andalongcaptivityamongtheinfidelsmightshedsomesuspiciononthefragmentsthatwereproducedintheEastandWest。ButanotherrelicofthePassionwaspreservedintheImperialchapelofConstantinople；andthecrownofthornswhichhadbeenplacedontheheadofChristwasequallypreciousandauthentic。IthadformerlybeenthepracticeoftheEgyptiandebtorstodeposit，asasecurity，themummiesoftheirparents；andboththeirhonorandreligionwereboundfortheredemptionofthepledge。Inthesamemanner，andintheabsenceoftheemperor，thebaronsofRomaniaborrowedthesumofthirteenthousandonehundredandthirty—fourpiecesofgold^50onthecreditoftheholycrown:
theyfailedintheperformanceoftheircontract；andarichVenetian，NicholasQuerini，undertooktosatisfytheirimpatientcreditors，onconditionthattherelicshouldbelodgedatVenice，tobecomehisabsoluteproperty，ifitwerenotredeemedwithinashortanddefiniteterm。Thebaronsapprisedtheirsovereignofthehardtreatyandimpendinglossandastheempirecouldnotaffordaransomofseventhousandpoundssterling，BaldwinwasanxioustosnatchtheprizefromtheVenetians，andtovestitwithmorehonorandemolumentinthehandsofthemostChristianking。^51Yetthenegotiationwasattendedwithsomedelicacy。Inthepurchaseofrelics，thesaintwouldhavestartedattheguiltofsimony；butifthemodeofexpressionwerechanged，hemightlawfullyrepaythedebt，acceptthegift，andacknowledgetheobligation。Hisambassadors，twoDominicans，weredespatchedtoVenicetoredeemandreceivetheholycrownwhichhadescapedthedangersoftheseaandthegalleysofVataces。Onopeningawoodenbox，theyrecognizedthesealsofthedogeandbarons，whichwereappliedonashrineofsilver；
andwithinthisshrinethemonumentofthePassionwasenclosedinagoldenvase。ThereluctantVenetiansyieldedtojusticeandpower:theemperorFredericgrantedafreeandhonorablepassage；
thecourtofFranceadvancedasfarasTroyesinChampagne，tomeetwithdevotionthisinestimablerelic:itwasborneintriumphthroughParisbythekinghimself，barefoot，andinhisshirt；andafreegiftoftenthousandmarksofsilverreconciledBaldwintohisloss。ThesuccessofthistransactiontemptedtheLatinemperortoofferwiththesamegenerositytheremainingfurnitureofhischapel；^52alargeandauthenticportionofthetruecross；thebaby—linenoftheSonofGod，thelance，thesponge，andthechain，ofhisPassion；therodofMoses，andpartoftheskullofSt。JohntheBaptist。Forthereceptionofthesespiritualtreasures，twentythousandmarkswereexpendedbySt。
Louisonastatelyfoundation，theholychapelofParis，onwhichthemuseofBoileauhasbestowedacomicimmortality。Thetruthofsuchremoteandancientrelics，whichcannotbeprovedbyanyhumantestimony，mustbeadmittedbythosewhobelieveinthemiracleswhichtheyhaveperformed。Aboutthemiddleofthelastage，aninveterateulcerwastouchedandcuredbyaholyprickleoftheholycrown:^53theprodigyisattestedbythemostpiousandenlightenedChristiansofFrance；norwillthefactbeeasilydisproved，exceptbythosewhoarearmedwithageneralantidoteagainstreligiouscredulity。^54
[Footnote50:UnderthewordsPerparus，Perpera，Hyperperum，Ducangeisshortandvague:Monetaegenus。FromacorruptpassageofGuntherus，Hist。C。P。c。8，p。10，IguessthatthePerperawasthenummusaureus，thefourthpartofamarkofsilver，orabouttenshillingssterlinginvalue。Inleaditwouldbetoocontemptible。]
[Footnote51:Forthetranslationoftheholycrown，&c。，fromConstantinopletoParis，seeDucangeHist。deC。P。l。iv。c。11
—14，24，35andFleury，Hist。Eccles。tom。xvii。p。201—
204。]
[Footnote52:Melangestiresd'uneGrandeBibliotheque，tom。
xliii。p。201—205。TheLutrinofBoileauexhibitstheinside，thesoulandmannersoftheSainteChapelle；andmanyfactsrelativetotheinstitutionarecollectedandexplainedbyhiscommentators，BrossetandDeSt。Marc。]
[Footnote53:ItwasperformedA。D。1656，March24，onthenieceofPascal；andthatsuperiorgenius，withArnauld，Nicole，&c。，wereonthespot，tobelieveandattestamiraclewhichconfoundedtheJesuits，andsavedPortRoyal，OeuvresdeRacine，tom。vi。p。176—187，inhiseloquentHistoryofPortRoyal。]
[Footnote54:VoltaireSiecledeLouisXIV。c。37，Oeuvres，tom。ix。p。178，179strivestoinvalidatethefact:butHume，Essays，vol。ii。p。483，484，withmoreskillandsuccess，seizesthebattery，andturnsthecannonagainsthisenemies。]
TheLatinsofConstantinople^55wereonallsidesencompassedandpressed；theirsolehope，thelastdelayoftheirruin，wasinthedivisionoftheirGreekandBulgarianenemies；
andofthishopetheyweredeprivedbythesuperiorarmsandpolicyofVataces，emperorofNice。FromthePropontistotherockycoastofPamphylia，Asiawaspeacefulandprosperousunderhisreign；andtheeventsofeverycampaignextendedhisinfluenceinEurope。ThestrongcitiesofthehillsofMacedoniaandThracewererescuedfromtheBulgarians；andtheirkingdomwascircumscribedbyitspresentandproperlimits，alongthesouthernbanksoftheDanube。ThesoleemperoroftheRomanscouldnolongerbrookthatalordofEpirus，aComnenianprinceoftheWest，shouldpresumetodisputeorsharethehonorsofthepurple；andthehumbleDemetriuschangedthecolorofhisbuskins，andacceptedwithgratitudetheappellationofdespot。
Hisownsubjectswereexasperatedbyhisbasenessandincapacity；
theyimploredtheprotectionoftheirsupremelord。Aftersomeresistance，thekingdomofThessalonicawasunitedtotheempireofNice；andVatacesreignedwithoutacompetitorfromtheTurkishborderstotheAdriaticGulf。TheprincesofEuropereveredhismeritandpower；andhadhesubscribedanorthodoxcreed，itshouldseemthatthepopewouldhaveabandonedwithoutreluctancetheLatinthroneofConstantinople。ButthedeathofVataces，theshortandbusyreignofTheodorehisson，andthehelplessinfancyofhisgrandsonJohn，suspendedtherestorationoftheGreeks。Inthenextchapter，Ishallexplaintheirdomesticrevolutions；inthisplace，itwillbesufficienttoobserve，thattheyoungprincewasoppressedbytheambitionofhisguardianandcolleague，MichaelPalaeologus，whodisplayedthevirtuesandvicesthatbelongtothefounderofanewdynasty。TheemperorBaldwinhadflatteredhimself，thathemightrecoversomeprovincesorcitiesbyanimpotentnegotiation。HisambassadorsweredismissedfromNicewithmockeryandcontempt。Ateveryplacewhichtheynamed，Palaeologusallegedsomespecialreason，whichrendereditdearandvaluableinhiseyes:intheonehewasborn；inanotherhehadbeenfirstpromotedtomilitarycommand；andinathirdhehadenjoyed，andhopedlongtoenjoy，thepleasuresofthechase。
"Andwhatthendoyouproposetogiveus?"saidtheastonisheddeputies。"Nothing，"repliedtheGreek，"notafootofland。Ifyourmasterbedesirousofpeace，lethimpayme，asanannualtribute，thesumwhichhereceivesfromthetradeandcustomsofConstantinople。Ontheseterms，Imayallowhimtoreign。Ifherefuses，itiswar。Iamnotignorantoftheartofwar，andI
trusttheeventtoGodandmysword。"^56AnexpeditionagainstthedespotofEpiruswasthefirstpreludeofhisarms。Ifavictorywasfollowedbyadefeat；iftheraceoftheComneniorAngelisurvivedinthosemountainshiseffortsandhisreign；thecaptivityofVillehardouin，princeofAchaia，deprivedtheLatinsofthemostactiveandpowerfulvassaloftheirexpiringmonarchy。TherepublicsofVeniceandGenoadisputed，inthefirstoftheirnavalwars，thecommandoftheseaandthecommerceoftheEast。PrideandinterestattachedtheVenetianstothedefenceofConstantinople；theirrivalsweretemptedtopromotethedesignsofherenemies，andtheallianceoftheGenoesewiththeschismaticconquerorprovokedtheindignationoftheLatinchurch。^57
[Footnote55:ThegraduallossesoftheLatinsmaybetracedinthethirdfourth，andfifthbooksofthecompilationofDucange:
butoftheGreekconquestshehasdroppedmanycircumstances，whichmayberecoveredfromthelargerhistoryofGeorgeAcropolita，andthethreefirstbooksofNicephorus，Gregoras，twowritersoftheByzantineseries，whohavehadthegoodfortunetomeetwithlearnededitorsLeoAllatiusatRome，andJohnBoivinintheAcademyofInscriptionsofParis。]
[Footnote56:GeorgeAcropolita，c。78，p。89，90。edit。Paris。]
[Footnote57:TheGreeks，ashamedofanyforeignaid，disguisetheallianceandsuccoroftheGenoese:butthefactisprovedbythetestimonyofJVillaniChron。l。vi。c。71，inMuratori，Script。RerumItalicarum，tom。xiii。p。202，203andWilliamdeNangis，AnnalesdeSt。Louis，p。248intheLouvreJoinville，
twoimpartialforeigners；andUrbanIVthreatenedtodepriveGenoaofherarchbishop。]
Intentonhisgreatobject，theemperorMichaelvisitedinpersonandstrengthenedthetroopsandfortificationsofThrace。
TheremainsoftheLatinsweredrivenfromtheirlastpossessions:heassaultedwithoutsuccessthesuburbofGalata；
andcorrespondedwithaperfidiousbaron，whoprovedunwilling，orunable，toopenthegatesofthemetropolis。Thenextspring，hisfavoritegeneral，AlexiusStrategopulus，whomhehaddecoratedwiththetitleofCaesar，passedtheHellespontwitheighthundredhorseandsomeinfantry，^58onasecretexpedition。Hisinstructionsenjoinedhimtoapproach，tolisten，towatch，butnottoriskanydoubtfulordangerousenterpriseagainstthecity。TheadjacentterritorybetweenthePropontisandtheBlackSeawascultivatedbyahardyraceofpeasantsandoutlaws，exercisedinarms，uncertainintheirallegiance，butinclinedbylanguage，religion，andpresentadvantage，tothepartyoftheGreeks。Theywerestyledthevolunteers；^59andbytheirfreeservicethearmyofAlexius，withtheregularsofThraceandtheComanauxiliaries，^60wasaugmentedtothenumberoffive—and—twentythousandmen。Bytheardorofthevolunteers，andbyhisownambition，theCaesarwasstimulatedtodisobeythepreciseordersofhismaster，inthejustconfidencethatsuccesswouldpleadhispardonandreward。
TheweaknessofConstantinople，andthedistressandterroroftheLatins，werefamiliartotheobservationofthevolunteers；
andtheyrepresentedthepresentmomentasthemostpropitioustosurpriseandconquest。Arashyouth，thenewgovernoroftheVenetiancolony，hadsailedawaywiththirtygalleys，andthebestoftheFrenchknights，onawildexpeditiontoDaphnusia，atownontheBlackSea，atthedistanceoffortyleagues；andtheremainingLatinswerewithoutstrengthorsuspicion。TheywereinformedthatAlexiushadpassedtheHellespont；buttheirapprehensionswerelulledbythesmallnessofhisoriginalnumbers；andtheirimprudencehadnotwatchedthesubsequentincreaseofhisarmy。Ifhelefthismainbodytosecondandsupporthisoperations，hemightadvanceunperceivedinthenightwithachosendetachment。Whilesomeappliedscaling—ladderstothelowestpartofthewalls，theyweresecureofanoldGreek，whowouldintroducetheircompanionsthroughasubterraneouspassageintohishouse；theycouldsoonontheinsidebreakanentrancethroughthegoldengate，whichhadbeenlongobstructed；
andtheconquerorwouldbeintheheartofthecitybeforetheLatinswereconsciousoftheirdanger。Aftersomedebate，theCaesarresignedhimselftothefaithofthevolunteers；theyweretrusty，bold，andsuccessful；andindescribingtheplan，Ihavealreadyrelatedtheexecutionandsuccess。^61ButnosoonerhadAlexiuspassedthethresholdofthegoldengate，thanhetrembledathisownrashness；hepaused，hedeliberated；tillthedesperatevolunteersurgedhimforwards，bytheassurancethatinretreatlaythegreatestandmostinevitabledanger。WhilsttheCaesarkepthisregularsinfirmarray，theComansdispersedthemselvesonallsides；analarmwassounded，andthethreatsoffireandpillagecompelledthecitizenstoadecisiveresolution。
TheGreeksofConstantinoplerememberedtheirnativesovereigns；
theGenoesemerchantstheirrecentallianceandVenetianfoes；
everyquarterwasinarms；andtheairresoundedwithageneralacclamationof"LonglifeandvictorytoMichaelandJohn，theaugustemperorsoftheRomans!"Theirrival，Baldwin，wasawakenedbythesound；butthemostpressingdangercouldnotprompthimtodrawhisswordinthedefenceofacitywhichhedeserted，perhaps，withmorepleasurethanregret:hefledfromthepalacetotheseashore，wherehedescriedthewelcomesailsofthefleetreturningfromthevainandfruitlessattemptonDaphnusia。Constantinoplewasirrecoverablylost；buttheLatinemperorandtheprincipalfamiliesembarkedonboardtheVenetiangalleys，andsteeredfortheIsleofEuboea，andafterwardsforItaly，wheretheroyalfugitivewasentertainedbythepopeandSiciliankingwithamixtureofcontemptandpity。FromthelossofConstantinopletohisdeath，heconsumedthirteenyears，solicitingtheCatholicpowerstojoininhisrestoration:thelessonhadbeenfamiliartohisyouth；norwashislastexilemoreindigentorshamefulthanhisthreeformerpilgrimagestothecourtsofEurope。HissonPhilipwastheheirofanidealempire；andthepretensionsofhisdaughterCatherineweretransportedbyhermarriagetoCharlesofValois，thebrotherofPhiliptheFair，kingofFrance。ThehouseofCourtenaywasrepresentedinthefemalelinebysuccessivealliances，tillthetitleofemperorofConstantinople，toobulkyandsonorousforaprivatename，modestlyexpiredinsilenceandoblivion。^62
[Footnote58:Someprecautionsmustbeusedinreconcilingthediscordantnumbers；the800soldiersofNicetas，the25，000ofSpandugino，apudDucange，l。v。c。24；theGreeksandScythiansofAcropolita；andthenumerousarmyofMichael，intheEpistlesofPopeUrbanIV。i。129。]
[Footnote59:TheyaredescribedandnamedbyPachymer，l。ii。
c。14。]
[Footnote60:ItisneedlesstoseektheseComansinthedesertsofTartary，orevenofMoldavia。ApartofthehordehadsubmittedtoJohnVataces，andwasprobablysettledasanurseryofsoldiersonsomewastelandsofThrace，Cantacuzen。l。i。c。
2。]
[Footnote*:Accordingtoseveralauthorities，particularlyAbulfaradj。Chron。Arab。p。336，thiswasastratagemonthepartoftheGreekstoweakenthegarrisonofConstantinople。TheGreekcommanderofferedtosurrenderthetownontheappearanceoftheVenetians。—M。]
[Footnote61:ThelossofConstantinopleisbrieflytoldbytheLatins:theconquestisdescribedwithmoresatisfactionbytheGreeks；byAcropolita，c。85，Pachymer，l。ii。c。26，27，
NicephorusGregoras，l。iv。c。1，2SeeDucange，Hist。deC。P。
l。v。c。19—27。]
[Footnote62:Seethethreelastbooksl。v。—viii。andthegenealogicaltablesofDucange。Intheyear1382，thetitularemperorofConstantinoplewasJamesdeBaux，dukeofAndriainthekingdomofNaples，thesonofMargaret，daughterofCatherinedeValois，daughterofCatharine，daughterofPhilip，sonofBaldwinII。，Ducange，l。viii。c。37，38。Itisuncertainwhetherheleftanyposterity。]
AfterthisnarrativeoftheexpeditionsoftheLatinstoPalestineandConstantinople，Icannotdismissthesubjectwithoutresolvingthegeneralconsequencesonthecountriesthatwerethescene，andonthenationsthatweretheactors，ofthesememorablecrusades。^63AssoonasthearmsoftheFrankswerewithdrawn，theimpression，thoughnotthememory，waserasedintheMahometanrealmsofEgyptandSyria。Thefaithfuldisciplesoftheprophetwerenevertemptedbyaprofanedesiretostudythelawsorlanguageoftheidolaters；nordidthesimplicityoftheirprimitivemannersreceivetheslightestalterationfromtheirintercourseinpeaceandwarwiththeunknownstrangersoftheWest。TheGreeks，whothoughtthemselvesproud，butwhowereonlyvain，showedadispositionsomewhatlessinflexible。Intheeffortsfortherecoveryoftheirempire，theyemulatedthevalor，discipline，andtacticsoftheirantagonists。ThemodernliteratureoftheWesttheymightjustlydespise；butitsfreespiritwouldinstructthemintherightsofman；andsomeinstitutionsofpublicandprivatelifewereadoptedfromtheFrench。ThecorrespondenceofConstantinopleandItalydiffusedtheknowledgeoftheLatintongue；andseveralofthefathersandclassicswereatlengthhonoredwithaGreekversion。^64ButthenationalandreligiousprejudicesoftheOrientalswereinflamedbypersecution，andthereignoftheLatinsconfirmedtheseparationofthetwochurches。
[Footnote63:Abulfeda，whosawtheconclusionofthecrusades，speaksofthekingdomsoftheFranks，andthoseoftheNegroes，asequallyunknown，Prolegom。adGeograph。HadhenotdisdainedtheLatinlanguage，howeasilymighttheSyrianprincehavefoundbooksandinterpreters!]
[Footnote64:AshortandsuperficialaccountoftheseversionsfromLatinintoGreekisgivenbyHuet，deInterpretationeetdeclarisInterpretibusp。131—135。MaximusPlanudes，amonkofConstantinople，A。D。1327—1353hastranslatedCaesar'sCommentaries，theSomniumScipionis，theMetamorphosesandHeroidesofOvid，&c。，Fabric。Bib。Graec。tom。x。p。533。]
Ifwecomparetheaeraofthecrusades，theLatinsofEuropewiththeGreeksandArabians，theirrespectivedegreesofknowledge，industry，andart，ourrudeancestorsmustbecontentwiththethirdrankinthescaleofnations。Theirsuccessiveimprovementandpresentsuperioritymaybeascribedtoapeculiarenergyofcharacter，toanactiveandimitativespirit，unknowntotheirmorepolishedrivals，whoatthattimewereinastationaryorretrogradestate。Withsuchadisposition，theLatinsshouldhavederivedthemostearlyandessentialbenefitsfromaseriesofeventswhichopenedtotheireyestheprospectoftheworld，andintroducedthemtoalongandfrequentintercoursewiththemorecultivatedregionsoftheEast。Thefirstandmostobviousprogresswasintradeandmanufactures，intheartswhicharestronglypromptedbythethirstofwealth，thecallsofnecessity，andthegratificationofthesenseorvanity。
Amongthecrowdofunthinkingfanatics，acaptiveorapilgrimmightsometimesobservethesuperiorrefinementsofCairoandConstantinople:thefirstimporterofwindmills^65wasthebenefactorofnations；andifsuchblessingsareenjoyedwithoutanygratefulremembrance，historyhascondescendedtonoticethemoreapparentluxuriesofsilkandsugar，whichweretransportedintoItalyfromGreeceandEgypt。ButtheintellectualwantsoftheLatinsweremoreslowlyfeltandsupplied；theardorofstudiouscuriositywasawakenedinEuropebydifferentcausesandmorerecentevents；and，intheageofthecrusades，theyviewedwithcarelessindifferencetheliteratureoftheGreeksandArabians。Somerudimentsofmathematicalandmedicinalknowledgemightbeimpartedinpracticeandinfigures；necessitymightproducesomeinterpretersforthegrosserbusinessofmerchantsandsoldiers；butthecommerceoftheOrientalshadnotdiffusedthestudyandknowledgeoftheirlanguagesintheschoolsofEurope。^66IfasimilarprincipleofreligionrepulsedtheidiomoftheKoran，itshouldhaveexcitedtheirpatienceandcuriositytounderstandtheoriginaltextofthegospel；andthesamegrammarwouldhaveunfoldedthesenseofPlatoandthebeautiesofHomer。Yetinareignofsixtyyears，theLatinsofConstantinopledisdainedthespeechandlearningoftheirsubjects；andthemanuscriptsweretheonlytreasureswhichthenativesmightenjoywithoutrapineorenvy。AristotlewasindeedtheoracleoftheWesternuniversities，butitwasabarbarousAristotle；and，insteadofascendingtothefountainhead，hisLatinvotarieshumblyacceptedacorruptandremoteversion，fromtheJewsandMoorsofAndalusia。Theprincipleofthecrusadeswasasavagefanaticism；andthemostimportanteffectswereanalogoustothecause。Eachpilgrimwasambitioustoreturnwithhissacredspoils，therelicsofGreeceandPalestine；^67