[Footnote54:Atthetimeofthesynod，PhranzeswasinPeloponnesus:buthereceivedfromthedespotDemetriusafaithfulaccountofthehonorablereceptionoftheemperorandpatriarchbothatVeniceandFerrara，Dux……sedentemImperatoremadorat，whicharemoreslightlymentionedbytheLatins，l。ii。c。14，15，16。]
[Footnote55:TheastonishmentofaGreekprinceandaFrenchambassadorMemoiresdePhilippedeComines，l。vii。c。18，atthesightofVenice，abundantlyprovesthatinthexvthcenturyitwasthefirstandmostsplendidoftheChristiancities。ForthespoilsofConstantinopleatVenice，seeSyropulus，p。87。]
[Footnote56:NicholasIII。ofEstereignedforty—eightyears，A。D。1393—1441，andwaslordofFerrara，Modena，Reggio，Parma，Rovigo，andCommachio。SeehisLifeinMuratori，AntichitaEstense，tom。ii。p。159—201。]
[Footnote57:TheLatinvulgarwasprovokedtolaughteratthestrangedressesoftheGreeks，andespeciallythelengthoftheirgarments，theirsleeves，andtheirbeards；norwastheemperordistinguished，exceptbythepurplecolor，andhisdiademortiara，withajewelonthetop，HodydeGraecisIllustribus，p。
31。YetanotherspectatorconfessesthattheGreekfashionwaspiugraveepiudegnathantheItalian。VespasianoinVit。
Eugen。IV。inMuratori，tom。xxv。p。261。]
Butassoonasfestivityandformhadgivenplacetoamoreserioustreaty，theGreeksweredissatisfiedwiththeirjourney，withthemselves，andwiththepope。Theartfulpencilofhisemissarieshadpaintedhiminaprosperousstate；attheheadoftheprincesandprelatesofEurope，obedientathisvoice，tobelieveandtoarm。ThethinappearanceoftheuniversalsynodofFerrarabetrayedhisweakness:andtheLatinsopenedthefirstsessionwithonlyfivearchbishops，eighteenbishops，andtenabbots，thegreatestpartofwhomwerethesubjectsorcountrymenoftheItalianpontiff。ExceptthedukeofBurgundy，noneofthepotentatesoftheWestcondescendedtoappearinperson，orbytheirambassadors；norwasitpossibletosuppressthejudicialactsofBasilagainstthedignityandpersonofEugenius，whichwerefinallyconcludedbyanewelection。Underthesecircumstances，atruceordelaywasaskedandgranted，tillPalaeologuscouldexpectfromtheconsentoftheLatinssometemporalrewardforanunpopularunion；andafterthefirstsession，thepublicproceedingswereadjournedabovesixmonths。
Theemperor，withachosenbandofhisfavoritesandJanizaries，fixedhissummerresidenceatapleasant，spaciousmonastery，sixmilesfromFerrara；forgot，inthepleasuresofthechase，thedistressofthechurchandstate；andpersistedindestroyingthegame，withoutlisteningtothejustcomplaintsofthemarquisorthehusbandman。^58Inthemeanwhile，hisunfortunateGreekswereexposedtoallthemiseriesofexileandpoverty；forthesupportofeachstranger，amonthlyallowancewasassignedofthreeorfourgoldflorins；andalthoughtheentiresumdidnotamounttosevenhundredflorins，alongarrearwasrepeatedlyincurredbytheindigenceorpolicyoftheRomancourt。^59Theysighedforaspeedydeliverance，buttheirescapewaspreventedbyatriplechain:apassportfromtheirsuperiorswasrequiredatthegatesofFerrara；thegovernmentofVenicehadengagedtoarrestandsendbackthefugitives；andinevitablepunishmentawaitedthematConstantinople；excommunication，fines，andasentence，whichdidnotrespectthesacerdotaldignity，thattheyshouldbestrippednakedandpubliclywhipped。^60ItwasonlybythealternativeofhungerordisputethattheGreekscouldbepersuadedtoopenthefirstconference；andtheyyieldedwithextremereluctancetoattendfromFerraratoFlorencetherearofaflyingsynod。Thisnewtranslationwasurgedbyinevitablenecessity:thecitywasvisitedbytheplague；thefidelityofthemarquismightbesuspected；themercenarytroopsofthedukeofMilanwereatthegates；andastheyoccupiedRomagna，itwasnotwithoutdifficultyanddangerthatthepope，theemperor，andthebishops，exploredtheirwaythroughtheunfrequentedpathsoftheApennine。^61
[Footnote58:Fortheemperor\'shunting，seeSyropulus，p。143，144，191。Thepopehadsenthimelevenmiserablehacks；butheboughtastrongandswifthorsethatcamefromRussia。ThenameofJanizariesmaysurprise；butthename，ratherthantheinstitution，hadpassedfromtheOttoman，totheByzantine，court，andisoftenusedinthelastageoftheempire。]
[Footnote59:TheGreeksobtained，withmuchdifficulty，thatinsteadofprovisions，moneyshouldbedistributed，fourflorinspermonthtothepersonsofhonorablerank，andthreeflorinstotheirservants，withanadditionofthirtymoretotheemperor，twenty—fivetothepatriarch，andtwentytotheprince，ordespot，Demetrius。Thepaymentofthefirstmonthamountedto691florins，asumwhichwillnotallowustoreckonabove200
Greeksofeverycondition。Syropulus，p。104，105。Onthe20thOctober，1438，therewasanarrearoffourmonths；inApril，1439，ofthree；andoffiveandahalfinJuly，atthetimeoftheunion，p。172，225，271。]
[Footnote60:Syropulusp。141，142，204，221deplorestheimprisonmentoftheGreeks，andthetyrannyoftheemperorandpatriarch。]
[Footnote61:ThewarsofItalyaremostclearlyrepresentedinthexiiithvol。oftheAnnalsofMuratori。TheschismaticGreek，Syropulus，p。145，appearstohaveexaggeratedthefearanddisorderofthepopeinhishisretreatfromFerraratoFlorence，whichisprovedbytheactstohavebeensomewhatmoredecentanddeliberate。]
Yetalltheseobstaclesweresurmountedbytimeandpolicy。
TheviolenceofthefathersofBasilratherpromotedthaninjuredthecauseofEugenius；thenationsofEuropeabhorredtheschism，anddisownedtheelection，ofFelixtheFifth，whowassuccessivelyadukeofSavoy，ahermit，andapope；andthegreatprincesweregraduallyreclaimedbyhiscompetitortoafavorableneutralityandafirmattachment。Thelegates，withsomerespectablemembers，desertedtotheRomanarmy，whichinsensiblyroseinnumbersandreputation；thecouncilofBasilwasreducedtothirty—ninebishops，andthreehundredoftheinferiorclergy；
^62whiletheLatinsofFlorencecouldproducethesubscriptionsofthepopehimself，eightcardinals，twopatriarchs，eightarchbishops，fiftytwobishops，andforty—fiveabbots，orchiefsofreligiousorders。Afterthelaborofninemonths，andthedebatesoftwenty—fivesessions，theyattainedtheadvantageandgloryofthereunionoftheGreeks。Fourprincipalquestionshadbeenagitatedbetweenthetwochurches；1。TheuseofunleavenbreadinthecommunionofChrist\'sbody。2。Thenatureofpurgatory。3。Thesupremacyofthepope。And，4。ThesingleordoubleprocessionoftheHolyGhost。Thecauseofeithernationwasmanagedbytentheologicalchampions:theLatinsweresupportedbytheinexhaustibleeloquenceofCardinalJulian；andMarkofEphesusandBessarionofNiceweretheboldandableleadersoftheGreekforces。Wemaybestowsomepraiseontheprogressofhumanreason，byobservingthatthefirstofthesequestionswasnowtreatedasanimmaterialrite，whichmightinnocentlyvarywiththefashionoftheageandcountry。Withregardtothesecond，bothpartieswereagreedinthebeliefofanintermediatestateofpurgationforthevenialsinsofthefaithful；andwhethertheirsoulswerepurifiedbyelementalfirewasadoubtfulpoint，whichinafewyearsmightbeconvenientlysettledonthespotbythedisputants。Theclaimsofsupremacyappearedofamoreweightyandsubstantialkind；yetbytheOrientalstheRomanbishophadeverbeenrespectedasthefirstofthefivepatriarchs；nordidtheyscrupletoadmit，thathisjurisdictionshouldbeexercisedagreeablytotheholycanons；avagueallowance，whichmightbedefinedoreludedbyoccasionalconvenience。TheprocessionoftheHolyGhostfromtheFatheralone，orfromtheFatherandtheSon，wasanarticleoffaithwhichhadsunkmuchdeeperintothemindsofmen；andinthesessionsofFerraraandFlorence，theLatinadditionoffilioquewassubdividedintotwoquestions，whetheritwerelegal，andwhetheritwereorthodox。Perhapsitmaynotbenecessarytoboastonthissubjectofmyownimpartialindifference；butI
mustthinkthattheGreekswerestronglysupportedbytheprohibitionofthecouncilofChalcedon，againstaddinganyarticlewhatsoevertothecreedofNice，orratherofConstantinople。^63Inearthlyaffairs，itisnoteasytoconceivehowanassemblyequaloflegislatorscanbindtheirsuccessorsinvestedwithpowersequaltotheirown。Butthedictatesofinspirationmustbetrueandunchangeable；norshouldaprivatebishop，oraprovincialsynod，havepresumedtoinnovateagainstthejudgmentoftheCatholicchurch。Onthesubstanceofthedoctrine，thecontroversywasequalandendless:
reasonisconfoundedbytheprocessionofadeity:thegospel，whichlayonthealtar，wassilent；thevarioustextsofthefathersmightbecorruptedbyfraudorentangledbysophistry；
andtheGreekswereignorantofthecharactersandwritingsoftheLatinsaints。^64Ofthisatleastwemaybesure，thatneithersidecouldbeconvincedbytheargumentsoftheiropponents。Prejudicemaybeenlightenedbyreason，andasuperficialglancemayberectifiedbyaclearandmoreperfectviewofanobjectadaptedtoourfaculties。Butthebishopsandmonkshadbeentaughtfromtheirinfancytorepeataformofmysteriouswords:theirnationalandpersonalhonordependedontherepetitionofthesamesounds；andtheirnarrowmindswerehardenedandinflamedbytheacrimonyofapublicdispute。
[Footnote62:SyropulusispleasedtoreckonsevenhundredprelatesinthecouncilofBasil。Theerrorismanifest，andperhapsvoluntary。Thatextravagantnumbercouldnotbesuppliedbyalltheecclesiasticsofeverydegreewhowerepresentatthecouncil，norbyalltheabsentbishopsoftheWest，who，expresslyortacitly，mightadheretoitsdecrees。]
[Footnote63:TheGreeks，whodislikedtheunion，wereunwillingtosallyfromthisstrongfortress，p。178，193，195，202，ofSyropulus。TheshameoftheLatinswasaggravatedbytheirproducinganoldMS。ofthesecondcouncilofNice，withfilioqueintheNicenecreed。Apalpableforgery!p。173。]
[Footnote64:Syropulus，p。109。SeetheperplexityoftheGreeks，p。217，218，252，253，273。]
Whiletheyweremostinacloudofdustanddarkness，thePopeandemperorweredesirousofaseemingunion，whichcouldaloneaccomplishthepurposesoftheirinterview；andtheobstinacyofpublicdisputewassoftenedbytheartsofprivateandpersonalnegotiation。ThepatriarchJosephhadsunkundertheweightofageandinfirmities；hisdyingvoicebreathedthecounselsofcharityandconcord，andhisvacantbeneficemighttemptthehopesoftheambitiousclergy。ThereadyandactiveobedienceofthearchbishopsofRussiaandNice，ofIsidoreandBessarion，waspromptedandrecompensedbytheirspeedypromotiontothedignityofcardinals。Bessarion，inthefirstdebates，hadstoodforththemoststrenuousandeloquentchampionoftheGreekchurch；andiftheapostate，thebastard，wasreprobatedbyhiscountry，^65heappearsinecclesiasticalstoryarareexampleofapatriotwhowasrecommendedtocourtfavorbyloudoppositionandwell—timedcompliance。Withtheaidofhistwospiritualcoadjutors，theemperorappliedhisargumentstothegeneralsituationandpersonalcharactersofthebishops，andeachwassuccessivelymovedbyauthorityandexample。TheirrevenueswereinthehandsoftheTurks，theirpersonsinthoseoftheLatins:
anepiscopaltreasure，threerobesandfortyducats，wassoonexhausted:^66thehopesoftheirreturnstilldependedontheshipsofVeniceandthealmsofRome；andsuchwastheirindigence，thattheirarrears，thepaymentofadebt，wouldbeacceptedasafavor，andmightoperateasabribe。^67ThedangerandreliefofConstantinoplemightexcusesomeprudentandpiousdissimulation；anditwasinsinuated，thattheobstinatehereticswhoshouldresisttheconsentoftheEastandWestwouldbeabandonedinahostilelandtotherevengeorjusticeoftheRomanpontiff。^68InthefirstprivateassemblyoftheGreeks，theformularyofunionwasapprovedbytwenty—four，andrejectedbytwelve，members；butthefivecross—bearersofSt。Sophia，whoaspiredtorepresentthepatriarch，weredisqualifiedbyancientdiscipline；andtheirrightofvotingwastransferredtotheobsequioustrainofmonks，grammarians，andprofanelaymen。Thewillofthemonarchproducedafalseandservileunanimity，andnomorethantwopatriotshadcouragetospeaktheirownsentimentsandthoseoftheircountry。Demetrius，theemperor\'sbrother，retiredtoVenice，thathemightnotbewitnessoftheunion；andMarkofEphesus，mistakingperhapshisprideforhisconscience，disclaimedallcommunionwiththeLatinheretics，andavowedhimselfthechampionandconfessoroftheorthodoxcreed。
^69Inthetreatybetweenthetwonations，severalformsofconsentwereproposed，suchasmightsatisfytheLatins，withoutdishonoringtheGreeks；andtheyweighedthescruplesofwordsandsyllables，tillthetheologicalbalancetrembledwithaslightpreponderanceinfavoroftheVatican。ItwasagreedI
mustentreattheattentionofthereaderthattheHolyGhostproceedsfromtheFatherandtheSon，asfromoneprincipleandonesubstance；thatheproceedsbytheSon，beingofthesamenatureandsubstance，andthatheproceedsfromtheFatherandtheSon，byonespirationandproduction。Itislessdifficulttounderstandthearticlesofthepreliminarytreaty；thatthepopeshoulddefrayalltheexpensesoftheGreeksintheirreturnhome；thatheshouldannuallymaintaintwogalleysandthreehundredsoldiersforthedefenceofConstantinople:thatalltheshipswhichtransportedpilgrimstoJerusalemshouldbeobligedtotouchatthatport；thatasoftenastheywererequired，thepopeshouldfurnishtengalleysforayear，ortwentyforsixmonths；andthatheshouldpowerfullysolicittheprincesofEurope，iftheemperorhadoccasionforlandforces。
[Footnote65:SeethepolitealtercationofMarcandBessarioninSyropulus，p。257，whoneverdissemblesthevicesofhisownparty，andfairlypraisesthevirtuesoftheLatins。]
[Footnote66:ForthepovertyoftheGreekbishops，seearemarkablepassageofDucas，c。31。Onehadpossessed，forhiswholeproperty，threeoldgowns，&c。Byteachingone—and—twentyyearsinhismonastery，Bessarionhimselfhadcollectedfortygoldflorins；butofthese，thearchbishophadexpendedtwenty—eightinhisvoyagefromPeloponnesus，andtheremainderatConstantinople，Syropulus，p。127。]
[Footnote67:SyropulusdeniesthattheGreeksreceivedanymoneybeforetheyhadsubscribedtheartofunion，p。283:yetherelatessomesuspiciouscircumstances；andtheirbriberyandcorruptionarepositivelyaffirmedbythehistorianDucas。]
[Footnote68:TheGreeksmostpiteouslyexpresstheirownfearsofexileandperpetualslavery，Syropul。p。196；andtheywerestronglymovedbytheemperor\'sthreats，p。260。]
[Footnote69:Ihadforgotanotherpopularandorthodoxprotester:afavoritebound，whousuallylayquietonthefoot—clothoftheemperor\'sthronebutwhobarkedmostfuriouslywhiletheactofunionwasreadingwithoutbeingsilencedbythesoothingorthelashesoftheroyalattendants，Syropul。p。265，266。]
Thesameyear，andalmostthesameday，weremarkedbythedepositionofEugeniusatBasil；and，atFlorence，byhisreunionoftheGreeksandLatins。Intheformersynod，whichhestyledindeedanassemblyofdaemons，thepopewasbrandedwiththeguiltofsimony，perjury，tyranny，heresy，andschism；^70anddeclaredtobeincorrigibleinhisvices，unworthyofanytitle，andincapableofholdinganyecclesiasticaloffice。Inthelatter，hewasreveredasthetrueandholyvicarofChrist，who，afteraseparationofsixhundredyears，hadreconciledtheCatholicsoftheEastandWestinonefold，andunderoneshepherd。Theactofunionwassubscribedbythepope，theemperor，andtheprincipalmembersofbothchurches；evenbythosewho，likeSyropulus，^71hadbeendeprivedoftherightofvoting。TwocopiesmighthavesufficedfortheEastandWest；
butEugeniuswasnotsatisfied，unlessfourauthenticandsimilartranscriptsweresignedandattestedasthemonumentsofhisvictory。^72Onamemorableday，thesixthofJuly，thesuccessorsofSt。PeterandConstantineascendedtheirthronesthetwonationsassembledinthecathedralofFlorence；theirrepresentatives，CardinalJulianandBessarionarchbishopofNice，appearedinthepulpit，and，afterreadingintheirrespectivetonguestheactofunion，theymutuallyembraced，inthenameandthepresenceoftheirapplaudingbrethren。ThepopeandhisministersthenofficiatedaccordingtotheRomanliturgy；
thecreedwaschantedwiththeadditionoffilioque；theacquiescenceoftheGreekswaspoorlyexcusedbytheirignoranceoftheharmonious，butinarticulatesounds；^73andthemorescrupulousLatinsrefusedanypubliccelebrationoftheByzantinerite。Yettheemperorandhisclergywerenottotallyunmindfulofnationalhonor。Thetreatywasratifiedbytheirconsent:itwastacitlyagreedthatnoinnovationshouldbeattemptedintheircreedorceremonies:theyspared，andsecretlyrespected，thegenerousfirmnessofMarkofEphesus；and，onthedeceaseofthepatriarch，theyrefusedtoelecthissuccessor，exceptinthecathedralofSt。Sophia。Inthedistributionofpublicandprivaterewards，theliberalpontiffexceededtheirhopesandhispromises:theGreeks，withlesspompandpride，returnedbythesameroadofFerraraandVenice；andtheirreceptionatConstantinoplewassuchaswillbedescribedinthefollowingchapter。^74ThesuccessofthefirsttrialencouragedEugeniustorepeatthesameedifyingscenes；andthedeputiesoftheArmenians，theMaronites，theJacobitesofSyriaandEgypt，theNestoriansandtheAethiopians，weresuccessivelyintroduced，tokissthefeetoftheRomanpontiff，andtoannouncetheobedienceandtheorthodoxyoftheEast。TheseOrientalembassies，unknowninthecountrieswhichtheypresumedtorepresent，^75diffusedovertheWestthefameofEugenius；andaclamorwasartfullypropagatedagainsttheremnantofaschisminSwitzerlandandSavoy，whichaloneimpededtheharmonyoftheChristianworld。
Thevigorofoppositionwassucceededbythelassitudeofdespair:thecouncilofBasilwassilentlydissolved；andFelix，renouncingthetiara，againwithdrewtothedevoutordelicioushermitageofRipaille。^76Ageneralpeacewassecuredbymutualactsofoblivionandindemnity:allideasofreformationsubsided；thepopescontinuedtoexerciseandabusetheirecclesiasticaldespotism；norhasRomebeensincedisturbedbythemischiefsofacontestedelection。^77
[Footnote70:FromtheoriginalLivesofthePopes，inMuratori\'sCollection，tom。iii。p。ii。tom。xxv。，themannersofEugeniusIV。appeartohavebeendecent，andevenexemplary。Hissituation，exposedtotheworldandtohisenemies，wasarestraint，andisapledge。]
[Footnote71:Syropulus，ratherthansubscribe，wouldhaveassisted，astheleastevil，attheceremonyoftheunion。Hewascompelledtodoboth；andthegreatecclesiarchpoorlyexcuseshissubmissiontotheemperor，p。290—292。]
[Footnote72:Noneoftheseoriginalactsofunioncanatpresentbeproduced。OfthetenMSS。thatarepreserved，fiveatRome，andtheremainderatFlorence，Bologna，Venice，Paris，andLondon，ninehavebeenexaminedbyanaccuratecritic，M。deBrequigny，whocondemnsthemforthevarietyandimperfectionsoftheGreeksignatures。Yetseveralofthesemaybeesteemedasauthenticcopies，whichweresubscribedatFlorence，before26thofAugust，1439thefinalseparationofthepopeandemperor，Memoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xliii。p。287—
311。]