462 THE DECLINE AND FALL Roman limit ; and promoting, by his influence, the restoration of peace, in which his pardon and recall were honourably in- cluded. III. While he guarded the West against the despot [AD. 1258] of Epirus, Michael was again suspected and condenxned in the palace ; and such was his loyalty or weakness that he submitted to be led in chains above six hundred miles from Durazzo to Nice. The civility of the messenger alleviated his disgrace ; the emperor's sickness dispelled his danger ; and the last breath of Theodore, which recommended his infant son, at once ac- knowledged the innocence and the power of Palaeologus. Hiseievation But his innocencc had been too unworthily treated, and his to the throne i c i i • power was too strongly felt, to curb an aspiring subject in the fair field that was offered to his ambition. ^"^ In the council after the death of Theodore, he was the first to pronounce, and the first to violate, the oath of allegiance to Muzalon ; and so dex- terous was his conduct that he reaped the benefit, without incur- ring the guilt, or at least the reproach, of the subsequent massacre. In the choice of a regent, he balanced the interests and passions of the candidates ; turned their envy and hatred from himself against each other, and forced every competitor to own that, after his own claims, those of Palaeologus were best entitled to the preference. Under the title of Great Duke, he accepted or assumed, during a long ininority, the active powers of govern- ment ; the patriarch was a venerable name ; and the factious nobles were seduced, or oppressed, by the ascendant of his genius. The fi'uits of the economy of Vataces were deposited in a strong castle on the banks of the Hermus,-^ in the custody of the faith- ful Varangians ; the constable retained his command or influence over the foreign troops ; he employed the guards to possess the treasure, and the treasure to corrupt the guards ; and, whatsoever might be the abuse of the public money, his character was above the suspicion of private avarice. By himself, or by his emis- saries, he strove to persuade every rank of subjects that their own prosperity would rise in just proportion to the establishment of his authority. The Aveight of taxes was suspended, the perpetual theme of popular complaint ; and he prohibited the trials by the ordeal and judicial combat. These barbaric institutions were 20 Without comparing Pachymcr to Thucydides or Tacitus, I will praise his narrative (1. i. c. 13-32, 1. iii. c. 1-9), which pursues the ascent of Palaeologus with eloquence, perspicuity, and tolerable freedom. Acropolita is more cautious, and Gregoras more concise. 21 [In Astytzion on the Scamander. The treasures here were deposited by Theodore II,]
