Theirmostfaithfulhistoriansbelieve，that，aftergivinghisdaughtertotheking\'sson，ReginaldofCourtenayabandonedhispossessionsinFrance，andobtainedfromtheEnglishmonarchasecondwifeandanewinheritance。Itiscertain，atleast，thatHenrytheSeconddistinguishedinhiscampsandcouncilsaReginald，ofthenameandarms，and，asitmaybefairlypresumed，ofthegenuinerace，oftheCourtenaysofFrance。Therightofwardshipenabledafeudallordtorewardhisvassalwiththemarriageandestateofanobleheiress；andReginaldofCourtenayacquiredafairestablishmentinDevonshire，wherehisposterityhasbeenseatedabovesixhundredyears。^83FromaNormanbaron，BaldwindeBrioniis，whohadbeeninvestedbytheConqueror，Hawise，thewifeofReginald，derivedthehonorofOkehampton，whichwasheldbytheserviceofninety—threeknights；andafemalemightclaimthemanlyofficesofhereditaryviscountorsheriff，andofcaptainoftheroyalcastleofExeter。TheirsonRobertmarriedthesisteroftheearlofDevon:attheendofacentury，onthefailureofthefamilyofRivers，^84hisgreat—grandson，HughtheSecond，succeededtoatitlewhichwasstillconsideredasaterritorialdignity；andtwelveearlsofDevonshire，ofthenameofCourtenay，haveflourishedinaperiodoftwohundredandtwentyyears。Theywererankedamongthechiefofthebaronsoftherealm；norwasittillafterastrenuousdispute，thattheyyieldedtothefiefofArundelthefirstplaceintheparliamentofEngland:theirallianceswerecontractedwiththenoblestfamilies，theVeres，Despensers，St。Johns，Talbots，Bohuns，andeventhePlantagenetsthemselves；andinacontestwithJohnofLancaster，aCourtenay，bishopofLondon，andafterwardsarchbishopofCanterbury，mightbeaccusedofprofaneconfidenceinthestrengthandnumberofhiskindred。Inpeace，theearlsofDevonresidedintheirnumerouscastlesandmanorsofthewest；theiramplerevenuewasappropriatedtodevotionandhospitality；andtheepitaphofEdward，surnamedfromhismisfortune，theblind，fromhisvirtues，thegood，earl，inculcateswithmuchingenuityamoralsentence，whichmay，however，beabusedbythoughtlessgenerosity。Afteragratefulcommemorationofthefifty—fiveyearsofunionandhappinesswhichheenjoyedwithMabelhiswife，thegoodearlthusspeaksfromthetomb:—
\"Whatwegave，wehave；
Whatwespent，wehad；
Whatweleft，welost。\"^85
Buttheirlosses，inthissense，werefarsuperiortotheirgiftsandexpenses；andtheirheirs，notlessthanthepoor，weretheobjectsoftheirpaternalcare。Thesumswhichtheypaidforliveryandseizinattestthegreatnessoftheirpossessions；andseveralestateshaveremainedintheirfamilysincethethirteenthandfourteenthcenturies。Inwar，theCourtenaysofEnglandfulfilledtheduties，anddeservedthehonors，ofchivalry。TheywereoftenintrustedtolevyandcommandthemilitiaofDevonshireandCornwall；theyoftenattendedtheirsupremelordtothebordersofScotland；andinforeignservice，forastipulatedprice，theysometimesmaintainedfourscoremen—at—armsandasmanyarchers。ByseaandlandtheyfoughtunderthestandardoftheEdwardsandHenries:theirnamesareconspicuousinbattles，intournaments，andintheoriginallistoftheOrderoftheGarter；threebrotherssharedtheSpanishvictoryoftheBlackPrince；andinthelapseofsixgenerations，theEnglishCourtenayshadlearnedtodespisethenationandcountryfromwhichtheyderivedtheirorigin。Inthequarrelofthetworoses，theearlsofDevonadheredtothehouseofLancaster；andthreebrotherssuccessivelydiedeitherinthefieldoronthescaffold。TheirhonorsandestateswererestoredbyHenrytheSeventh；adaughterofEdwardtheFourthwasnotdisgracedbythenuptialsofaCourtenay；theirson，whowascreatedMarquisofExeter，enjoyedthefavorofhiscousinHenrytheEighth；andinthecampofClothofGold，hebrokealanceagainsttheFrenchmonarch。ButthefavorofHenrywasthepreludeofdisgrace；hisdisgracewasthesignalofdeath；andofthevictimsofthejealoustyrant，themarquisofExeterisoneofthemostnobleandguiltless。HissonEdwardlivedaprisonerintheTower，anddiedinexileatPadua；andthesecretloveofQueenMary，whomheslighted，perhapsfortheprincessElizabeth，hasshedaromanticcoloronthestoryofthisbeautifulyouth。
Therelicsofhispatrimonywereconveyedintostrangefamiliesbythemarriagesofhisfouraunts；andhispersonalhonors，asiftheyhadbeenlegallyextinct，wererevivedbythepatentsofsucceedingprinces。ButtherestillsurvivedalinealdescendantofHugh，thefirstearlofDevon，ayoungerbranchoftheCourtenays，whohavebeenseatedatPowderhamCastleabovefourhundredyears，fromthereignofEdwardtheThirdtothepresenthour。TheirestateshavebeenincreasedbythegrantandimprovementoflandsinIreland，andtheyhavebeenrecentlyrestoredtothehonorsofthepeerage。YettheCourtenaysstillretaintheplaintivemotto，whichassertstheinnocence，anddeploresthefall，oftheirancienthouse。^86Whiletheysighforpastgreatness，theyaredoubtlesssensibleofpresentblessings:inthelongseriesoftheCourtenayannals，themostsplendidaeraislikewisethemostunfortunate；norcananopulentpeerofBritainbeinclinedtoenvytheemperorsofConstantinople，whowanderedoverEuropetosolicitalmsforthesupportoftheirdignityandthedefenceoftheircapital。
[Footnote80:Dugdale，MonasticonAnglicanum，vol。i。p。786。
YetthisfablemusthavebeeninventedbeforethereignofEdwardIII。TheprofusedevotionofthethreefirstgenerationstoFordAbbeywasfollowedbyoppressionononesideandingratitudeontheother；andinthesixthgeneration，themonksceasedtoregisterthebirths，actions，anddeathsoftheirpatrons。]
[Footnote81:InhisBritannia，inthelistoftheearlsofDevonshire。Hisexpression，eregiosanguineortos，credunt，betrays，however，somedoubtorsuspicion。]
[Footnote82:InhisBaronage，P。i。p。634，hereferstohisownMonasticon。ShouldhenothavecorrectedtheregisterofFordAbbey，andannihilatedthephantomFlorus，bytheunquestionableevidenceoftheFrenchhistorians?]
[Footnote83:BesidesthethirdandmostvaluablebookofCleaveland\'sHistory，IhaveconsultedDugdale，thefatherofourgenealogicalscience，Baronage，P。i。p。634—643。]
[Footnote84:Thisgreatfamily，deRipuariis，deRedvers，deRivers，ended，inEdwardtheFifth\'stime，inIsabelladeFortibus，afamousandpotentdowager，wholongsurvivedherbrotherandhusband，Dugdale，Baronage，Pi。p。254—257。]
[Footnote85:Cleavelandp。142。BysomeitisassignedtoaRiversearlofDevon；buttheEnglishdenotesthexvth，ratherthanthexiiithcentury。]
[Footnote86:Ubilapsus!Quidfeci?amottowhichwasprobablyadoptedbythePowderhambranch，afterthelossoftheearldomofDevonshire，&c。TheprimitivearmsoftheCourtenayswere，Or，threetorteaux，Gules，whichseemtodenotetheiraffinitywithGodfreyofBouillon，andtheancientcountsofBoulogne。]
ChapterLXII:GreekEmperorsOfNiceAndConstantinople。
PartI。
TheGreekEmperorsOfNiceAndConstantinople。—ElevationAndReignOfMichaelPalaeologus。—HisFalseUnionWithThePopeAndTheLatinChurch。—HostileDesignsOfCharlesOfAnjou。—
RevoltOfSicily。—WarOfTheCatalansInAsiaAndGreece。—
RevolutionsAndPresentStateOfAthens。
ThelossofConstantinoplerestoredamomentaryvigortotheGreeks。Fromtheirpalaces，theprincesandnoblesweredrivenintothefield；andthefragmentsofthefallingmonarchyweregraspedbythehandsofthemostvigorousorthemostskilfulcandidates。InthelongandbarrenpagesoftheByzantineannals，^1itwouldnotbeaneasytasktoequalthetwocharactersofTheodoreLascarisandJohnDucasVataces，^2whoreplantedandupheldtheRomanstandardatNiceinBithynia。Thedifferenceoftheirvirtueswashappilysuitedtothediversityoftheirsituation。Inhisfirstefforts，thefugitiveLascariscommandedonlythreecitiesandtwothousandsoldiers:hisreignwastheseasonofgenerousandactivedespair:ineverymilitaryoperationhestakedhislifeandcrown；andhisenemiesoftheHellespontandtheMaeander，weresurprisedbyhiscelerityandsubduedbyhisboldness。AvictoriousreignofeighteenyearsexpandedtheprincipalityofNicetothemagnitudeofanempire。
Thethroneofhissuccessorandson—in—lawVataceswasfoundedonamoresolidbasis，alargerscope，andmoreplentifulresources；
anditwasthetemper，aswellastheinterest，ofVatacestocalculatetherisk，toexpectthemoment，andtoinsurethesuccess，ofhisambitiousdesigns。InthedeclineoftheLatins，IhavebrieflyexposedtheprogressoftheGreeks；theprudentandgradualadvancesofaconqueror，who，inareignofthirty—threeyears，rescuedtheprovincesfromnationalandforeignusurpers，tillhepressedonallsidestheImperialcity，aleaflessandsaplesstrunk，whichmustfullatthefirststrokeoftheaxe。Buthisinteriorandpeacefuladministrationisstillmoredeservingofnoticeandpraise。^3ThecalamitiesofthetimeshadwastedthenumbersandthesubstanceoftheGreeks；
themotivesandthemeansofagriculturewereextirpated；andthemostfertilelandswereleftwithoutcultivationorinhabitants。
Aportionofthisvacantpropertywasoccupiedandimprovedbythecommand，andforthebenefit，oftheemperor:apowerfulhandandavigilanteyesuppliedandsurpassed，byaskilfulmanagement，theminutediligenceofaprivatefarmer:theroyaldomainbecamethegardenandgranaryofAsia；andwithoutimpoverishingthepeople，thesovereignacquiredafundofinnocentandproductivewealth。Accordingtothenatureofthesoil，hislandsweresownwithcornorplantedwithvines；thepastureswerefilledwithhorsesandoxen，withsheepandhogs；
andwhenVatacespresentedtotheempressacrownofdiamondsandpearls，heinformedher，withasmile，thatthispreciousornamentarosefromthesaleoftheeggsofhisinnumerablepoultry。Theproduceofhisdomainwasappliedtothemaintenanceofhispalaceandhospitals，thecallsofdignityandbenevolence:thelessonwasstillmoreusefulthantherevenue:
theploughwasrestoredtoitsancientsecurityandhonor；andthenoblesweretaughttoseekasureandindependentrevenuefromtheirestates，insteadofadorningtheirsplendidbeggarybytheoppressionofthepeople，orwhatisalmostthesamebythefavorsofthecourt。ThesuperfluousstockofcornandcattlewaseagerlypurchasedbytheTurks，withwhomVatacespreservedastrictandsincerealliance；buthediscouragedtheimportationofforeignmanufactures，thecostlysilksoftheEast，andthecuriouslaborsoftheItalianlooms。\"Thedemandsofnatureandnecessity，\"washeaccustomedtosay，\"areindispensable；buttheinfluenceoffashionmayriseandsinkatthebreathofamonarch；\"andbothhispreceptandexamplerecommendedsimplicityofmannersandtheuseofdomesticindustry。Theeducationofyouthandtherevivaloflearningwerethemostseriousobjectsofhiscare；and，withoutdecidingtheprecedency，hepronouncedwithtruth，thataprinceandaphilosopher^4arethetwomosteminentcharactersofhumansociety。HisfirstwifewasIrene，thedaughterofTheodoreLascaris，awomanmoreillustriousbyherpersonalmerit，themildervirtuesofhersex，thanbythebloodoftheAngeliandComnenithatflowedinherveins，andtransmittedtheinheritanceoftheempire。AfterherdeathhewascontractedtoAnne，orConstance，anaturaldaughteroftheemperorFrederictheSecond；butasthebridehadnotattainedtheyearsofpuberty，VatacesplacedinhissolitarybedanItaliandamselofhertrain；andhisamorousweaknessbestowedontheconcubinethehonors，thoughnotthetitle，ofalawfulempress。Hisfrailtywascensuredasaflagitiousanddamnablesinbythemonks；andtheirrudeinvectivesexercisedanddisplayedthepatienceoftheroyallover。Aphilosophicagemayexcuseasinglevice，whichwasredeemedbyacrowdofvirtues；
andinthereviewofhisfaults，andthemoreintemperatepassionsofLascaris，thejudgmentoftheircontemporarieswassoftenedbygratitudetothesecondfoundersoftheempire。^5
TheslavesoftheLatins，withoutlaworpeace，applaudedthehappinessoftheirbrethrenwhohadresumedtheirnationalfreedom；andVatacesemployedthelaudablepolicyofconvincingtheGreeksofeverydominionthatitwastheirinteresttobeenrolledinthenumberofhissubjects。
[Footnote1:ForthereignsoftheNiceneemperors，moreespeciallyofJohnVatacesandhisson，theirminister，GeorgeAcropolita，istheonlygenuinecontemporary；butGeorgePachymerreturnedtoConstantinoplewiththeGreeksattheageofnineteen，HanckiusdeScript。Byzant。c。33，34，p。564—578。
Fabric。Bibliot。Graec。tom。vi。p。448—460。YetthehistoryofNicephorusGregoras，thoughofthexivthcentury，isavaluablenarrativefromthetakingofConstantinoplebytheLatins。]
[Footnote2:NicephorusGregorasl。ii。c。1distinguishesbetweenLascaris，andVataces。Thetwoportraitsareinaverygoodstyle。]
[Footnote3:Pachymer，l。i。c。23，24。Nic。Greg。l。ii。c。6。
ThereaderoftheByzantinesmustobservehowrarelyweareindulgedwithsuchpreciousdetails。]
[Footnote4:Greg。Acropol。c。32。Theemperor，inafamiliarconversation，examinedandencouragedthestudiesofhisfuturelogothete。]
[Footnote*:SisterofManfred，afterwardskingofNaples。NicGreg。p。45。—M。]
[Footnote5:CompareAcropolita，c。18，52，andthetwofirstbooksofNicephorusGregoras。]
AstrongshadeofdegeneracyisvisiblebetweenJohnVatacesandhissonTheodore；betweenthefounderwhosustainedtheweight，andtheheirwhoenjoyedthesplendor，oftheImperialcrown。^6YetthecharacterofTheodorewasnotdevoidofenergy；
hehadbeeneducatedintheschoolofhisfather，intheexerciseofwarandhunting；Constantinoplewasyetspared；butinthethreeyearsofashortreign，hethriceledhisarmiesintotheheartofBulgaria。Hisvirtuesweresulliedbyacholericandsuspicioustemper:thefirstofthesemaybeascribedtotheignoranceofcontrol；andthesecondmightnaturallyarisefromadarkandimperfectviewofthecorruptionofmankind。OnamarchinBulgaria，heconsultedonaquestionofpolicyhisprincipalministers；andtheGreeklogothete，GeorgeAcropolita，presumedtooffendhimbythedeclarationofafreeandhonestopinion。
Theemperorhalfunsheathedhiscimeter；buthismoredeliberateragereservedAcropolitaforabaserpunishment。Oneofthefirstofficersoftheempirewasorderedtodismount，strippedofhisrobes，andextendedonthegroundinthepresenceoftheprinceandarmy。Inthisposturehewaschastisedwithsomanyandsuchheavyblowsfromtheclubsoftwoguardsorexecutioners，thatwhenTheodorecommandedthemtocease，thegreatlogothetewasscarcelyabletoriseandcrawlawaytohistent。Afteraseclusionofsomedays，hewasrecalledbyaperemptorymandatetohisseatincouncil；andsodeadweretheGreekstothesenseofhonorandshame，thatitisfromthenarrativeofthesuffererhimselfthatweacquiretheknowledgeofhisdisgrace。^7Thecrueltyoftheemperorwasexasperatedbythepangsofsickness，theapproachofaprematureend，andthesuspicionofpoisonandmagic。Thelivesandfortunes，theeyesandlimbs，ofhiskinsmenandnobles，weresacrificedtoeachsallyofpassion；andbeforehedied，thesonofVatacesmightdeservefromthepeople，oratleastfromthecourt，theappellationoftyrant。AmatronofthefamilyofthePalaeologihadprovokedhisangerbyrefusingtobestowherbeauteousdaughteronthevileplebeianwhowasrecommendedbyhiscaprice。
Withoutregardtoherbirthorage，herbody，ashighastheneck，wasenclosedinasackwithseveralcats，whowereprickedwithpinstoirritatetheirfuryagainsttheirunfortunatefellow—captive。Inhislasthourstheemperortestifiedawishtoforgiveandbeforgiven，ajustanxietyforthefateofJohnhissonandsuccessor，who，attheageofeightyears，wascondemnedtothedangersofalongminority。HislastchoiceintrustedtheofficeofguardiantothesanctityofthepatriarchArsenius，andtothecourageofGeorgeMuzalon，thegreatdomestic，whowasequallydistinguishedbytheroyalfavorandthepublichatred。SincetheirconnectionwiththeLatins，thenamesandprivilegesofhereditaryrankhadinsinuatedthemselvesintotheGreekmonarchy；andthenoblefamilies^8wereprovokedbytheelevationofaworthlessfavorite，towhoseinfluencetheyimputedtheerrorsandcalamitiesofthelatereign。Inthefirstcouncil，aftertheemperor\'sdeath，Muzalon，fromaloftythrone，pronouncedalaboredapologyofhisconductandintentions:hismodestywassubduedbyaunanimousassuranceofesteemandfidelity；andhismostinveterateenemiesweretheloudesttosalutehimastheguardianandsavioroftheRomans。
Eightdaysweresufficienttopreparetheexecutionoftheconspiracy。Ontheninth，theobsequiesofthedeceasedmonarchweresolemnizedinthecathedralofMagnesia，^9anAsiaticcity，whereheexpired，onthebanksoftheHermus，andatthefootofMountSipylus。Theholyriteswereinterruptedbyaseditionoftheguards；Muzalon，hisbrothers，andhisadherents，weremassacredatthefootofthealtar；andtheabsentpatriarchwasassociatedwithanewcolleague，withMichaelPalaeologus，themostillustrious，inbirthandmerit，oftheGreeknobles。^10
[Footnote6:APersiansaying，thatCyruswasthefatherandDariusthemaster，ofhissubjects，wasappliedtoVatacesandhisson。ButPachymerl。i。c。23hasmistakenthemildDariusforthecruelCambyses，despotortyrantofhispeople。Bytheinstitutionoftaxes，Dariushadincurredthelessodious，butmorecontemptible，nameofmerchantorbroker，Herodotus，iii。
89。]
[Footnote7:Acropolitac。63seemstoadmirehisownfirmnessinsustainingabeating，andnotreturningtocounciltillhewascalled。HerelatestheexploitsofTheodore，andhisownservices，fromc。53toc。74ofhishistory。SeethethirdbookofNicephorusGregoras。]
[Footnote8:Pachymerl。i。c。21namesanddiscriminatesfifteenortwentyGreekfamilies。Doeshemean，bythisdecoration，afigurativeorarealgoldenchain?Perhaps，both。]
[Footnote9:Theoldgeographers，withCellariusandD\'Anville，andourtravellers，particularlyPocockandChandler，willteachustodistinguishthetwoMagnesiasofAsiaMinor，oftheMaeanderandofSipylus。Thelatter，ourpresentobject，isstillflourishingforaTurkishcity，andlieseighthours，orleagues，tothenorth—eastofSmyrna，Tournefort，VoyageduLevant，tom。iii。lettrexxii。p。365—370。Chandler\'sTravelsintoAsiaMinor，p。267。]
[Footnote10:SeeAcropolita，c。75，76，&c。，wholivedtoonearthetimes；Pachymer，l。i。c。13—25，Gregoras，l。iii。
c。3，4，5。]
Ofthosewhoareproudoftheirancestors，thefargreaterpartmustbecontentwithlocalordomesticrenown；andfewtherearewhodaretrustthememorialsoftheirfamilytothepublicannalsoftheircountry。Asearlyasthemiddleoftheeleventhcentury，thenobleraceofthePalaeologi^11standshighandconspicuousintheByzantinehistory:itwasthevaliantGeorgePalaeologuswhoplacedthefatheroftheComnenionthethrone；