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