The historie of the holy vvarre by Thomas Fuller ...

Chap. 17.

A Crusado for the Holy land diverted by the Pope* 1.1 to Constantinople; They conquer the Grecian Empire.

THis truce notwithstanding, another army of Pilgrims was presently provided for Syria: The Tetrarchs whereof were Baldwine Earl of Flanders, Dandalo the Venetian Duke, Theo∣bald Earl of Champaigne, Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat, with many other Nobles.

Leave we them a while taking the city of Jadera in Istria for the Venetians. Mean time if we look over into Greece, we shall find Isaac Angelus the Emperour deposed, thrust into prison, his eyes put out, (the punishment there in fashion) so that he ended his dayes before he ended his life, by the cruelty of Alexius An∣gelus his brother, who succeeded him.

But young Alexius, Isaac Angelus his sonne, with some Gre∣cian Noble-men, came to the courts of most Western Princes to beg assistance to free his father and expell the tyrant. He so deported himself, that each gesture was a net to catch mens good will; not seeking their favour by losing himself, but though he did bow, he would not kneel: so that in his face one might read a pretty combat betwixt the beams of majesty and cloud of adversity. To see a Prince in want, would move a mi∣sers charity. Our Western Princes tendered his case, which they counted might be their own; their best right lying at the mercy of any stronger usurper. Young Alexius so dressed his meat, that he pleased every mans palate; promising for their succours to disingage the French from their debts to the Vene∣tian; promising the Venetian satisfaction for the wrongs done them by the Grecians; and bearing the Pope in hand he would reduce the Eastern Churches into his subjection: things which he was little* 1.2 able to perform. But well may the statute of Bankrupt be sued out against him who cannot be rich in promi∣ses. These his fair profers prevailed so farre, that the Pope commanded, and other Princes consented, that this army of Pilgrimes levied for the Holy land, should be imployed against the usurping Grecian Emperour. Many taxed his Holinesse for an unjust steward of the Christian forces, to expend them a∣gainst the Grecians, which were to be laid out against the Infi∣dels: Especially now when Palestine, through the dissension of the Turks, offered it self into the Christians arms to be regain∣ed. Others thought the Pope took the right method; because

he which should winne Jerusalem must begin at Constanti∣nople: And by this warre the Grecian Empire, which was the bridge to Syria, would be made good, and secured for the pas∣sage of Pilgrimes. The souldiers generally rejoyced at the ex∣change of their service: for the barren warres in Syria starved the undertakers; and a cook himself cannot lick his fingers where no meat is dressed. There nothing but naked honour was to be gotten, here honour clothed with spoil; the usurpers treasure would make brave scrambling amongst them: And it was good plowing up of that ground which had long laien fallow.

Setting sail from Jadera (which city they had subdued to the Venetian, forcing them to pay three thousand* 1.3 cony-skins yearly for tribute to that State) like good fensers they strook at the head, and made for Constantinople: Which they quickly took,* 1.4 after some hot skirmishes. Alexius Angelus the usurper, with his wife, whores, and treasure, fled away. Blind Isaac Angelus was fetched out of prison; he and young Alexius his sonne saluted joynt Emperours. Which brittle honour of theirs was quickly broken: For soon after the father died, being brought into an open place, kept before in a close pent dun∣geon; and having long fasted from good air, he now got his death by surfeiting on it. His sonne was villanously strangled by Alexius Ducas, called from his beetle brow Mur••iphlus: One of base parentage, who was tumultuously chosen Emperour by the people. This Ducas offered some affronts to the Latines which lay before Constantinople in their ships.* 1.5 Wherefore, and also because they were not payed for their former service, they the second time assaulted the city, and took it by main force; killing none, but robbing all; ravishing women, and using a thousand insolencies. Some fled for their succour to the shrines of Saints: But the Sanctuaries needed sanctuaries to protect themselves, the souldiers as little respecting place, as formerly age or sex: not standing on any reverence to the Saints, they stood upon them, making footstools of their images and statues.

Nicetas Choniates, hitherto an historian, now a plaintiff, (writing so full of ohs and exclamations as if the while pinch∣ed by the arm) rather without measure then cause bemoaneth the outrages the Latines here committed. Poore man! all the miseries our Saviour speaketh off in a siege, met in him: His flight from Constantinople was in winter, on the* 1.6 Sabbath∣day, his wife being great with child. But when the object is too near the eye, it seemeth greater then it is: and perchance he amplifieth and aggravateth the cruelty of these Pilgrimes, be∣ing nearly interessed therein himself; especially when the rheto∣rick

of grief is alwayes in the Hyperbole. Nor is it any news for souldiers to be so insolent when they take a citie by assault: which time is their* 1.7 Saturnalia, when servants themselves do command, acknowledging no other leader or captain then their own passions.

Within a twelve-moneth all Greece was subdued save onely Adrianople:* 1.8 Baldwine Earl of Flanders chosen Emperour; Thomas Maurocenus elected first Latine Patriarch in Constan∣tinople; Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat made King of Thes∣salie; Geoffrey of Troy, a Frenchman, Prince of Achaia and Duke of Athens: the Venetians got many rich Islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas: So that one could not now see the Grecian Em∣pire for Empires. It was now expected that they should have advanced hence into Palestine: But here having well feathered their nests, they were loth to flie any further. And now no wonder if the Christians affairs in Palestine were weak and lean, the Pope diverting the meat that should feed them another way.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1202
• * 1.2

  Nicetas.
• * 1.3

  Blondus, l. 6. Decad. 2. p. 270.
• * 1.4

  1203 Iuly 17.
• * 1.5

  1204 Apr. 21.
• * 1.6

  In libello cu••titulus, Status Con∣stantinopolis Sect. 1. p, 637.
• * 1.7

  Servorum hic di••s est. Lips. lib. 1. Satur. cap. 2.
• * 1.8

  Apr. 24. crowned May 16.