brought before him. Probably the permission contained a promise of freedom and forgiveness. This act was the greatest of all Manuel's mistakes. It should have been war to the knife with one so desperate and so dangerous.
Andronicus was an excellent actor. On being brought before the emperor he opened his cloak, and showed a heavy iron chain fastened to a collar round his neck. He burst into tears, quoted Scripture, and implored the pardon of his offended emperor. The pardon was promised, but that was not enough. He insisted that some one should drag him by the neck to the emperor's footstool. This kind action was performed for him by his cousin Isaac Angelus. Afterwards, when Isaac mounted the throne, the thing was remembered.
We have seen that he was chosen protosebastos. We have already stated that he murdered Alexius II. and made himself emperor. That was to be expected.
Once on the throne, the monster showed his real character again. He murdered some among the aristocracy for their wealth and influence, and put out the eyes of others—those who had helped him to his throne. Some who revolted, he punished with the greatest cruelties; and even while he made a bid for popularity by lightening the burden of taxation, he became hateful by neglecting and diminishing the public amusements.
Hated on all sides, the old man, now seventy years of age, began to be tormented by fears and anxieties. The astrologers told him that he would lose his kingdom by a man whose name began with the letter I, so that when
