet II. son to Amurath or Morad II.
[165] Palendrins,—Palendric,—a flat boat.——Du Cange's Glossary.
[166] Sangombassa. Q.
[167] Melse Mondagarin. Q, the sea of Marmora?