PartII。
Thedangerandscandalofthisexcommunicationsubsistedabovethreeyears,tillthepopularclamorwasassuagedbytimeandrepentance;tillthebrethrenofArseniuscondemnedhisinflexiblespirit,sorepugnanttotheunboundedforgivenessofthegospel。Theemperorhadartfullyinsinuated,that,ifhewerestillrejectedathome,hemightseek,intheRomanpontiff,amoreindulgentjudge;butitwasfarmoreeasyandeffectualtofindortoplacethatjudgeattheheadoftheByzantinechurch。
Arseniuswasinvolvedinavaguerumorofconspiracyanddisaffection;someirregularstepsinhisordinationandgovernmentwereliabletocensure;asynoddeposedhimfromtheepiscopaloffice;andhewastransportedunderaguardofsoldierstoasmallislandofthePropontis。Beforehisexile,hesullenlyrequestedthatastrictaccountmightbetakenofthetreasuresofthechurch;boasted,thathissoleriches,threepiecesofgold,hadbeenearnedbytranscribingthepsalms;
continuedtoassertthefreedomofhismind;anddenied,withhislastbreath,thepardonwhichwasimploredbytheroyalsinner。
^25Aftersomedelay,Gregory,bishopofAdrianople,wastranslatedtotheByzantinethrone;buthisauthoritywasfoundinsufficienttosupporttheabsolutionoftheemperor;andJoseph,areverendmonk,wassubstitutedtothatimportantfunction。Thisedifyingscenewasrepresentedinthepresenceofthesenateandthepeople;attheendofsixyearsthehumblepenitentwasrestoredtothecommunionofthefaithful;andhumanitywillrejoice,thatamildertreatmentofthecaptiveLascariswasstipulatedasaproofofhisremorse。ButthespiritofArseniusstillsurvivedinapowerfulfactionofthemonksandclergy,whoperseveredaboutforty—eightyearsinanobstinateschism。TheirscruplesweretreatedwithtendernessandrespectbyMichaelandhisson;andthereconciliationoftheArseniteswastheseriouslaborofthechurchandstate。Intheconfidenceoffanaticism,theyhadproposedtotrytheircausebyamiracle;
andwhenthetwopapers,thatcontainedtheirownandtheadversecause,werecastintoafierybrazier,theyexpectedthattheCatholicveritywouldberespectedbytheflames。Alas!thetwopaperswereindiscriminatelyconsumed,andthisunforeseenaccidentproducedtheunionofaday,andrenewedthequarrelofanage。^26ThefinaltreatydisplayedthevictoryoftheArsenites:theclergyabstainedduringfortydaysfromallecclesiasticalfunctions;aslightpenancewasimposedonthelaity;thebodyofArseniuswasdepositedinthesanctuary;and,inthenameofthedepartedsaint,theprinceandpeoplewerereleasedfromthesinsoftheirfathers。^27
[Footnote*:Excepttheomissionofaprayerfortheemperor,thechargesagainstArseniuswereofdifferentnature:hewasaccusedofhavingallowedthesultanofIconiumtobatheinvesselssignedwiththecross,andtohaveadmittedhimtothechurch,thoughunbaptized,duringtheservice。Itwaspleaded,infavorofArsenius,amongotherproofsofthesultan\'sChristianity,thathehadofferedtoeatham。Pachymer,l。iv。c。4,p。265。
Itwasafterhisexilethathewasinvolvedinachargeofconspiracy。—M。]
[Footnote25:PachymerrelatestheexileofArsenius,l。iv。c。
1—16:hewasoneofthecommissarieswhovisitedhiminthedesertisland。Thelasttestamentoftheunforgivingpatriarchisstillextant,Dupin,BibliothequeEcclesiastique,tom。x。p。
95。]
[Footnote*:PachymercallshimGermanus。—M。]
[Footnote26:Pachymerl。vii。c。22relatesthismiraculoustriallikeaphilosopher,andtreatswithsimilarcontemptaplotoftheArsenites,tohidearevelationinthecoffinofsomeoldsaint,l。vii。c。13。Hecompensatesthisincredulitybyanimagethatweeps,anotherthatbleeds,l。vii。c。30,andthemiraculouscuresofadeafandamutepatient,l。xi。c。32。]
[Footnote27:ThestoryoftheArsenitesisspreadthroughthethirteenbooksofPachymer。TheirunionandtriumpharereservedforNicephorusGregoras,l。vii。c。9,whoneitherlovesnoresteemsthesesectaries。]
Theestablishmentofhisfamilywasthemotive,oratleastthepretence,ofthecrimeofPalaeologus;andhewasimpatienttoconfirmthesuccession,bysharingwithhiseldestsonthehonorsofthepurple。Andronicus,afterwardssurnamedtheElder,wasproclaimedandcrownedemperoroftheRomans,inthefifteenthyearofhisage;and,fromthefirstaeraofaprolixandingloriousreign,heheldthataugusttitlenineyearsasthecolleague,andfiftyasthesuccessor,ofhisfather。Michaelhimself,hadhediedinaprivatestation,wouldhavebeenthoughtmoreworthyoftheempire;andtheassaultsofhistemporalandspiritualenemieslefthimfewmomentstolaborforhisownfameorthehappinessofhissubjects。HewrestedfromtheFranksseveralofthenoblestislandsoftheArchipelago,Lesbos,Chios,andRhodes:hisbrotherConstantinewassenttocommandinMalvasiaandSparta;andtheeasternsideoftheMorea,fromArgosandNapolitoCapeThinners,wasrepossessedbytheGreeks。ThiseffusionofChristianbloodwasloudlycondemnedbythepatriarch;andtheinsolentpriestpresumedtointerposehisfearsandscruplesbetweenthearmsofprinces。
Butintheprosecutionofthesewesternconquests,thecountriesbeyondtheHellespontwereleftnakedtotheTurks;andtheirdepredationsverifiedtheprophecyofadyingsenator,thattherecoveryofConstantinoplewouldbetheruinofAsia。ThevictoriesofMichaelwereachievedbyhislieutenants;hisswordrustedinthepalace;and,inthetransactionsoftheemperorwiththepopesandthekingofNaples,hispoliticalactswerestainedwithcrueltyandfraud。^28
[Footnote28:OfthexiiibooksofPachymer,thefirstsixastheivthandvthofNicephorusGregorascontainthereignofMichael,atthetimeofwhosedeathhewasfortyyearsofage。
Insteadofbreaking,likehiseditorthePerePoussin,hishistoryintotwoparts,IfollowDucangeandCousin,whonumberthexiii。booksinoneseries。]
I。TheVaticanwasthemostnaturalrefugeofaLatinemperor,whohadbeendrivenfromhisthrone;andPopeUrbantheFourthappearedtopitythemisfortunes,andvindicatethecause,ofthefugitiveBaldwin。Acrusade,withplenaryindulgence,waspreachedbyhiscommandagainsttheschismaticGreeks:heexcommunicatedtheiralliesandadherents;solicitedLouistheNinthinfavorofhiskinsman;anddemandedatenthoftheecclesiasticalrevenuesofFranceandEnglandfortheserviceoftheholywar。^29ThesubtleGreek,whowatchedtherisingtempestoftheWest,attemptedtosuspendorsoothethehostilityofthepope,bysuppliantembassiesandrespectfulletters;butheinsinuatedthattheestablishmentofpeacemustpreparethereconciliationandobedienceoftheEasternchurch。TheRomancourtcouldnotbedeceivedbysogrossanartifice;andMichaelwasadmonished,thattherepentanceofthesonshouldprecedetheforgivenessofthefather;andthatfaithanambiguouswordwastheonlybasisoffriendshipandalliance。Afteralongandaffecteddelay,theapproachofdanger,andtheimportunityofGregorytheTenth,compelledhimtoenteronamoreseriousnegotiation:heallegedtheexampleofthegreatVataces;andtheGreekclergy,whounderstoodtheintentionsoftheirprince,werenotalarmedbythefirststepsofreconciliationandrespect。
Butwhenhepressedtheconclusionofthetreaty,theystrenuouslydeclared,thattheLatins,thoughnotinname,werehereticsinfact,andthattheydespisedthosestrangersasthevilestandmostdespicableportionofthehumanrace。^30Itwasthetaskoftheemperortopersuade,tocorrupt,tointimidatethemostpopularecclesiastics,togainthevoteofeachindividual,andalternatelytourgetheargumentsofChristiancharityandthepublicwelfare。ThetextsofthefathersandthearmsoftheFrankswerebalancedinthetheologicalandpoliticalscale;andwithoutapprovingtheadditiontotheNicenecreed,themostmoderateweretaughttoconfess,thatthetwohostilepropositionsofproceedingfromtheFatherbytheSon,andofproceedingfromtheFatherandtheSon,mightbereducedtoasafeandCatholicsense。^31Thesupremacyofthepopewasadoctrinemoreeasytoconceive,butmorepainfultoacknowledge:
yetMichaelrepresentedtohismonksandprelates,thattheymightsubmittonametheRomanbishopasthefirstofthepatriarchs;andthattheirdistanceanddiscretionwouldguardthelibertiesoftheEasternchurchfromthemischievousconsequencesoftherightofappeal。Heprotestedthathewouldsacrificehislifeandempireratherthanyieldthesmallestpointoforthodoxfaithornationalindependence;andthisdeclarationwassealedandratifiedbyagoldenbull。ThepatriarchJosephwithdrewtoamonastery,toresignorresumehisthrone,accordingtotheeventofthetreaty:thelettersofunionandobedienceweresubscribedbytheemperor,hissonAndronicus,andthirty—fivearchbishopsandmetropolitans,withtheirrespectivesynods;andtheepiscopallistwasmultipliedbymanydioceseswhichwereannihilatedundertheyokeoftheinfidels。Anembassywascomposedofsometrustyministersandprelates:theyembarkedforItaly,withrichornamentsandrareperfumesforthealtarofSt。Peter;andtheirsecretordersauthorizedandrecommendedaboundlesscompliance。TheywerereceivedinthegeneralcouncilofLyons,byPopeGregorytheTenth,attheheadoffivehundredbishops。^32Heembracedwithtearshislong—lostandrepentantchildren;acceptedtheoathoftheambassadors,whoabjuredtheschisminthenameofthetwoemperors;adornedtheprelateswiththeringandmitre;chantedinGreekandLatintheNicenecreedwiththeadditionoffilioque;andrejoicedintheunionoftheEastandWest,whichhadbeenreservedforhisreign。Toconsummatethispiouswork,theByzantinedeputieswerespeedilyfollowedbythepope\'snuncios;andtheirinstructiondisclosesthepolicyoftheVatican,whichcouldnotbesatisfiedwiththevaintitleofsupremacy。Afterviewingthetemperoftheprinceandpeople,theywereenjoinedtoabsolvetheschismaticclergy,whoshouldsubscribeandsweartheirabjurationandobedience;toestablishinallthechurchestheuseoftheperfectcreed;topreparetheentranceofacardinallegate,withthefullpowersanddignityofhisoffice;andtoinstructtheemperorintheadvantageswhichhemightderivefromthetemporalprotectionoftheRomanpontiff。^33
[Footnote29:Ducange,Hist。deC。P。l。v。c。33,&c。,fromtheEpistlesofUrbanIV。]
[Footnote30:FromtheirmercantileintercoursewiththeVenetiansandGenoese,theybrandedtheLatins:Pachymer,l。v。
c。10。\"Somearehereticsinname;others,liketheLatins,infact,\"saidthelearnedVeccus,l。v。c。12,whosoonafterwardsbecameaconvertc。15,16andapatriarch,c。
24。]
[Footnote31:InthisclasswemayplacePachymerhimself,whosecopiousandcandidnarrativeoccupiesthevthandvithbooksofhishistory。YettheGreekissilentonthecouncilofLyons,andseemstobelievethatthepopesalwaysresidedinRomeandItaly,l。v。c。17,21。]
[Footnote32:SeetheactsofthecouncilofLyonsintheyear1274。Fleury,Hist。Ecclesiastique,tom。xviii。p。181—199。
Dupin,Bibliot。Eccles。tom。x。p。135。]
[Footnote33:Thiscuriousinstruction,whichhasbeendrawnwithmoreorlesshonestybyWadingandLeoAllatiusfromthearchivesoftheVatican,isgiveninanabstractorversionbyFleury,tom。xviii。p。252—258。]
Buttheyfoundacountrywithoutafriend,anationinwhichthenamesofRomeandUnionwerepronouncedwithabhorrence。ThepatriarchJosephwasindeedremoved:hisplacewasfilledbyVeccus,anecclesiasticoflearningandmoderation;andtheemperorwasstillurgedbythesamemotives,topersevereinthesameprofessions。ButinhisprivatelanguagePalaeologusaffectedtodeplorethepride,andtoblametheinnovations,oftheLatins;andwhilehedebasedhischaracterbythisdoublehypocrisy,hejustifiedandpunishedtheoppositionofhissubjects。BythejointsuffrageofthenewandtheancientRome,asentenceofexcommunicationwaspronouncedagainsttheobstinateschismatics;thecensuresofthechurchwereexecutedbytheswordofMichael;onthefailureofpersuasion,hetriedtheargumentsofprisonandexile,ofwhippingandmutilation;
thosetouchstones,saysanhistorian,ofcowardsandthebrave。
TwoGreeksstillreignedinAetolia,Epirus,andThessaly,withtheappellationofdespots:theyhadyieldedtothesovereignofConstantinople,buttheyrejectedthechainsoftheRomanpontiff,andsupportedtheirrefusalbysuccessfularms。Undertheirprotection,thefugitivemonksandbishopsassembledinhostilesynods;andretortedthenameofhereticwiththegallingadditionofapostate:theprinceofTrebizondwastemptedtoassumetheforfeittitleofemperor;andeventheLatinsofNegropont,Thebes,Athens,andtheMorea,forgotthemeritsoftheconvert,tojoin,withopenorclandestineaid,theenemiesofPalaeologus。Hisfavoritegenerals,ofhisownblood,andfamily,successivelydeserted,orbetrayed,thesacrilegioustrust。HissisterEulogia,aniece,andtwofemalecousins,conspiredagainsthim;anotherniece,MaryqueenofBulgaria,negotiatedhisruinwiththesultanofEgypt;and,inthepubliceye,theirtreasonwasconsecratedasthemostsublimevirtue。
^34Tothepope\'snuncios,whourgedtheconsummationofthework,Palaeologusexposedanakedrecitalofallthathehaddoneandsufferedfortheirsake。Theywereassuredthattheguiltysectaries,ofbothsexesandeveryrank,hadbeendeprivedoftheirhonors,theirfortunes,andtheirliberty;aspreadinglistofconfiscationandpunishment,whichinvolvedmanypersons,thedearesttotheemperor,orthebestdeservingofhisfavor。Theywereconductedtotheprison,tobeholdfourprincesoftheroyalbloodchainedinthefourcorners,andshakingtheirfettersinanagonyofgriefandrage。Twoofthesecaptiveswereafterwardsreleased;theonebysubmission,theotherbydeath:
buttheobstinacyoftheirtwocompanionswaschastisedbythelossoftheireyes;andtheGreeks,theleastadversetotheunion,deploredthatcruelandinauspicioustragedy。^35
Persecutorsmustexpectthehatredofthosewhomtheyoppress;
buttheycommonlyfindsomeconsolationinthetestimonyoftheirconscience,theapplauseoftheirparty,and,perhaps,thesuccessoftheirundertaking。ButthehypocrisyofMichael,whichwaspromptedonlybypoliticalmotives,musthaveforcedhimtohatehimself,todespisehisfollowers,andtoesteemandenvytherebelchampionsbywhomhewasdetestedanddespised。
WhilehisviolencewasabhorredatConstantinople,atRomehisslownesswasarraigned,andhissinceritysuspected;tillatlengthPopeMartintheFourthexcludedtheGreekemperorfromthepaleofachurch,intowhichhewasstrivingtoreduceaschismaticpeople。Nosoonerhadthetyrantexpired,thantheunionwasdissolved,andabjuredbyunanimousconsent;thechurcheswerepurified;thepenitentswerereconciled;andhissonAndronicus,afterweepingthesinsanderrorsofhisyouthmostpiouslydeniedhisfathertheburialofaprinceandaChristian。^36
[Footnote*:AccordingtoFallmarayerhehadalwaysmaintainedthistitle。—M。]
[Footnote34:ThisfrankandauthenticconfessionofMichael\'sdistressisexhibitedinbarbarousLatinbyOgerius,whosignshimselfProtonotariusInterpretum,andtranscribedbyWadingfromtheMSS。oftheVatican,A。D。1278,No。3。HisannalsoftheFranciscanorder,theFratresMinores,inxvii。volumesinfolio,Rome,1741,Ihavenowaccidentallyseenamongthewastepaperofabookseller。]
[Footnote35:SeethevithbookofPachymer,particularlythechapters1,11,16,18,24—27。Heisthemorecredible,ashespeaksofthispersecutionwithlessangerthansorrow。]
[Footnote36:Pachymer,l。vii。c。1—ii。17。ThespeechofAndronicustheElderlib。xii。c。2isacuriousrecord,whichprovesthatiftheGreeksweretheslavesoftheemperor,theemperorwasnotlesstheslaveofsuperstitionandtheclergy。]
II。InthedistressoftheLatins,thewallsandtowersofConstantinoplehadfallentodecay:theywererestoredandfortifiedbythepolicyofMichael,whodepositedaplenteousstoreofcornandsaltprovisions,tosustainthesiegewhichhemighthourlyexpectfromtheresentmentoftheWesternpowers。
Ofthese,thesovereignoftheTwoSicilieswasthemostformidableneighbor:butaslongastheywerepossessedbyMainfroy,thebastardofFrederictheSecond,hismonarchywasthebulwark,ratherthantheannoyance,oftheEasternempire。
Theusurper,thoughabraveandactiveprince,wassufficientlyemployedinthedefenceofhisthrone:hisproscriptionbysuccessivepopeshadseparatedMainfroyfromthecommoncauseoftheLatins;andtheforcesthatmighthavebesiegedConstantinopleweredetainedinacrusadeagainstthedomesticenemyofRome。Theprizeofheravenger,thecrownoftheTwoSicilies,waswonandwornbythebrotherofStLouis,byCharlescountofAnjouandProvence,wholedthechivalryofFranceonthisholyexpedition。^37ThedisaffectionofhisChristiansubjectscompelledMainfroytoenlistacolonyofSaracenswhomhisfatherhadplantedinApulia;andthisodioussuccorwillexplainthedefianceoftheCatholichero,whorejectedalltermsofaccommodation。\"Bearthismessage,\"saidCharles,\"tothesultanofNocera,thatGodandtheswordareumpirebetweenus;
andthatheshalleithersendmetoparadise,orIwillsendhimtothepitofhell。\"Thearmiesmet:andthoughIamignorantofMainfroy\'sdoomintheotherworld,inthishelosthisfriends,hiskingdom,andhislife,inthebloodybattleofBenevento。
NaplesandSicilywereimmediatelypeopledwithawarlikeraceofFrenchnobles;andtheiraspiringleaderembracedthefutureconquestofAfrica,Greece,andPalestine。ThemostspeciousreasonsmightpointhisfirstarmsagainsttheByzantineempire;
andPalaeologus,diffidentofhisownstrength,repeatedlyappealedfromtheambitionofCharlestothehumanityofSt。