LXVI.

CHA P. the council; and it was enforced by the ftrange belief, that the German Cæfar would nominate a Greek his heir and fucceffor in the empire of the Weft (46). Even the Turkish fultan was a counfelior whom it might be unsafe to truft, but whom it was dangerous to offend., Amurath was unfkilled in the difputes, but he was apprehenfive of the union, of the Chriftians. From his own treasures, he offered to relieve the wants of the Byzantine court; yet he declared with feeming magnanimity, that Conftantinople fhould be fecure and inviolate, in the absence of her fovereign (47). The refolution of Palæologus was decided by the moft fplendid gifts and the moft fpecious promifes: he wifhed to escape for a while from a scene of danger and diftrefs; and after difmiffing with an ambiguous answer the meffengers of the council, he declared his intention of embarking in the Roman gallies. The age of the patriarch Jofeph was more fufceptible of fear than of hope; he trenibled at the perils of the fea, and expreffed his apprehenfion, that his feeble voice, with thirty perhaps of his orthodox brethren, would be oppreffed in a foreign land by the power and numbers of a Latin fynod. He yielded to the royal mandate, to the flattering affurance, that he would be heard as the oracle of nations, and to the fecret wifh of learning from his brother of the Weft, to deliver the church from the yoke of kings (48). The five crossbearers or dignitaries of St. Sophia, were bound to attend his perfon; and one of thefe, the great ecclefiarch or preacher, Sylvefter Syropulus (49), has compof

ed

(46) Syropulus mentions the hopes of Palæologus (p. 36.), and the laft advice of Sigifmond (p. 57.). At Corfu, the Greek emperor was informed of his friend's death; had he known it fooner, he would have returned home (p. 79.).

(47) Phranzes himself, though from different motives, was of the advice of Amurath (1. ii. c. 13.). Utinam ne fynodus ifta unquam fuiffet, fi tantas offenfiones et detrimenta paritura erat. This Turkish embaffy is likewise mentioned by Syropulus (p. 58.); and Amurath kept his word. He might threaten (p. 125. 219.), but he never attacked the city.

(48) The reader will smile at the fimplicity with which he imparted these hopes to his favourites: τοιαύτην πληροφορίαν σχήσειν ηλπιζε και δια τε Παπα εθαρρειε λευθερώσαι την εκκλησιων απο της αποτέθεισης αυτε δέλειας Tapa TY Baris (p. 92.). Yet it would have been difficult for him to have practifed the leffons of Gregory VII.

(49) The Chriftian name of Sylvefter is borrowed from the Latin calendar. In modern Greek, 78205, as a diminutive, is added to the end of words:

LXVI.

ed (50) a free and curious hiftory of the falfe union (51). Of CHA P. the clergy that reluctantly obeyed the fummons of the emperor and the patriarch, fubmiffion was the first duty, and patience the most useful virtue. In a chofen list of twenty bifhops, we difcover the metropolitan titles of Heraclea and Cyzicus, Nice and Nicomedia, Ephefus and Trebizond, and the perfonal merit of Mark and Beffarion, who, in the confidence of their learning and eloquence, were promoted to the epifcopal rank. Some monks and philofophers were named to difplay the fcience and fanctity of the Greek church; and the fervice of the choir was performed by a felect band of fingers and muficians. The patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerufalem, appeared by their genuine or fictitious deputies; the primate of Ruffia reprefented a national church, and the Greeks might contend with the Latins in the extent of their fpiritual empire. The precious vases of St. Sophia were exposed to the winds and waves, that the patriarch might officiate with becoming fplendour; whatever gold the emperor could procure, was expended in the maffy ornaments of his bed and chariot (52) and while they affected to maintain the profperity of their ancient fortune; they quarrelled for the divifion of fifteen thousand ducats, the firft alms of the Roman pontiff. After the necessary preparations, John Palæologus, with a numerous train accompanied by his brother Demetrius, and the moft refpectable perfons of the church and ftate,

words: nor can any reafoning of Creyghton, the editor, excuse his changing into Sgarepulus (Sguros, fufcus) the Syropulus of his own manuscript, whofe name is fubfcribed with his own hand in the acts of the council of Florence. Why might not the author be of Syrian extraction?

(50) From the conclufion of the history, I should fix the date to the year 1444, four years after the fynod, when the great ecclefiarch had abdicated his office (fectio xii. p. 330-350.). His paflions were cooled by time and retirement, and, although Syropulus is often partial, he is never intemperate.

(51) Vera hiftoria unicnis non veræ inter Græcos et Latinos (Hage Comitis, 1660, in folio), was first published with a loose and florid version, by Robert Creyghton, chaplain to Charles II. in his exile. The zeal of the editor has prefixed a polemic title, for the beginning of the original is wanting. Sy ropulus may be ranked with the beft of the Byzantine writers for the merit of his narration, and even of his ftyle: but he is excluded from the orthodox collections of the councils.

(52) Syropulus (p. 63.) fimply expreffes his intention: iv' šτwπ ojeπuWY εν Ιταλοίς μέγας βασιλευς παρ' εκείνων νομίζοιτο; and the Latin of Creyghton may afford a fpecimen of his florid paraphrafe. Ut pompâ circumductus nofter Imperator Italiæ aliquis deauratus Jupiter crederetur, aut Cræfus ex opulentâ Lydiâ.

A. D. 1438,

CHAP. ftate, embarked in eight veffels with fails and oars, which LXVI. fteered through the Turkish ftreights of Gallipoli to the Archipelago, the Morea, and the Adriatic Gulf (53).” Hi,trium- After a tedious and troublesome navigation of seventyphal entry feven days, this religious fquadron caft anchor before Veat Venice, nice; and their reception proclaimed the joy and magnifiFebruary 9; cence of that powerful republic. In the command of the world, the modeft Auguftus had never claimed such honours from his fubjects as were paid to his feeble fucceffor by an independent ftate. Seated on the poop, on a lofty throne, he received the vifit, or, in the Greek style, the adoration, of the doge and fenators (54). They failed in the Bucentaur, which was accompanied by twelve stately gallies: the fea was overfpread with innumerable gondolas of pomp and pleasure; the air refounded with mufic and acclamations; the mariners, and even the veffels, were 'dreffed in filk and gold; and in all the emblems and pageants, the Roman eagles were blended with the lions of St. Mark. The triumphal proceffion, afcending the great canal, paffed under the bridge of the Rialto; and the ftrangers gazed with admiration on the palaces, the churches, and the populoufnefs of a city that feems to float on the bofom of the waves (55). They fighed to behold the spoils and trophies with which it had been decorated after the fack of Conftantinople. After an hofpitable entertainment of fifteen days, Palæologus pursued his journey by land and water from Venice to Ferrara: and on this occafion, the pride of the Vatican was tempered by policy to indulge the ancient dignity of the emperor of the Eaft. He made his entry on a black horfe; but a milk-white steed, whofe trap

into Fer

rara,

February 28.

pings

(53) Although I cannot ftop to quote Syropulus for every fact, I will obferve, that the navigation of the Grecks from Conftantinople to Venice and Ferrara is contained in the 4th section (p. 67-100.), and that the hiftorian has the uncommon talent of placing each fcene before the reader's eye.

(54) At the time of the fynod, Phranzes was in Peloponnefus; but he received from the defpot Demetrius, a faithful account of the honourable reception of the emperor and patriarch both at Venice and Ferrara (Dux... fedentem Imperatorem adorai), which are more flightly mentioned by the Latins (1. ii. c. 14, 15, 16.).

(55) The astonifliment of a Greek prince and a French ambaffador (Mémoires de Philippe de Comines, 1. vii. c. 18.) at the fight of Venice, abundantly prove, that in the 15th century it was the first and most splendid of the Chriftian cities. For the fpoils of Conftantinople at Venice, fee Syropulus (p. 87.).

LXVI.

pings were embroidered with golden cagles, was led before CHA P. him; and the canopy was borne over his head by the princes of Efte, the fons or kinfmen of Nicholas, marquis of the city, and a fovereign more powerful than himfelf (56). Palæologus did not alight till he reached the bottom of the stair-cafe: the pope advanced to the door of the apartment: refufed his proffered genuflexion; and, after a paternal embrace, conducted the emperor to a feat on his left-hand. Nor would the patriarch defcend from his galley, till a ceremony, almost equal, had been stipulated between the bishops of Rome and Conftantinople. 'The latter was faluted by his brother with a kiss of union and charity: nor would any of the Greek ecclefiaftics fubmit to kifs the feet of the Western primate. On the opening of the fynod, the place of honour in the centre was claimed by the temporal and ecclefiaftical chiefs; and it was only by alledging that his predeceffors had not affifted in person at Nice or Chalcedon, that Eugenius could evade the ancient precedents of Conftantine and Marcian. After much debate, it was agreed that the right and left fides of the church fhould be occupied by the two nations: that the folitary chair of St. Peter fhould be raised the first of the Latin line; and that the throne of the Greek emperor, at the head of his clergy, fhould be equal and oppofite to the fecond place, the vacant feat of the emperor of the Weft (57).

at Ferrara

But as foon as feftivity and form had given place to a more Council of ferious treaty, the Greeks were diffatisfied with their jour- the Greeks ney, with themselves, and with the pope. The artful and Latins pencil of his emiffaries had painted him in a profperous and Flostate; at the head of the princes and prelates of Europe, rence, A. D. 1438, obedient, at his voice, to believe and to arm. The thin Odober 8appearance of the univerfal fynod of Ferrara betrayed his A. D. 1439, weakness; July 6.

(56) Nicholas III. of Efte, reigned forty-eight years (A D. 1393-1441), and was lord of Ferrara, Modena, Reggio, Parma, Rovigo, and Commachio. See his life in Muratori (Antichità Eftenfi, tom. ii. p. 159201.).

(57) The Latin vulgar was provoked to laughter at the ftrange dreffes of the Greeks, and especially the length of their garments, their fleeves, and their beards; nor was the emperor diftinguished, except by the purple colour, and his diadem or tiara with a jewel on the top (Hody de Græcis Illuftribus, p. 31.). Yet another fpectator confeffes, that the Greek fashion was piu grave e piu degna than the Italian (Vespasiano, in Vit. Eugen. IV. in Muratori, tom xxv. p. 261.).

LXVI.

CHA P. weakness; and the Latins opened the first feffion with only five archbishops, eighteen bishops, and ten abbots, the greatest part of whom were the fubjects or countrymen of the Italian pontiff. Except the duke of Burgundy, none of the potentates of the Weft condefcended to appear in perfon, or by their ambaffadors; nor was it poffible to fupprefs the judicial acts of Bafil against the dignity and perfon of Eugenius, which were finally concluded by a new election. Under thefe circumftances, a truce or delay was afked and granted, till Palæologus could expect from the confent of the Latins fome temporal reward for an unpopular union; and, after the first feflion, the public proceedings were adjourned above fix months. The emperor, with a chofen band of his favourites and Janizaries, fixed his fummer refidence at a pleafant fpacious monaftery, fix miles from Ferrara; forgot, in the pleafures of the chace, the diftrefs of the church and ftate; and perfifted in deftroying the game, without liftening to the just complaints of the marquis or the husbandman (58). In the mean while, his unfortunate Greeks were expofed to all the miferies of exile and poverty; for the support of each stranger, a monthly allowance was affigned of three or four gold florins; and although the entire fum did not amount to seven hundred florins, a long arrear was repeatedly incurred by the indigence or policy of the Roman court (59). They fighed for a fpeedy deliverance, but their efcape was prevented by a triple chain: a paffport from their fuperiors was required at the gates of Ferrara; the government of Venice had engaged to arreft and fend back the fugitives; and inevitable punishment awaited them at Conftantinople; excommunication,

(58) For the emperor's hunting, fee Syropulus (p. 143, 144 191.). The pope had fent him eleven miferable hacks: but he brought a ftrong and fwift horse that came from Ruffia. The name of Janizaries may furprise: but the name, rather than the inftitution, had paffed from the Ottoman, to the Byzantine, court; and is often used in the laft age of the empire.

(59) The Greeks obtained, with much difficulty, that inftead of provifions, money fhould be distributed, four florins per month to the perfons of honourable rank, and three florins to their fervants, with an addition of thirty more to the emperor, twenty-five to the patriarch, and twenty to the prince or defpot Demetrius. The payment of the first month amounted to 691 florins, a fum which will not allow us to reckon above 200 Greeks of every condition (Syropulus, p. 104, 105.). On the 20th October 1438, there was an arrear of four months; in April 1439, of three; and of five and a half in July, at the time of the union (p. 172. 225. 271.).