This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ... Cfje Winlfj Starg. MAHOMET, EMPEROR OF THE TURKS, CRUELLY SLAYETH ONE OF HIS WOMEN. Will you be certified, ladies mine, that many say they love and know not what they say, for that what they call love is no love, but a disorderly appetite, an unbridled desire, a blind and bestial frenzy? Hearken unto me and judge if I tell you the truth or not, for I desire none other judges for the nonce, dear my ladies, than you. Mahomet, son of Amurath, King of the Ottoman Turks, was he who, to the exceeding reproach and eternal infamy of all the Christian princes of the time, stormed Constantinople in the year one thousand four hundred and fifty-three of our salvation and usurped the Greek empire, it being the one thousand and one hundred and ninety-first year since Constantine, son of Helena, established the seat of empire at Constantinople, whither he had removed it from Rome. And here it may be noted that, like as the Greek empire began with Constantine, son of Helena, even so it terminated and came to an end with Constantine Palaeologus, likewise son of Helena, who, seeing the Turks entered into the city and that there was no means of recovering it, did off the robes which he wore over his armour and which bespoke him emperor and rushing into the midst of the infidels, slew many of them with his own hand, fighting manfully like the lusty and valiant soldier he was, till, at the last, without ever showing his back to the foe, he fell down dead midmost his enemies, having lost all his blood for multitude of wounds. Mahomet, who was of his nature very cruel, having won this great victory, ordained that Calibasso, who had of his father been appointed unto him for governor, should be slain, for that he had, at the spoiling of Constantinople, ...