heavy taxation and of the two fires. A trivial incident, mentioned by Nicetas, shows how great was the irritation. The mob broke no one of the finest statues in the city — a representation of Minerva in bronze, which stood in the great square of Constantine. The statue faced to the west, and in the imagination of the people appeared to be beckoning the natives of the West towards New Rome.
The Crusaders were still encamped in Galata, and after the Crusaders and Venetians press for payment. flight of the foreign residents do not appear to have entered the city. They were becoming impatient to be paid. Alexis let them have what he could. But the money only came in driblets, "pauvre petits payements," as Villehardouin calls them. Alexis was doing his best to satisfy his former friends. Their protection had become as dangerous as their enmity, and Alexis would probably now have been glad to get rid of them. The two emperors endeavored again to levy a tax upon the city, but the people rose against it. They therefore did their best to raise the sum necessary from the wealthy class of the population, and by melting down the gold and silver vessels, chandeliers, and other valuable metallic furniture of the churches. Meantime the Crusaders were helping themselves. They were naturally, says Nicetas, the enemies of every kind of beauty. They went about in bands, and plundered the beautiful villas of the wealthy nobles and the rich churches which were on the neighboring shores of the Marmora. It pleased them even to burn and destroy many of the villas. The inhabitants resisted, and sent to the city for soldiers to defend their homes. No help was, however, there to be obtained. The monk-ridden and imbecile old emperor was powerless. The worthless and inexperienced youth was unable or unwilling to assist them. Eeproaches were addressed almost daily by the Crusaders to the emperors, but without effect, except to bring in new " pauvre petits payements."[1] Indeed, during November
- ↑ Villchardouin, xlv. Yillehardouin says Alexis commenced to pay immediately after the coronation (1st August, 1203). The payments to the army enabled those who had not paid to repay what had been paid. for them at Venice (xl).
