508 THE DECLINE AND FALL in the synod of the Greek church, which established, as an article of feith, the uncreated light of mount Thabor ; and, after so many insults, the reason of mankind was slightly wounded by the addition of a single absurdity. Many rolls of paper or parchment have been blotted ; and the impenitent sectaries, who refused to subsci'ibe the orthodox creed, were deprived of the honours of Christian burial ; but in the next age the ques- tion was forgotten ; nor can I learn that the axe or the faggot were employed for the extirpation of the Barlaamite heresy.*" Estabushment For the conclusion of this chapter I have reserved the Geno- atPerao?°^^^ese war, which shook the throne of Cantacuzene and betrayed i26i^iT^'^' the debility of the Greek empire. The Genoese, who, after the recovery of Constantinople, were seated in the suburb of Pera or Galata, received that honourable fief fi-om the bounty of the emperor. They were indulged in the use of their laws and magistrates ; but they submitted to the duties of vassals and subjects : the forcible word of liegemen ^^ was borroAved from the Latin jurisprudence ; and their podesta, or chief, before he entered on his office, saluted the Emperor with loyal acclama- tions and vows of fidelity. Genoa sealed a firm alliance with the Greeks ; and, in case of a defensive war, a supply of fifty empty galleys, and a succour of fifty galleys completely armed and manned, was promised by the republic to the empire. In the revival of a naval force it was the aim of Michael Palaeo- logus to deliver himself from a foreign aid ; and his vigorous government contained the Genoese of Galata within those limits which the insolence of wealth and freedom provoked them to ex- ceed. A sailor threatened that they should soon be masters of Constantinople, and slew the Greek who resented this national affront ; and an armed vessel, after refusing to salute the palace, was guilty of some acts of piracy in the Black Sea. Their countrymen threatened to support their cause ; but the long and open village of Galata was instantly surrounded by the Imperial troops ; till, in the moment of the assault, the pros-
- ^ See Cantacuzene (1. ii. c. 39, 40 ; 1. iv. c. 3, 23-25) and Nic. Gregoras (1. xi. c.
10; 1. XV. 3, 7, &c.), whose last books, from the 19th to the 24th, are almost con- fined to a subject so interesting to the authors. Boivin (in Vit. Nic. Gregora?), from the unpublished books, and Fabricius (Bibliot. GrcBC. torn. x. p. 462-473), or rather Montfaucon, from the Mss. of the Coislin Library, have added some facts and documents. [Sauli, Colonia dei Genovesi in Galata.] ^ Pachymer (1. v. c. 10) very properly explains Aifi'ous (ligios) by iSr'ov?. The use of these words in the Greek and Latin of the feudal times, may be amply understood from the Glossaries of Ducange (Graec. p. 811, 812, Latin, torn, iv, p. log-iii).
