ButhehadimbibedfromhisninthyearthedoctrinesoftheKoran；hewasignorantoftheGospel；thereligionofasoldierisdeterminedbyauthorityandhabit；norisiteasytoconceivewhatnewilluminationattheageofforty^38couldbepouredintohissoul。Hismotiveswouldbelessexposedtothesuspicionofinterestorrevenge，hadhebrokenhischainfromthemomentthathewassensibleofitsweight:butalongoblivionhadsurelyimpairedhisoriginalright；andeveryyearofobedienceandrewardhadcementedthemutualbondofthesultanandhissubject。IfScanderbeghadlongharboredthebeliefofChristianityandtheintentionofrevolt，aworthymindmustcondemnthebasedissimulation，thatcouldserveonlytobetray，thatcouldpromiseonlytobeforsworn，thatcouldactivelyjoininthetemporalandspiritualperditionofsomanythousandsofhisunhappybrethren。ShallwepraiseasecretcorrespondencewithHuniades，whilehecommandedthevanguardoftheTurkisharmy?shallweexcusethedesertionofhisstandard，atreacherousdesertionwhichabandonedthevictorytotheenemiesofhisbenefactor?Intheconfusionofadefeat，theeyeofScanderbegwasfixedontheReisEffendiorprincipalsecretary:withthedaggerathisbreast，heextortedafirmanorpatentforthegovernmentofAlbania；andthemurderoftheguiltlessscribeandhistrainpreventedtheconsequencesofanimmediatediscovery。Withsomeboldcompanions，towhomhehadrevealedhisdesignheescapedinthenight，byrapidmarches，fromthefieldorbattletohispaternalmountains。ThegatesofCroyawereopenedtotheroyalmandate；andnosoonerdidhecommandthefortress，thanGeorgeCastriotdroppedthemaskofdissimulation；abjuredtheprophetandthesultan，andproclaimedhimselftheavengerofhisfamilyandcountry。Thenamesofreligionandlibertyprovokedageneralrevolt:theAlbanians，amartialrace，wereunanimoustoliveanddiewiththeirhereditaryprince；andtheOttomangarrisonswereindulgedinthechoiceofmartyrdomorbaptism。IntheassemblyofthestatesofEpirus，ScanderbegwaselectedgeneraloftheTurkishwar；andeachofthealliesengagedtofurnishhisrespectiveproportionofmenandmoney。Fromthesecontributions，fromhispatrimonialestate，andfromthevaluablesalt—pitsofSelina，hedrewanannualrevenueoftwohundredthousandducats；^39andtheentiresum，exemptfromthedemandsofluxury，wasstrictlyappropriatedtothepublicuse。Hismannerswerepopular；buthisdisciplinewassevere；andeverysuperfluousvicewasbanishedfromhiscamp:hisexamplestrengthenedhiscommand；andunderhisconduct，theAlbanianswereinvincibleintheirownopinionandthatoftheirenemies。ThebravestadventurersofFranceandGermanywerealluredbyhisfameandretainedinhisservice:hisstandingmilitiaconsistedofeightthousandhorseandseventhousandfoot；thehorsesweresmall，themenwereactive；butheviewedwithadiscerningeyethedifficultiesandresourcesofthemountains；and，attheblazeofthebeacons，thewholenationwasdistributedinthestrongestposts。WithsuchunequalarmsScanderbegresistedtwenty—threeyearsthepowersoftheOttomanempire；andtwoconquerors，AmuraththeSecond，andhisgreaterson，wererepeatedlybaffledbyarebel，whomtheypursuedwithseemingcontemptandimplacableresentment。AttheheadofsixtythousandhorseandfortythousandJanizaries，AmurathenteredAlbania:hemightravagetheopencountry，occupythedefencelesstowns，convertthechurchesintomosques，circumcisetheChristianyouths，andpunishwithdeathhisadultandobstinatecaptives:buttheconquestsofthesultanwereconfinedtothepettyfortressofSfetigrade；andthegarrison，invincibletohisarms，wasoppressedbyapaltryartificeandasuperstitiousscruple。^40AmurathretiredwithshameandlossfromthewallsofCroya，thecastleandresidenceoftheCastriots；themarch，thesiege，theretreat，wereharassedbyavexatious，andalmostinvisible，adversary；^41andthedisappointmentmighttendtoimbitter，perhapstoshorten，thelastdaysofthesultan。^42Inthefulnessofconquest，MahomettheSecondstillfeltathisbosomthisdomesticthorn:hislieutenantswerepermittedtonegotiateatruce；andtheAlbanianprincemayjustlybepraisedasafirmandablechampionofhisnationalindependence。TheenthusiasmofchivalryandreligionhasrankedhimwiththenamesofAlexanderandPyrrhus；norwouldtheyblushtoacknowledgetheirintrepidcountryman:buthisnarrowdominion，andslenderpowers，mustleavehimatanhumbledistancebelowtheheroesofantiquity，whotriumphedovertheEastandtheRomanlegions。
Hissplendidachievements，thebashawswhomheencountered，thearmiesthathediscomfited，andthethreethousandTurkswhowereslainbyhissinglehand，mustbeweighedinthescalesofsuspiciouscriticism。Againstanilliterateenemy，andinthedarksolitudeofEpirus，hispartialbiographersmaysafelyindulgethelatitudeofromance:buttheirfictionsareexposedbythelightofItalianhistory；andtheyaffordastrongpresumptionagainsttheirowntruth，byafabuloustaleofhisexploits，whenhepassedtheAdriaticwitheighthundredhorsetothesuccorofthekingofNaples。^43Withoutdisparagementtohisfame，theymighthaveowned，thathewasfinallyoppressedbytheOttomanpowers:inhisextremedangerheappliedtoPopePiustheSecondforarefugeintheecclesiasticalstate；andhisresourceswerealmostexhausted，sinceScanderbegdiedafugitiveatLissus，ontheVenetianterritory。^44HissepulchrewassoonviolatedbytheTurkishconquerors；buttheJanizaries，whoworehisbonesenchasedinabracelet，declaredbythissuperstitiousamulettheirinvoluntaryreverenceforhisvalor。Theinstantruinofhiscountrymayredoundtothehero\'sglory；yet，hadhebalancedtheconsequencesofsubmissionandresistance，apatriotperhapswouldhavedeclinedtheunequalcontestwhichmustdependonthelifeandgeniusofoneman。Scanderbegmightindeedbesupportedbytherational，thoughfallacious，hope，thatthepope，thekingofNaples，andtheVenetianrepublic，wouldjoininthedefenceofafreeandChristianpeople，whoguardedthesea—coastoftheAdriatic，andthenarrowpassagefromGreecetoItaly。Hisinfantsonwassavedfromthenationalshipwreck；theCastriots^45wereinvestedwithaNeapolitandukedom，andtheirbloodcontinuestoflowinthenoblestfamiliesoftherealm。A
colonyofAlbanianfugitivesobtainedasettlementinCalabria，andtheypreserveatthisdaythelanguageandmannersoftheirancestors。^46
[Footnote35:TheyarerankedbySirWilliamTemple，inhispleasingEssayonHeroicVirtue，Works，vol。iii。p。385，amongthesevenchiefswhohavedeservedwithoutwearing，aroyalcrown；Belisarius，Narses，GonsalvoofCordova，WilliamfirstprinceofOrange，AlexanderdukeofParma，JohnHuniades，andGeorgeCastriot，orScanderbeg。]
[Footnote36:IcouldwishforsomesimpleauthenticmemoirsofafriendofScanderbeg，whichwouldintroducemetotheman，thetime，andtheplace。IntheoldandnationalhistoryofMarinusBarletius，apriestofScodra，deVita。Moribus，etRebusgestisGeorgiiCastrioti，&c。librixiii。p。367。Argentorat。1537，infol。，hisgaudyandcumbersomsrobesarestuckwithmanyfalsejewels。SeelikewiseChalcondyles，lvii。p。185，l。viii。p。
229。]
[Footnote37:Hiscircumcision，education，&c。，aremarkedbyMarinuswithbrevityandreluctance，l。i。p。6，7。]
[Footnote38:SinceScanderbegdiedA。D。1466，inthelxiiidyearofhisage，Marinus，l。xiii。p。370，hewasbornin1403；
sincehewastornfromhisparentsbytheTurks，whenhewasnovennis，Marinus，l。i。p。1，6，thateventmusthavehappenedin1412，nineyearsbeforetheaccessionofAmurathII。，whomusthaveinherited，notacquiredtheAlbanianslave。Spondanushasremarkedthisinconsistency，A。D。1431，No。31，1443，No。14。]
[Footnote39:HisrevenueandforcesareluckilygivenbyMarinus，l。ii。p。44。]
[Footnote40:ThereweretwoDibras，theupperaudlower，theBulgarianandAlbanian:theformer，70milesfromCroya，l。i。
p。17，wascontiguoustothefortressofSfetigrade，whoseinhabitantsrefusedtodrinkfromawellintowhichadeaddoghadtraitorouslybeencast，l。v。p。139，140。WewantagoodmapofEpirus。]
[Footnote41:ComparetheTurkishnarrativeofCantemirp。92
withthepompousandprolixdeclamationintheivth，vth，andvithbooksoftheAlbanianpriest，whohasbeencopiedbythetribeofstrangersandmoderns。]
[Footnote42:Inhonorofhishero，Barletiusl。vi。p。188—
192killsthesultanbydiseaseindeed，underthewallsofCroya。ButthisaudaciousfictionisdisprovedbytheGreeksandTurks，whoagreeinthetimeandmannerofAmurath\'sdeathatAdrianople。]
[Footnote43:SeethemarvelsofhisCalabrianexpeditionintheixthandxthbooksofMarinusBarletius，whichmayberectifiedbythetestimonyorsilenceofMuratori，Annalid\'Italia，tom。
xiii。p。291，andhisoriginalauthors，Joh。SimonettadeRebusFrancisciSfortiae，inMuratori，Script。RerumItal。tom。xxi。p。
728，etalios。TheAlbaniancavalry，underthenameofStradiots，soonbecamefamousinthewarsofItaly，MemoiresdeComines，l。viii。c。5。]
[Footnote44:Spondanus，fromthebestevidence，andthemostrationalcriticism，hasreducedthegiantScanderbegtothehumansize，A。D。1461，No。20，1463，No。9，1465，No。12，13，1467，No。1。Hisownlettertothepope，andthetestimonyofPhranza，l。iii。c。28，arefugeeintheneighboringisleofCorfu，demonstratehislastdistress，whichisawkwardlyconcealedbyMarinusBarletius，l。x。]
[Footnote45:SeethefamilyoftheCastriots，inDucange，Fam。
Dalmaticae，&c，xviii。p。348—350。]
[Footnote46:ThiscolonyofAlbaneseismentionedbyMr。
Swinburne，TravelsintotheTwoSicilies，vol。i。p。350—
354。]
InthelongcareerofthedeclineandfalloftheRomanempire，IhavereachedatlengththelastreignoftheprincesofConstantinople，whosofeeblysustainedthenameandmajestyoftheCaesars。OnthedeceaseofJohnPalaeologus，whosurvivedaboutfouryearstheHungariancrusade，^47theroyalfamily，bythedeathofAndronicusandthemonasticprofessionofIsidore，wasreducedtothreeprinces，Constantine，Demetrius，andThomas，thesurvivingsonsoftheemperorManuel。OfthesethefirstandthelastwerefardistantintheMorea；butDemetrius，whopossessedthedomainofSelybria，wasinthesuburbs，attheheadofaparty:hisambitionwasnotchilledbythepublicdistress；
andhisconspiracywiththeTurksandtheschismaticshadalreadydisturbedthepeaceofhiscountry。Thefuneralofthelateemperorwasacceleratedwithsingularandevensuspicioushaste:
theclaimofDemetriustothevacantthronewasjustifiedbyatriteandflimsysophism，thathewasborninthepurple，theeldestsonofhisfather\'sreign。Buttheempress—mother，thesenateandsoldiers，theclergyandpeople，wereunanimousinthecauseofthelawfulsuccessor:andthedespotThomas，who，ignorantofthechange，accidentallyreturnedtothecapital，assertedwithbecomingzealtheinterestofhisabsentbrother。
Anambassador，thehistorianPhranza，wasimmediatelydespatchedtothecourtofAdrianople。Amurathreceivedhimwithhonoranddismissedhimwithgifts；butthegraciousapprobationoftheTurkishsultanannouncedhissupremacy，andtheapproachingdownfalloftheEasternempire。Bythehandsoftwoillustriousdeputies，theImperialcrownwasplacedatSpartaontheheadofConstantine。InthespringhesailedfromtheMorea，escapedtheencounterofaTurkishsquadron，enjoyedtheacclamationsofhissubjects，celebratedthefestivalofanewreign，andexhaustedbyhisdonativesthetreasure，orrathertheindigence，ofthestate。TheemperorimmediatelyresignedtohisbrothersthepossessionoftheMorea；andthebrittlefriendshipofthetwoprinces，DemetriusandThomas，wasconfirmedintheirmother\'spresencebythefrailsecurityofoathsandembraces。Hisnextoccupationwasthechoiceofaconsort。AdaughterofthedogeofVenicehadbeenproposed；buttheByzantinenoblesobjectedthedistancebetweenanhereditarymonarchandanelectivemagistrate；andintheirsubsequentdistress，thechiefofthatpowerfulrepublicwasnotunmindfuloftheaffront。ConstantineafterwardshesitatedbetweentheroyalfamiliesofTrebizondandGeorgia；andtheembassyofPhranzarepresentsinhispublicandprivatelifethelastdaysoftheByzantineempire。^48
[Footnote47:TheChronologyofPhranzaisclearandauthentic；
butinsteadoffouryearsandsevenmonths，SpondanusA。D。1445，No。7，assignssevenoreightyearstothereignofthelastConstantinewhichhededucesfromaspuriousepistleofEugeniusIV。tothekingofAethiopia。]
[Footnote48:Phranzal。iii。c。1—6deservescreditandesteem。]
Theprotovestiare，orgreatchamberlain，PhranzasailedfromConstantinopleastheministerofabridegroom；andtherelicsofwealthandluxurywereappliedtohispompousappearance。Hisnumerousretinueconsistedofnoblesandguards，ofphysiciansandmonks:hewasattendedbyabandofmusic；andthetermofhiscostlyembassywasprotractedabovetwoyears。OnhisarrivalinGeorgiaorIberia，thenativesfromthetownsandvillagesflockedaroundthestrangers；andsuchwastheirsimplicity，thattheyweredelightedwiththeeffects，withoutunderstandingthecause，ofmusicalharmony。Amongthecrowdwasanoldman，aboveahundredyearsofage，whohadformerlybeencarriedawayacaptivebytheBarbarians，^49andwhoamusedhishearerswithataleofthewondersofIndia，^50fromwhencehehadreturnedtoPortugalbyanunknownsea。^51Fromthishospitableland，PhranzaproceededtothecourtofTrebizond，wherehewasinformedbytheGreekprinceoftherecentdeceaseofAmurath。Insteadofrejoicinginthedeliverance，theexperiencedstatesmanexpressedhisapprehension，thatanambitiousyouthwouldnotlongadheretothesageandpacificsystemofhisfather。Afterthesultan\'sdecease，hisChristianwife，Maria，^52thedaughteroftheServiandespot，hadbeenhonorablyrestoredtoherparents；onthefameofherbeautyandmerit，shewasrecommendedbytheambassadorasthemostworthyobjectoftheroyalchoice；andPhranzarecapitulatesandrefutesthespeciousobjectionsthatmightberaisedagainsttheproposal。Themajestyofthepurplewouldennobleanunequalalliance；thebarofaffinitymightberemovedbyliberalalmsandthedispensationofthechurch；thedisgraceofTurkishnuptialshadbeenrepeatedlyoverlooked；and，thoughthefairMariawasnearlyfiftyyearsofage，shemightyethopetogiveanheirtotheempire。Constantinelistenedtotheadvice，whichwastransmittedinthefirstshipthatsailedfromTrebizond；butthefactionsofthecourtopposedhismarriage；anditwasfinallypreventedbythepiousvowofthesultana，whoendedherdaysinthemonasticprofession。Reducedtothefirstalternative，thechoiceofPhranzawasdecidedinfavorofaGeorgianprincess；andthevanityofherfatherwasdazzledbythegloriousalliance。Insteadofdemanding，accordingtotheprimitiveandnationalcustom，apriceforhisdaughter，^53heofferedaportionoffifty—sixthousand，withanannualpensionoffivethousand，ducats；andtheservicesoftheambassadorwererepaidbyanassurance，that，ashissonhadbeenadoptedinbaptismbytheemperor，theestablishmentofhisdaughtershouldbethepeculiarcareoftheempressofConstantinople。OnthereturnofPhranza，thetreatywasratifiedbytheGreekmonarch，whowithhisownhandimpressedthreevermilioncrossesonthegoldenbull，andassuredtheGeorgianenvoythatinthespringhisgalleysshouldconductthebridetoherImperialpalace。ButConstantineembracedhisfaithfulservant，notwiththecoldapprobationofasovereign，butwiththewarmconfidenceofafriend，who，afteralongabsence，isimpatienttopourhissecretsintothebosomofhisfriend。\"SincethedeathofmymotherandofCantacuzene，whoaloneadvisedmewithoutinterestorpassion，^54Iamsurrounded，\"saidtheemperor，\"bymenwhomIcanneitherlovenortrust，noresteem。YouarenotastrangertoLucasNotaras，thegreatadmiral；obstinatelyattachedtohisownsentiments，hedeclares，bothinprivateandpublic，thathissentimentsaretheabsolutemeasureofmythoughtsandactions。
Therestofthecourtiersareswayedbytheirpersonalorfactiousviews；andhowcanIconsultthemonksonquestionsofpolicyandmarriage?Ihaveyetmuchemploymentforyourdiligenceandfidelity。InthespringyoushallengageoneofmybrotherstosolicitthesuccoroftheWesternpowers；fromtheMoreayoushallsailtoCyprusonaparticularcommission；andfromthenceproceedtoGeorgiatoreceiveandconductthefutureempress。\"—\"Yourcommands，\"repliedPhranza，\"areirresistible；
butdeign，greatsir，\"headded，withaserioussmile，\"toconsider，thatifIamthusperpetuallyabsentfrommyfamily，mywifemaybetemptedeithertoseekanotherhusband，ortothrowherselfintoamonastery。\"Afterlaughingathisapprehensions，theemperormoregravelyconsoledhimbythepleasingassurancethatthisshouldbehislastserviceabroad，andthathedestinedforhissonawealthyandnobleheiress；forhimself，theimportantofficeofgreatlogothete，orprincipalministerofstate。Themarriagewasimmediatelystipulated:buttheoffice，howeverincompatiblewithhisown，hadbeenusurpedbytheambitionoftheadmiral。Somedelaywasrequisitetonegotiateaconsentandanequivalent；andthenominationofPhranzawashalfdeclared，andhalfsuppressed，lestitmightbedispleasingtoaninsolentandpowerfulfavorite。Thewinterwasspentinthepreparationsofhisembassy；andPhranzahadresolved，thattheyouthhissonshouldembracethisopportunityofforeigntravel，andbeleft，ontheappearanceofdanger，withhismaternalkindredoftheMorea。Suchweretheprivateandpublicdesigns，whichwereinterruptedbyaTurkishwar，andfinallyburiedintheruinsoftheempire。
[Footnote49:Supposehimtohavebeencapturedin1394，inTimour\'sfirstwarinGeorgia，Sherefeddin，l。iii。c。50；hemightfollowhisTartarmasterintoHindostanin1398，andfromthencesailtothespiceislands。]
[Footnote50:ThehappyandpiousIndianslivedahundredandfiftyyears，andenjoyedthemostperfectproductionsofthevegetableandmineralkingdoms。Theanimalswereonalargescale:dragonsseventycubits，antstheformicaIndicanineincheslong，sheeplikeelephants，elephantslikesheep。
Quidlibetaudendi，&c。]
[Footnote51:HesailedinacountryvesselfromthespiceislandstooneoftheportsoftheexteriorIndia；invenitquenavemgrandemIbericamquainPortugalliamestdelatus。Thispassage，composedin1477，Phranza，l。iii。c。30，twentyyearsbeforethediscoveryoftheCapeofGoodHope，isspuriousorwonderful。ButthisnewgeographyissulliedbytheoldandincompatibleerrorwhichplacesthesourceoftheNileinIndia。]
[Footnote52:Cantemir，p。83，whostylesherthedaughterofLazarusOgli，andtheHelenoftheServians，placeshermarriagewithAmurathintheyear1424。Itwillnoteasilybebelieved，thatinsix—and—twentyyears\'cohabitation，thesultancorpusejusnontetigit。AfterthetakingofConstantinople，shefledtoMahometII。，Phranza，l。iii。c。22。]
[Footnote53:TheclassicalreaderwillrecollecttheoffersofAgamemnon，Iliad，c。v。144，andthegeneralpracticeofantiquity。]
[Footnote54:CantacuzeneIamignorantofhisrelationtotheemperorofthatnamewasgreatdomestic，afirmassertoroftheGreekcreed，andabrotherofthequeenofServia，whomhevisitedwiththecharacterofambassador，Syropulus，p。37，38，45。]