第454章
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  TheRomanpontiffhadfoughtandconqueredinthecauseofecclesiasticalfreedom;butthevictoriousclergyweresoonexposedtothetyrannyoftheirdeliverer;andhissacredcharacterwasinvulnerabletothosearmswhichtheyfoundsokeenandeffectualagainstthecivilmagistrate。Theirgreatcharter,therightofelection,wasannihilatedbyappeals,evadedbytrustsorcommendams,disappointedbyreversionarygrants,andsupersededbypreviousandarbitraryreservations。^36ApublicauctionwasinstitutedinthecourtofRome:thecardinalsandfavoriteswereenrichedwiththespoilsofnations;andeverycountrymightcomplainthatthemostimportantandvaluablebeneficeswereaccumulatedontheheadsofaliensandabsentees。

  DuringtheirresidenceatAvignon,theambitionofthepopessubsidedinthemeanerpassionsofavarice^37andluxury:theyrigorouslyimposedontheclergythetributesoffirst—fruitsandtenths;buttheyfreelytoleratedtheimpunityofvice,disorder,andcorruption。ThesemanifoldscandalswereaggravatedbythegreatschismoftheWest,whichcontinuedabovefiftyyears。InthefuriousconflictsofRomeandAvignon,thevicesoftherivalsweremutuallyexposed;andtheirprecarioussituationdegradedtheirauthority,relaxedtheirdiscipline,andmultipliedtheirwantsandexactions。Tohealthewounds,andrestorethemonarchy,ofthechurch,thesynodsofPisaandConstance^38weresuccessivelyconvened;butthesegreatassemblies,consciousoftheirstrength,resolvedtovindicatetheprivilegesoftheChristianaristocracy。Fromapersonalsentenceagainsttwopontiffs,whomtheyrejected,andathird,theiracknowledgedsovereign,whomtheydeposed,thefathersofConstanceproceededtoexaminethenatureandlimitsoftheRomansupremacy;nordidtheyseparatetilltheyhadestablishedtheauthority,abovethepope,ofageneralcouncil。Itwasenacted,that,forthegovernmentandreformationofthechurch,suchassembliesshouldbeheldatregularintervals;andthateachsynod,beforeitsdissolution,shouldappointthetimeandplaceofthesubsequentmeeting。BytheinfluenceofthecourtofRome,thenextconvocationatSiennawaseasilyeluded;buttheboldandvigorousproceedingsofthecouncilofBasil^39hadalmostbeenfataltothereigningpontiff,EugeniustheFourth。Ajustsuspicionofhisdesignpromptedthefatherstohastenthepromulgationoftheirfirstdecree,thattherepresentativesofthechurch—militantonearthwereinvestedwithadivineandspiritualjurisdictionoverallChristians,withoutexceptingthepope;andthatageneralcouncilcouldnotbedissolved,prorogued,ortransferred,unlessbytheirfreedeliberationandconsent。OnthenoticethatEugeniushadfulminatedabullforthatpurpose,theyventuredtosummon,toadmonish,tothreaten,tocensurethecontumacioussuccessorofSt。Peter。Aftermanydelays,toallowtimeforrepentance,theyfinallydeclared,that,unlesshesubmittedwithinthetermofsixtydays,hewassuspendedfromtheexerciseofalltemporalandecclesiasticalauthority。Andtomarktheirjurisdictionovertheprinceaswellasthepriest,theyassumedthegovernmentofAvignon,annulledthealienationofthesacredpatrimony,andprotectedRomefromtheimpositionofnewtaxes。Theirboldnesswasjustified,notonlybythegeneralopinionoftheclergy,butbythesupportandpowerofthefirstmonarchsofChristendom:theemperorSigismonddeclaredhimselftheservantandprotectorofthesynod;GermanyandFranceadheredtotheircause;thedukeofMilanwastheenemyofEugenius;andhewasdrivenfromtheVaticanbyaninsurrectionoftheRomanpeople。Rejectedatthesametimebytemporalandspiritualsubjects,submissionwashisonlychoice:byamosthumiliatingbull,thepoperepealedhisownacts,andratifiedthoseofthecouncil;incorporatedhislegatesandcardinalswiththatvenerablebody;andseemedtoresignhimselftothedecreesofthesupremelegislature。TheirfamepervadedthecountriesoftheEast:anditwasintheirpresencethatSigismondreceivedtheambassadorsoftheTurkishsultan,^40wholaidathisfeettwelvelargevases,filledwithrobesofsilkandpiecesofgold。ThefathersofBasilaspiredtothegloryofreducingtheGreeks,aswellastheBohemians,withinthepaleofthechurch;andtheirdeputiesinvitedtheemperorandpatriarchofConstantinopletounitewithanassemblywhichpossessedtheconfidenceoftheWesternnations。

  Palaeologuswasnotaversetotheproposal;andhisambassadorswereintroducedwithduehonorsintotheCatholicsenate。Butthechoiceoftheplaceappearedtobeaninsuperableobstacle,sinceherefusedtopasstheAlps,ortheseaofSicily,andpositivelyrequiredthatthesynodshouldbeadjournedtosomeconvenientcityinItaly,oratleastontheDanube。Theotherarticlesofthistreatyweremorereadilystipulated:itwasagreedtodefraythetravellingexpensesoftheemperor,withatrainofsevenhundredpersons,^41toremitanimmediatesumofeightthousandducats^42fortheaccommodationoftheGreekclergy;andinhisabsencetograntasupplyoftenthousandducats,withthreehundredarchersandsomegalleys,fortheprotectionofConstantinople。ThecityofAvignonadvancedthefundsforthepreliminaryexpenses;andtheembarkationwaspreparedatMarseilleswithsomedifficultyanddelay。

  [Footnote36:InthetreatisedelleMaterieBeneficiarieofFraPaolo,intheivthvolumeofthelast,andbest,editionofhisworks,thepapalsystemisdeeplystudiedandfreelydescribed。

  ShouldRomeandherreligionbeannihilated,thisgoldenvolumemaystillsurvive,aphilosophicalhistory,andasalutarywarning。]

  [Footnote37:PopeJohnXXII。in1334leftbehindhim,atAvignon,eighteenmillionsofgoldflorins,andthevalueofsevenmillionsmoreinplateandjewels。SeetheChronicleofJohnVillani,l。xi。c。20,inMuratori\'sCollection,tom。xiii。

  p。765,whosebrotherreceivedtheaccountfromthepapaltreasurers。Atreasureofsixoreightmillionssterlinginthexivthcenturyisenormous,andalmostincredible。]

  [Footnote38:AlearnedandliberalProtestant,M。Lenfant,hasgivenafairhistoryofthecouncilsofPisa,Constance,andBasil,insixvolumesinquarto;butthelastpartisthemosthastyandimperfect,exceptintheaccountofthetroublesofBohemia。]

  [Footnote39:TheoriginalactsorminutesofthecouncilofBasilarepreservedinthepubliclibrary,intwelvevolumesinfolio。Basilwasafreecity,convenientlysituateontheRhine,andguardedbythearmsoftheneighboringandconfederateSwiss。

  In1459,theuniversitywasfoundedbyPopePiusII。,AeneasSylvius,whohadbeensecretarytothecouncil。Butwhatisacouncil,orauniversity,tothepressesoFrobenandthestudiesofErasmus?]

  [Footnote40:ThisTurkishembassy,attestedonlybyCrantzius,isrelatedwithsomedoubtbytheannalistSpondanus,A。D。1433,No。25,tom。i。p。824]

  [Footnote41:Syropulus,p。19。Inthislist,theGreeksappeartohaveexceededtherealnumbersoftheclergyandlaitywhichafterwardsattendedtheemperorandpatriarch,butwhicharenotclearlyspecifiedbythegreatecclesiarch。The75,000florinswhichtheyaskedinthisnegotiationofthepope,p。9,weremorethantheycouldhopeorwant。]

  [Footnote42:Iuseindifferentlythewordsducatandflorin,whichderivetheirnames,theformerfromthedukesofMilan,thelatterfromtherepublicofFlorence。Thesegoldpieces,thefirstthatwerecoinedinItaly,perhapsintheLatinworld,maybecomparedinweightandvaluetoonethirdoftheEnglishguinea。]

  Inhisdistress,thefriendshipofPalaeologuswasdisputedbytheecclesiasticalpowersoftheWest;butthedexterousactivityofamonarchprevailedovertheslowdebatesandinflexibletemperofarepublic。ThedecreesofBasilcontinuallytendedtocircumscribethedespotismofthepope,andtoerectasupremeandperpetualtribunalinthechurch。

  Eugeniuswasimpatientoftheyoke;andtheunionoftheGreeksmightaffordadecentpretencefortranslatingarebellioussynodfromtheRhinetothePo。TheindependenceofthefatherswaslostiftheypassedtheAlps:SavoyorAvignon,towhichtheyaccededwithreluctance,weredescribedatConstantinopleassituatefarbeyondthepillarsofHercules;^43theemperorandhisclergywereapprehensiveofthedangersofalongnavigation;

  theywereoffendedbyahaughtydeclaration,thataftersuppressingthenewheresyoftheBohemians,thecouncilwouldsooneradicatetheoldheresyoftheGreeks。^44OnthesideofEugenius,allwassmooth,andyielding,andrespectful;andheinvitedtheByzantinemonarchtohealbyhispresencetheschismoftheLatin,aswellasoftheEastern,church。Ferrara,nearthecoastoftheAdriatic,wasproposedfortheiramicableinterview;andwithsomeindulgenceofforgeryandtheft,asurreptitiousdecreewasprocured,whichtransferredthesynod,withitsownconsent,tothatItaliancity。NinegalleyswereequippedfortheserviceatVenice,andintheIsleofCandia;

  theirdiligenceanticipatedtheslowervesselsofBasil:theRomanadmiralwascommissionedtoburn,sink,anddestroy;^45

  andthesepriestlysquadronsmighthaveencounteredeachotherinthesameseaswhereAthensandSpartahadformerlycontendedforthepreeminenceofglory。Assaultedbytheimportunityofthefactions,whowerereadytofightforthepossessionofhisperson,Palaeologushesitatedbeforehelefthispalaceandcountryonaperilousexperiment。Hisfather\'sadvicestilldweltonhismemory;andreasonmustsuggest,thatsincetheLatinsweredividedamongthemselves,theycouldneveruniteinaforeigncause。Sigismonddissuadedtheunreasonableadventure;

  hisadvicewasimpartial,sinceheadheredtothecouncil;anditwasenforcedbythestrangebelief,thattheGermanCaesarwouldnominateaGreekhisheirandsuccessorintheempireoftheWest。^46EventheTurkishsultanwasacounsellorwhomitmightbeunsafetotrust,butwhomitwasdangeroustooffend。Amurathwasunskilledinthedisputes,buthewasapprehensiveoftheunion,oftheChristians。Fromhisowntreasures,heofferedtorelievethewantsoftheByzantinecourt;yethedeclaredwithseemingmagnanimity,thatConstantinopleshouldbesecureandinviolate,intheabsenceofhersovereign。^47TheresolutionofPalaeologuswasdecidedbythemostsplendidgiftsandthemostspeciouspromises:hewishedtoescapeforawhilefromasceneofdangeranddistressandafterdismissingwithanambiguousanswerthemessengersofthecouncil,hedeclaredhisintentionofembarkingintheRomangalleys。TheageofthepatriarchJosephwasmoresusceptibleoffearthanofhope;hetrembledattheperilsofthesea,andexpressedhisapprehension,thathisfeeblevoice,withthirtyperhapsofhisorthodoxbrethren,wouldbeoppressedinaforeignlandbythepowerandnumbersofaLatinsynod。Heyieldedtotheroyalmandate,totheflatteringassurance,thathewouldbeheardastheoracleofnations,andtothesecretwishoflearningfromhisbrotheroftheWest,todeliverthechurchfromtheyokeofkings。^48Thefivecross—bearers,ordignitaries,ofSt。Sophia,wereboundtoattendhisperson;andoneofthese,thegreatecclesiarchorpreacher,SylvesterSyropulus,^49hascomposedafreeandcurioushistory^50ofthefalseunion。^51Oftheclergythatreluctantlyobeyedthesummonsoftheemperorandthepatriarch,submissionwasthefirstduty,andpatiencethemostusefulvirtue。Inachosenlistoftwentybishops,wediscoverthemetropolitantitlesofHeracleaeandCyzicus,NiceandNicomedia,EphesusandTrebizond,andthepersonalmeritofMarkandBessarionwho,intheconfidenceoftheirlearningandeloquence,werepromotedtotheepiscopalrank。SomemonksandphilosopherswerenamedtodisplaythescienceandsanctityoftheGreekchurch;andtheserviceofthechoirwasperformedbyaselectbandofsingersandmusicians。ThepatriarchsofAlexandria,Antioch,andJerusalem,appearedbytheirgenuineorfictitiousdeputies;theprimateofRussiarepresentedanationalchurch,andtheGreeksmightcontendwiththeLatinsintheextentoftheirspiritualempire。ThepreciousvasesofSt。Sophiawereexposedtothewindsandwaves,thatthepatriarchmightofficiatewithbecomingsplendor:whatevergoldtheemperorcouldprocure,wasexpendedinthemassyornamentsofhisbedandchariot;^52andwhiletheyaffectedtomaintaintheprosperityoftheirancientfortune,theyquarrelledforthedivisionoffifteenthousandducats,thefirstalmsoftheRomanpontiff。Afterthenecessarypreparations,JohnPalaeologus,withanumeroustrain,accompaniedbyhisbrotherDemetrius,andthemostrespectablepersonsofthechurchandstate,embarkedineightvesselswithsailsandoarswhichsteeredthroughtheTurkishStraitsofGallipolitotheArchipelago,theMorea,andtheAdriaticGulf。

  ^53

  [Footnote43:AttheendoftheLatinversionofPhranzes,wereadalongGreekepistleordeclamationofGeorgeofTrebizond,whoadvisestheemperortopreferEugeniusandItaly。HetreatswithcontempttheschismaticassemblyofBasil,theBarbariansofGaulandGermany,whohadconspiredtotransportthechairofSt。

  PeterbeyondtheAlps。WasConstantinopleunprovidedwithamap?]

  [Footnote44:Syropulusp。26—31attestshisownindignation,andthatofhiscountrymen;andtheBasildeputies,whoexcusedtherashdeclaration,couldneitherdenynoralteranactofthecouncil。]

  [Footnote45:Thenavalordersofthesynodwerelessperemptory,and,tillthehostilesquadronsappeared,bothpartiestriedtoconcealtheirquarrelfromtheGreeks。]

  [Footnote46:SyropulusmentionsthehopesofPalaeologus,p。

  36,andthelastadviceofSigismond,p。57。AtCorfu,theGreekemperorwasinformedofhisfriend\'sdeath;hadheknownitsooner,hewouldhavereturnedhome,p。79。]

  [Footnote47:Phranzeshimself,thoughfromdifferentmotives,wasoftheadviceofAmurath,l。ii。c。13。Utinamnesynodusistaunquamfuisset,sitantesoffensionesetdetrimentaparituraerat。ThisTurkishembassyislikewisementionedbySyropulus,p。58;andAmurathkepthisword。Hemightthreaten,p。125,219,butheneverattacked,thecity。]

  [Footnote48:Thereaderwillsmileatthesimplicitywithwhichheimpartedthesehopestohisfavoritesp。92。YetitwouldhavebeendifficultforhimtohavepractisedthelessonsofGregoryVII。]

  [Footnote49:TheChristiannameofSylvesterisborrowedfromtheLatincalendar。InmodernGreek,asadiminutive,isaddedtotheendofwords:norcananyreasoningofCreyghton,theeditor,excusehischangingintoSguropulus,Sguros,fuscus,

  theSyropulusofhisownmanuscript,whosenameissubscribedwithhisownhandintheactsofthecouncilofFlorence。WhymightnottheauthorbeofSyrianextraction?]

  [Footnote50:Fromtheconclusionofthehistory,Ishouldfixthedatetotheyear1444,fouryearsafterthesynod,whengreatecclesiarchhadabdicatedhisoffice,sectionxii。p。330—

  350。Hispassionswerecooledbytimeandretirement;and,althoughSyropulusisoftenpartial,heisneverintemperate。]

  [Footnote51:VerahistoriaunionisnonveroeinterGraecosetLatinos,HagaeComitis,1660,infolio,wasfirstpublishedwithalooseandfloridversion,byRobertCreyghton,chaplaintoCharlesII。inhisexile。Thezealoftheeditorhasprefixedapolemictitle,forthebeginningoftheoriginaliswanting。

  SyropulusmayberankedwiththebestoftheByzantinewritersforthemeritofhisnarration,andevenofhisstyle;butheisexcludedfromtheorthodoxcollectionsofthecouncils。]

  [Footnote52:Syropulusp。63simplyexpresseshisintention;

  andtheLatinofCreyghtonmayaffordaspecimenofhisfloridparaphrase。UtpompacircumductusnosterImperatorItaliaepopulisaliquisdeauratusJupitercrederetur,autCroesusexopulentaLydia。]

  [Footnote53:AlthoughIcannotstoptoquoteSyropulusforeveryfact,IwillobservethatthenavigationoftheGreeksfromConstantinopletoVeniceandFerraraiscontainedintheivthsection,p。67—100,andthatthehistorianhastheuncommontalentofplacingeachscenebeforethereader\'seye。]

  ChapterLXVI:UnionOfTheGreekAndLatinChurches。

  PartIII。

  Afteratediousandtroublesomenavigationofseventy—sevendays,thisreligioussquadroncastanchorbeforeVenice;andtheirreceptionproclaimedthejoyandmagnificenceofthatpowerfulrepublic。Inthecommandoftheworld,themodestAugustushadneverclaimedsuchhonorsfromhissubjectsaswerepaidtohisfeeblesuccessorbyanindependentstate。Seatedonthepooponaloftythrone,hereceivedthevisit,or,intheGreekstyle,theadorationofthedogeandsenators。^54TheysailedintheBucentaur,whichwasaccompaniedbytwelvestatelygalleys:theseawasoverspreadwithinnumerablegondolasofpompandpleasure;theairresoundedwithmusicandacclamations;themariners,andeventhevessels,weredressedinsilkandgold;

  andinalltheemblemsandpageants,theRomaneagleswereblendedwiththelionsofSt。Mark。Thetriumphalprocession,ascendingthegreatcanal,passedunderthebridgeoftheRialto;

  andtheEasternstrangersgazedwithadmirationonthepalaces,thechurches,andthepopulousnessofacity,thatseemstofloatonthebosomofthewaves。^55TheysighedtobeholdthespoilsandtrophieswithwhichithadbeendecoratedafterthesackofConstantinople。Afterahospitableentertainmentoffifteendays,PalaeologuspursuedhisjourneybylandandwaterfromVenicetoFerrara;andonthisoccasiontheprideoftheVaticanwastemperedbypolicytoindulgetheancientdignityoftheemperoroftheEast。Hemadehisentryonablackhorse;butamilk—whitesteed,whosetrappingswereembroideredwithgoldeneagles,wasledbeforehim;andthecanopywasborneoverhisheadbytheprincesofEste,thesonsorkinsmenofNicholas,marquisofthecity,andasovereignmorepowerfulthanhimself。

  ^56Palaeologusdidnotalighttillhereachedthebottomofthestaircase:thepopeadvancedtothedooroftheapartment;

  refusedhisprofferedgenuflection;and,afterapaternalembrace,conductedtheemperortoaseatonhislefthand。Norwouldthepatriarchdescendfromhisgalley,tillaceremonyalmostequal,hadbeenstipulatedbetweenthebishopsofRomeandConstantinople。Thelatterwassalutedbyhisbrotherwithakissofunionandcharity;norwouldanyoftheGreekecclesiasticssubmittokissthefeetoftheWesternprimate。Ontheopeningofthesynod,theplaceofhonorinthecentrewasclaimedbythetemporalandecclesiasticalchiefs;anditwasonlybyallegingthathispredecessorshadnotassistedinpersonatNiceorChalcedon,thatEugeniuscouldevadetheancientprecedentsofConstantineandMarcian。Aftermuchdebate,itwasagreedthattherightandleftsidesofthechurchshouldbeoccupiedbythetwonations;thatthesolitarychairofSt。PetershouldberaisedthefirstoftheLatinline;andthatthethroneoftheGreekemperor,attheheadofhisclergy,shouldbeequalandoppositetothesecondplace,thevacantseatoftheemperoroftheWest。^57

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