andifheissuedfromhisretreat，itwasastheministerofpeace，tosubduetheobstinacy，andsolicitthepardon，ofhisrebelliousson。^37
[Footnote34:FromhisreturntoConstantinople，Cantacuzenecontinueshishistoryandthatoftheempire，oneyearbeyondtheabdicationofhissonMatthew，A。D。1357，l。iv。c。l—50，p。
705—911。NicephorusGregorasendswiththesynodofConstantinople，intheyear1351，l。xxii。c。3，p。660；therest，totheconclusionofthexxivthbook，p。717，isallcontroversy；andhisfourteenlastbooksarestillMss。inthekingofFrance'slibrary。]
[Footnote35:TheemperorCantacuzen。l。iv。c。1representshisownvirtues，andNic。Gregorasl。xv。c。11thecomplaintsofhisfriends，whosufferedbyitseffects。IhavelentthemthewordsofourpoorcavaliersaftertheRestoration。]
[Footnote36:TheawkwardapologyofCantacuzene，l。iv。c。39—
42，whorelates，withvisibleconfusion，hisowndownfall，maybesuppliedbythelessaccurate，butmorehonest，narrativesofMatthewVillanil。iv。c。46，intheScript。RerumItal。tom。
xiv。p。268andDucas，c10，11。]
[Footnote37:Cantacuzene，intheyear1375，washonoredwithaletterfromthepope，Fleury，Hist。Eccles。tom。xx。p。250。
Hisdeathisplacedbyarespectableauthorityonthe20thofNovember，1411，Ducange，Fam。Byzant。p。260。ButifhewereoftheageofhiscompanionAndronicustheYounger，hemusthavelived116years；arareinstanceoflongevity，whichinsoillustriousapersonwouldhaveattracteduniversalnotice。]
Yetinthecloister，themindofCantacuzenewasstillexercisedbytheologicalwar。HesharpenedacontroversialpenagainsttheJewsandMahometans；^38andineverystatehedefendedwithequalzealthedivinelightofMountThabor，amemorablequestionwhichconsummatesthereligiousfolliesoftheGreeks。ThefakirsofIndia，^39andthemonksoftheOrientalchurch，werealikepersuaded，thatinthetotalabstractionofthefacultiesofthemindandbody，thepurerspiritmayascendtotheenjoymentandvisionoftheDeity。TheopinionandpracticeofthemonasteriesofMountAthos^40willbebestrepresentedinthewordsofanabbot，whoflourishedintheeleventhcentury。"Whenthouartaloneinthycell，"saystheasceticteacher，"shutthydoor，andseatthyselfinacorner:
raisethymindaboveallthingsvainandtransitory；reclinethybeardandchinonthybreast；turnthyeyesandthythoughtstowardthemiddleofthybelly，theregionofthenavel；andsearchtheplaceoftheheart，theseatofthesoul。Atfirst，allwillbedarkandcomfortless；butifyouperseveredayandnight，youwillfeelanineffablejoy；andnosoonerhasthesouldiscoveredtheplaceoftheheart，thanitisinvolvedinamysticandethereallight。"Thislight，theproductionofadistemperedfancy，thecreatureofanemptystomachandanemptybrain，wasadoredbytheQuietistsasthepureandperfectessenceofGodhimself；andaslongasthefollywasconfinedtoMountAthos，thesimplesolitarieswerenotinquisitivehowthedivineessencecouldbeamaterialsubstance，orhowanimmaterialsubstancecouldbeperceivedbytheeyesofthebody。
ButinthereignoftheyoungerAndronicus，thesemonasterieswerevisitedbyBarlaam，^41aCalabrianmonk，whowasequallyskilledinphilosophyandtheology；whopossessedthelanguageoftheGreeksandLatins；andwhoseversatilegeniuscouldmaintaintheiroppositecreeds，accordingtotheinterestofthemoment。
TheindiscretionofanasceticrevealedtothecurioustravellerthesecretsofmentalprayerandBarlaamembracedtheopportunityofridiculingtheQuietists，whoplacedthesoulinthenavel；ofaccusingthemonksofMountAthosofheresyandblasphemy。Hisattackcompelledthemorelearnedtorenounceordissemblethesimpledevotionoftheirbrethren；andGregoryPalamasintroducedascholasticdistinctionbetweentheessenceandoperationofGod。Hisinaccessibleessencedwellsinthemidstofanuncreatedandeternallight；andthisbeatificvisionofthesaintshadbeenmanifestedtothedisciplesonMountThabor，inthetransfigurationofChrist。Yetthisdistinctioncouldnotescapethereproachofpolytheism；theeternityofthelightofThaborwasfiercelydenied；andBarlaamstillchargedthePalamiteswithholdingtwoeternalsubstances，avisibleandaninvisibleGod。FromtherageofthemonksofMountAthos，whothreatenedhislife，theCalabrianretiredtoConstantinople，wherehissmoothandspeciousmannersintroducedhimtothefavorofthegreatdomesticandtheemperor。Thecourtandthecitywereinvolvedinthistheologicaldispute，whichflamedamidstthecivilwar；butthedoctrineofBarlaamwasdisgracedbyhisflightandapostasy:thePalamitestriumphed；andtheiradversary，thepatriarchJohnofApri，wasdeposedbytheconsentoftheadversefactionsofthestate。Inthecharacterofemperorandtheologian，CantacuzenepresidedinthesynodoftheGreekchurch，whichestablished，asanarticleoffaith，theuncreatedlightofMountThabor；and，aftersomanyinsults，thereasonofmankindwasslightlywoundedbytheadditionofasingleabsurdity。Manyrollsofpaperorparchmenthavebeenblotted；andtheimpenitentsectaries，whorefusedtosubscribetheorthodoxcreed，weredeprivedofthehonorsofChristianburial；butinthenextagethequestionwasforgotten；norcanI
learnthattheaxeorthefagotwereemployedfortheextirpationoftheBarlaamiteheresy。^42
[Footnote38:Hisfourdiscourses，orbooks，wereprintedatBazil，1543，FabricBibliot。Graec。tom。vi。p。473。HecomposedthemtosatisfyaproselytewhowasassaultedwithlettersfromhisfriendsofIspahan。CantacuzenehadreadtheKoran；butIunderstandfromMaraccithatheadoptsthevulgarprejudicesandfablesagainstMahometandhisreligion。]
[Footnote39:SeetheVoyagedeBernier，tom。i。p。127。]
[Footnote40:Mosheim，Institut。Hist。Eccles。p。522，523。
Fleury，Hist。Eccles。tom。xx。p。22，24，107—114，&c。Theformerunfoldsthecauseswiththejudgmentofaphilosopher，thelattertranscribesandtranscribesandtranslateswiththeprejudicesofaCatholicpriest。]
[Footnote41:BasnageinCanisiiantiq。Lectiones，tom。iv。p。
363—368hasinvestigatedthecharacterandstoryofBarlaam。
Theduplicityofhisopinionshadinspiredsomedoubtsoftheidentityofhisperson。SeelikewiseFabricius，Bibliot。Graec。
tom。x。p。427—432。]
[Footnote42:SeeCantacuzenel。ii。c。39，40，l。iv。c。3，23，24，25andNic。Gregoras，l。xi。c。10，l。xv。3，7，&c。，
whoselastbooks，fromthexixthtoxxivth，arealmostconfinedtoasubjectsointerestingtotheauthors。Boivin，inVit。
Nic。Gregorae，fromtheunpublishedbooks，andFabricius，Bibliot。Graec。tom。x。p。462—473，orratherMontfaucon，fromtheMss。oftheCoislinlibrary，haveaddedsomefactsanddocuments。]
Fortheconclusionofthischapter，IhavereservedtheGenoesewar，whichshookthethroneofCantacuzene，andbetrayedthedebilityoftheGreekempire。TheGenoese，who，aftertherecoveryofConstantinople，wereseatedinthesuburbofPeraorGalata，receivedthathonorablefieffromthebountyoftheemperor。Theywereindulgedintheuseoftheirlawsandmagistrates；buttheysubmittedtothedutiesofvassalsandsubjects；theforciblewordofliegemen^43wasborrowedfromtheLatinjurisprudence；andtheirpodesta，orchief，beforeheenteredonhisoffice，salutedtheemperorwithloyalacclamationsandvowsoffidelity。GenoasealedafirmalliancewiththeGreeks；and，incaseofadefensivewar，asupplyoffiftyemptygalleysandasuccoroffiftygalleys，completelyarmedandmanned，waspromisedbytherepublictotheempire。Intherevivalofanavalforce，itwastheaimofMichaelPalaeologustodeliverhimselffromaforeignaid；andhisvigorousgovernmentcontainedtheGenoeseofGalatawithinthoselimitswhichtheinsolenceofwealthandfreedomprovokedthemtoexceed。AsailorthreatenedthattheyshouldsoonbemastersofConstantinople，andslewtheGreekwhoresentedthisnationalaffront；andanarmedvessel，afterrefusingtosalutethepalace，wasguiltyofsomeactsofpiracyintheBlackSea。
Theircountrymenthreatenedtosupporttheircause；butthelongandopenvillageofGalatawasinstantlysurroundedbytheImperialtroops；till，inthemomentoftheassault，theprostrateGenoeseimploredtheclemencyoftheirsovereign。ThedefencelesssituationwhichsecuredtheirobedienceexposedthemtotheattackoftheirVenetianrivals，who，inthereignoftheelderAndronicus，presumedtoviolatethemajestyofthethrone。
Ontheapproachoftheirfleets，theGenoese，withtheirfamiliesandeffects，retiredintothecity:theiremptyhabitationswerereducedtoashes；andthefeebleprince，whohadviewedthedestructionofhissuburb，expressedhisresentment，notbyarms，butbyambassadors。Thismisfortune，however，wasadvantageoustotheGenoese，whoobtained，andimperceptiblyabused，thedangerouslicenseofsurroundingGalatawithastrongwall；ofintroducingintotheditchthewatersofthesea；oferectingloftyturrets；andofmountingatrainofmilitaryenginesontherampart。Thenarrowboundsinwhichtheyhadbeencircumscribedwereinsufficientforthegrowingcolony；eachdaytheyacquiredsomeadditionoflandedproperty；andtheadjacenthillswerecoveredwiththeirvillasandcastles，whichtheyjoinedandprotectedbynewfortifications。^44ThenavigationandtradeoftheEuxinewasthepatrimonyoftheGreekemperors，whocommandedthenarrowentrance，thegates，asitwere，ofthatinlandsea。
InthereignofMichaelPalaeologus，theirprerogativewasacknowledgedbythesultanofEgypt，whosolicitedandobtainedthelibertyofsendinganannualshipforthepurchaseofslavesinCircassiaandtheLesserTartary:alibertypregnantwithmischieftotheChristiancause；sincetheseyouthsweretransformedbyeducationanddisciplineintotheformidableMamalukes。^45FromthecolonyofPera，theGenoeseengagedwithsuperioradvantageinthelucrativetradeoftheBlackSea；andtheirindustrysuppliedtheGreekswithfishandcorn；twoarticlesoffoodalmostequallyimportanttoasuperstitiouspeople。ThespontaneousbountyofnatureappearstohavebestowedtheharvestsofUkraine，theproduceofarudeandsavagehusbandry；andtheendlessexportationofsaltfishandcaviareisannuallyrenewedbytheenormoussturgeonsthatarecaughtatthemouthoftheDonorTanais，intheirlaststationoftherichmudandshallowwateroftheMaeotis。^46ThewatersoftheOxus，theCaspian，theVolga，andtheDon，openedarareandlaboriouspassageforthegemsandspicesofIndia；andafterthreemonths'marchthecaravansofCarizmemettheItalianvesselsintheharborsofCrimaea。^47ThesevariousbranchesoftradeweremonopolizedbythediligenceandpoweroftheGenoese。
TheirrivalsofVeniceandPisawereforciblyexpelled；thenativeswereawedbythecastlesandcities，whicharoseonthefoundationsoftheirhumblefactories；andtheirprincipalestablishmentofCaffa^48wasbesiegedwithouteffectbytheTartarpowers。Destituteofanavy，theGreekswereoppressedbythesehaughtymerchants，whofed，orfamished，Constantinople，accordingtotheirinterest。Theyproceededtousurpthecustoms，thefishery，andeventhetoll，oftheBosphorus；andwhiletheyderivedfromtheseobjectsarevenueoftwohundredthousandpiecesofgold，aremnantofthirtythousandwasreluctantlyallowedtotheemperor。^49ThecolonyofPeraorGalataacted，inpeaceandwar，asanindependentstate；and，asitwillhappenindistantsettlements，theGenoesepodestatoooftenforgotthathewastheservantofhisownmasters。
[Footnote43:Pachymerl。v。c。10veryproperlyexplainsligios。TheuseofthesewordsintheGreekandLatinofthefeudaltimesmaybeamplyunderstoodfromtheGlossariesofDucange，Graec。p。811，812。Latin。tom。iv。p。109—111。]
[Footnote44:TheestablishmentandprogressoftheGenoeseatPera，orGalata，isdescribedbyDucangeC。P。Christiana，l。i。
p。68，69fromtheByzantinehistorians，Pachymer，l。ii。c。
35，l。v。10，30，l。ix。15l。xii。6，9，NicephorusGregoras，l。v。c。4，l。vi。c。11，l。ix。c。5，l。ix。c。1，l。xv。c。1，6，andCantacuzene，l。i。c。12，l。ii。c。29，&c。]
[Footnote45:BothPachymerl。iii。c。3，4，5andNic。Greg。
l。iv。c。7understandanddeploretheeffectsofthisdangerousindulgence。Bibars，sultanofEgypt，himselfaTartar，butadevoutMussulman，obtainedfromthechildrenofZingisthepermissiontobuildastatelymosqueinthecapitalofCrimea，DeGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。iii。p。343。]
[Footnote46:ChardinVoyagesenPerse，tom。i。p。48wasassuredatCaffa，thatthesefishesweresometimestwenty—fourortwenty—sixfeetlong，weighedeightorninehundredpounds，andyieldedthreeorfourquintalsofcaviare。ThecornoftheBosphorushadsuppliedtheAtheniansinthetimeofDemosthenes。]
[Footnote47:DeGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。iii。p。343，344。
ViaggidiRamusio，tom。i。fol。400。ButthislandorwatercarriagecouldonlybepracticablewhenTartarywasunitedunderawiseandpowerfulmonarch。]
[Footnote48:Nic。Gregorasl。xiii。c。12isjudiciousandwellinformedonthetradeandcoloniesoftheBlackSea。
ChardindescribesthepresentruinsofCaffa，where，infortydays，hesawabove400sailemployedinthecornandfishtrade，VoyagesenPerse，tom。i。p。46—48。]
[Footnote49:SeeNic。Gregoras，l。xvii。c。1]
TheseusurpationswereencouragedbytheweaknessoftheelderAndronicus，andbythecivilwarsthatafflictedhisageandtheminorityofhisgrandson。ThetalentsofCantacuzenewereemployedtotheruin，ratherthantherestoration，oftheempire；
andafterhisdomesticvictory，hewascondemnedtoanignominioustrial，whethertheGreeksortheGenoeseshouldreigninConstantinople。ThemerchantsofPerawereoffendedbyhisrefusalofsomecontiguousland，somecommandingheights，whichtheyproposedtocoverwithnewfortifications；andintheabsenceoftheemperor，whowasdetainedatDemoticabysickness，theyventuredtobravethedebilityofafemalereign。A
Byzantinevessel，whichhadpresumedtofishatthemouthoftheharbor，wassunkbytheseaudaciousstrangers；thefishermenweremurdered。Insteadofsuingforpardon，theGenoesedemandedsatisfaction；required，inahaughtystrain，thattheGreeksshouldrenouncetheexerciseofnavigation；andencounteredwithregulararmsthefirstsalliesofthepopularindignation。Theyinstantlyoccupiedthedebatableland；andbythelaborofawholepeople，ofeithersexandofeveryage，thewallwasraised，andtheditchwassunk，withincrediblespeed。Atthesametime，theyattackedandburnttwoByzantinegalleys；whilethethreeothers，theremainderoftheImperialnavy，escapedfromtheirhands:thehabitationswithoutthegates，oralongtheshore，werepillagedanddestroyed；andthecareoftheregent，oftheempressIrene，wasconfinedtothepreservationofthecity。ThereturnofCantacuzenedispelledthepublicconsternation:theemperorinclinedtopeacefulcounsels；butheyieldedtotheobstinacyofhisenemies，whorejectedallreasonableterms，andtotheardorofhissubjects，whothreatened，inthestyleofScripture，tobreaktheminpieceslikeapotter'svessel。Yettheyreluctantlypaidthetaxes，thatheimposedfortheconstructionofships，andtheexpensesofthewar；andasthetwonationsweremasters，theoneoftheland，theotherofthesea，ConstantinopleandPerawerepressedbytheevilsofamutualsiege。Themerchantsofthecolony，whohadbelievedthatafewdayswouldterminatethewar，alreadymurmuredattheirlosses:thesuccorsfromtheirmother—countryweredelayedbythefactionsofGenoa；andthemostcautiousembracedtheopportunityofaRhodianvesseltoremovetheirfamiliesandeffectsfromthesceneofhostility。Inthespring，theByzantinefleet，sevengalleysandatrainofsmallervessels，issuedfromthemouthoftheharbor，andsteeredinasinglelinealongtheshoreofPera；unskilfullypresentingtheirsidestothebeaksoftheadversesquadron。Thecrewswerecomposedofpeasantsandmechanics；norwastheirignorancecompensatedbythenativecourageofBarbarians:thewindwasstrong，thewaveswererough；andnosoonerdidtheGreeksperceiveadistantandinactiveenemy，thantheyleapedheadlongintothesea，fromadoubtful，toaninevitableperil。ThetroopsthatmarchedtotheattackofthelinesofPerawerestruckatthesamemomentwithasimilarpanic；andtheGenoesewereastonished，andalmostashamed，attheirdoublevictory。
Theirtriumphantvessels，crownedwithflowers，anddraggingafterthemthecaptivegalleys，repeatedlypassedandrepassedbeforethepalace:theonlyvirtueoftheemperorwaspatience；
andthehopeofrevengehissoleconsolation。Yetthedistressofbothpartiesinterposedatemporaryagreement；andtheshameoftheempirewasdisguisedbyathinveilofdignityandpower。
Summoningthechiefsofthecolony，Cantacuzeneaffectedtodespisethetrivialobjectofthedebate；and，afteramildreproof，mostliberallygrantedthelands，whichhadbeenpreviouslyresignedtotheseemingcustodyofhisofficers。^50
[Footnote50:TheeventsofthiswararerelatedbyCantacuzenel。iv。c。11withobscurityandconfusion，andbyNic。Gregorasl。xvii。c。1—7inaclearandhonestnarrative。Thepriestwaslessresponsiblethantheprinceforthedefeatofthefleet。]
Buttheemperorwassoonsolicitedtoviolatethetreaty，andtojoinhisarmswiththeVenetians，theperpetualenemiesofGenoaandhercolonies。Whilehecomparedthereasonsofpeaceandwar，hismoderationwasprovokedbyawantoninsultoftheinhabitantsofPera，whodischargedfromtheirrampartalargestonethatfellinthemidstofConstantinople。Onhisjustcomplaint，theycoldlyblamedtheimprudenceoftheirengineer；
butthenextdaytheinsultwasrepeated；andtheyexultedinasecondproofthattheroyalcitywasnotbeyondthereachoftheirartillery。CantacuzeneinstantlysignedhistreatywiththeVenetians；buttheweightoftheRomanempirewasscarcelyfeltinthebalanceoftheseopulentandpowerfulrepublics。^51
FromtheStraitsofGibraltartothemouthoftheTanais，theirfleetsencounteredeachotherwithvarioussuccess；andamemorablebattlewasfoughtinthenarrowsea，underthewallsofConstantinople。ItwouldnotbeaneasytasktoreconciletheaccountsoftheGreeks，theVenetians，andtheGenoese；^52andwhileIdependonthenarrativeofanimpartialhistorian，^53I
shallborrowfromeachnationthefactsthatredoundtotheirowndisgrace，andthehonoroftheirfoes。TheVenetians，withtheiralliestheCatalans，hadtheadvantageofnumber；andtheirfleet，withthepooradditionofeightByzantinegalleys，amountedtoseventy—fivesail:theGenoesedidnotexceedsixty—four；butinthosetimestheirshipsofwarweredistinguishedbythesuperiorityoftheirsizeandstrength。Thenamesandfamiliesoftheirnavalcommanders，PisaniandDoria，areillustriousintheannalsoftheircountry；butthepersonalmeritoftheformerwaseclipsedbythefameandabilitiesofhisrival。Theyengagedintempestuousweather；andthetumultuaryconflictwascontinuedfromthedawntotheextinctionoflight。
TheenemiesoftheGenoeseapplaudtheirprowess；thefriendsoftheVenetiansaredissatisfiedwiththeirbehavior；butallpartiesagreeinpraisingtheskillandboldnessoftheCatalans，who，withmanywounds，sustainedthebruntoftheaction。Ontheseparationofthefleets，theeventmightappeardoubtful；