Chronicon sive Maius (partim sub auctore Macario Melisseno)
talking nonsense and taught them, against whose words and foolish talk we shall reasonably argue and concerning the coming to Italy of the emperor lo
Make the truth clear to me Who are the conspirators and accomplices and advocates of this plot and who are the advisers in this? Tell me the truth an
his opponents, that is, his adversaries, made a long speech and filled the ears of the new king for this reason, before suffering anything, he took t
he entrusted the treasures to him alone and at whatever time military affairs and the public need required money, they demanded it from him which wa
the aristocracy of the Venetians became master of forts and lands. And again another conspicuous and great victory, and one worthy of eternal memory i
lamenting, he was beating and throwing his head upon his chest, crying out mournfully: O shudder, sun, o groan, earth, and being shaken cry out agains
and at Allage, a terrible disease struck his heart, announcing a swift death. And in that place after two days he measured out his life, in the year #
the daughter of the sister of the king of Spain, and a descendant of the marquis of Montferrat, who had obtained Thessalonica by lot, as we have said
and engaging with them, he accomplished nothing, but rather even returned having suffered losses. Then their leaders, being at odds, were divided and
Seeking Michael the king and his brother, he happened to pass by the house of the courtesan, whom the brother's watchmen, seeing him and not knowing w
of Zoodotos, the one called of Chora, he confiscated all his properties and money. Then later again, the emperor, being compassionate, provided for ev
he took a wife, Anna by name, with whom he begot two daughters, the firstborn of whom he gave as a wife to the son of the leader of the Mysians and a
the fear of Orhan and he was always seeking a suitable opportunity, so that, if possible, he might try again and bring the empire under himself. But
emir. 188 But the emperor John, when he saw and heard that the army of Kantakouzenos, his father-in-law, was coming and preparing, and not having the
go to the emir and ask for forgiveness. And coming before the emir, he confessed all that he had done in ignorance but this impious man, being pruden
immediately beheaded his own son but the emperor, willing and unwilling, because of fear of the emir, deprived the despot lord Andronikos, his son, o
XIII. When the emir Murad died, his son Bayezid Aleutores received the rule. Therefore the lord Andronikos, who was also blind, finding an opportunity
near the metropolis of Serres, the emperor lord Manuel was also present according to the promises and agreements they had, and his brother the despot
and having prepared well, he proceeded against his adversaries. When the armies drew near, the Germans first and the Gauls kindled the war, and when t
sending mpasias and Vrenezes with an army of fifty thousand, and on their return, while on the road and having reached the interior of the Peloponnese
parts of Larissa of the blinding of Orhan, the son of Musulman, 20by his uncle Moses20 and of the arrival from the east to the west of his brother Meh
XIX. The lord John Komnenos, at a certain time finding himself in the east in the regions of the province of the city of Neocaesarea, fighting with th
And he himself, using a stroke of fortune, as happens contrary to expectation, had become sultan and emir and leader of the Turks. Who also in secret
And under the shade of the tree were sitting every winged bird, and among these many and innumerable birds there were also some eagles, both small and
Kalames and his son Karases took Mysia toward the Hellespont and Othman the parts around Olympus and whatever was next of Bithynia. And thus having d
he made war against the despot Lazar, who ruled Serbia having routed and defeated him, he pursued him and scattered his army and again took many citi
they might be friends. But the emir, <being> extremely greedy, was never satisfied with wealth and manner. 224 Being impetuous and formidable, he cons
and strangled him having been established in power for *** months and Musulman having become master of the domain, Temir then freed his brother Musa,
having made war, the Venetian fleet, therefore, had as its admiral Pietro Loredan and both fleets having met, I mean those of the Venetians and of th
to his son Mehmed he gave all authority and the kingdom, having reigned for thirty-four years.
they have become. He reigned for thirty-two years and he subdued and enslaved ten kingdoms and took two hundred cities from the Christians. He spoke
they fought those growing up among them. But the Hagarenes dwelling in Spain, having grown to a great population, and seeing that the land they inhabi
Again after one year the emperor Michael sends another fleet against them. They accomplished no worthy deed, and the Saracens thereafter lived without
towards the western sea from there, near the trench where the wall of the Isthmus had been, he transports the ships over the dry land. And having quic
Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, had entered into the alliance with a notable share and was recognized as the commander of the entire land army he wa
XXVII. And in the beginning of the 20th year, the lord Thomas, son of the sovereign, was sent to the Peloponnese by the emperor his father at which t
the emperor and they were not able to depart because the secret roads leading to the City were closed. And thus many days passed, from which indeed t
Philommates, 20but the emir was raging in his anger against the Roman empire, for the reasons which we have stated, and immediately, when he saw them,
wherever you wish. When he took me aside privately, he gave me a folded paper, which showed me also whence and when he had departed. But when I unfold
The lady kyra Sophia, having fled, crossed over to her own fatherland, for the reason that the emperor kyr John, her husband, did not have such great
of such a kind, that my father's brother was his tutor and his sons, my cousins, were brought up with him and were his friends and servants, and I wit
the brothers to be found together in Sparta, except for the aforementioned despot, lord Theodore, when he should become a monk. And on the first of Ju
reasons for the common benefit, even if the untimeliness of death snatched him away and the work remained unfinished. Since many others have spoken of
and extraordinary things, which he had heard and was saying. Therefore, the same Laskaris was sent as governor of 20Ithome and20 Androusa, and further
horse, and immediately he fell to the ground and the enemies, running to kill him or capture him, found me there as a defender. And he, indeed, by Go
authority over the willing women of the city, and the people of the city were willing to give them every necessary thing for visiting and caring for t
of all the priests, hieromonks, summoned and unsummoned, lords and ladies. And these things are indeed so and true.
And I, not knowing what might happen, reported to him that if the metropolitan did not come, God willing, and they gave us the castle, and I recovered
Having arrived on the fourth of the same month, we remained in the church of Saint Andrew, behold, also two Turks passing through Naupactus, one of th
he reasoned that he was not able to accomplish anything good, unless it was harmful. But I, by the good pleasure of God, did this, and a certain ambas
the young lord, kyr Thomas. And in the #2239th year, in the month of September, I was granted the governorship of Patras. And in the same year, in the
while expecting the Venetian merchant triremes, so that boarding he might depart for the City, behold, I arrived with nothing accomplished. XI. And ha
they having agreed, that my lord and master should depart and reside in Constantinople, and the lord Theodore and the lord Thomas the despots in the P
He made the Red Sea to be crossed, and from the rock so much water gushed forth that all the people were satisfied, and the ark, being held up by the
of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of the Holy Spirit according to the prophetic word he was named Emmanuel, that is, God with us, o
with his all-holy mother both present and watching and now he is in heaven, sitting together with God the Father and worshipped together with him by
who have fallen from him. And the heart of a man toward his neighbor. For it will prepare brothers to think brotherly thoughts. And showing the purpos
and great, so that the attack of the impious against Constantinople might happen, and from this again the siege and captivity and such and so great a
period, as it would be superfluous to commit it to writing, because of its length I will omit it. But the entry into Venice of the Emperor John and th
of piety, perhaps. But before the stern stood something upright like a high pillar. And on top of the pillar was something like a square table, less t
XV. Therefore, on the twenty-eighth of February, having departed from Venice, both the emperor and the despot and all the clergy and their retinue wer
Noah's ark. And that was securely made safe. As for the part in the water, it was smeared with pitch, and the visible part was beautified with various
Of Constantinople, kyr Metrophanes, formerly metropolitan of Cyzicus. 334 χῃιιι. And on the sixth of the month of December of the #22μθ-ου year I was
care because of the suspicion, which we had from the emir and from the despot lord Demetrios and indeed from the emperor himself. XIX. In the month of
he knows wherefore it is not necessary for your majesty to undertake this, the matter is dangerous, but I will do whatever is commanded by your majes
many offices and make everyone have no other authority except you as my sole lord, that is, in my place. And if you wish not to commit injustices and
striving to make this despot and porphyrogennetos king. But by the citizens of Constantine's city it was judged not to be worthy, while the first and
of the impious nations from there, and they sold him into the inner parts of the Persians. And his master, being a merchant, and with many other merch
Amurates, 20which I also learned while I was still in Iberia20. When, therefore, I came to Trebizond, the emperor said to me the following: My lord am
here also how the wife of the emir, his cousin, returned to her own country to her own parents honorably and well. And when I heard, I considered acco
she should be joined with her, but for her to remain in prudence, being a virgin, and as far as possible to serve God who granted her freedom for whi
of the Serbian marriage alliance. And answering he said to me: I owe you much for your love and faith towards me since childhood and for such great se
if any of these should wish and agree to what the imperial letters stipulated, so that should the need arise, they might see if the emir wishes to do
He said again: But I have a suspicion that if I send someone else besides you, he will not maintain the proper goodwill and faithfulness to me, lest m
the office of Constable, since his father-in-law has this, he will bestow it neither on you nor on anyone else, but he will give you that of the Grand
for how, not considering the so many kindnesses and friendships from you towards me, do they wish, in comparison of your things, to jump from their pr
Turahan and his two sons, Achumates and Amaren, with a very large army in the Peloponnese, so that by fighting they might hinder the despots and broth
to cast the very heavy iron chain at the mouth of the harbor, so that it might hinder the assault of the fleet, I mean of the enemy ships. And inside
to his king. And he, having summoned me, said: This service pertains to you, the things needing guarding and secret. Take therefore the registers of t
of the city and according to his command they began to dig. A certain John the German, highly skilled in the arts of war and of liquid fire, having l
their empty [places], they were amazed. And the emir, being more grieved and ashamed, was amazed at the dexterity of our men and said, perhaps in wond
a few having been struck and after not many days, a few of them departed to the Lord. But the amir, so maddened and grieved against the droungarios o
of two hundred men, both archers and crossbowmen for they had in that part a siege tower opposite, and it was covered with the hides of buffalo and o
we were preparing for war. 7. And since the palace was lacking money for the soldiers' pay, the emperor ordered to take the holy vessels of the church
to withdraw. And he did these things not only because of the entrance to the harbor, but also that he might pay back the Ligurian ships, so that he mi
does. No fortunate man is a friend to the unfortunate. VII. And on the twenty-fourth of May it was whispered, that the emir wishes to make war on us f
deciding to get up on the morrow and to lift the siege. But on the same evening, on which he was planning for the morrow, so that they might depart, t
For his words and counsel greatly pleased the emir, and he remained gracious and received relief from his grief. And giving orders, he says: 'Review t
and of the divine images and standards the priests, high priests and monks, and women and children, going about through the walls of the city with tea
they will fly over us like the sand of the seas. Through which, for I hope, they will not harm us, because I see and greatly rejoice and I am nourishe
of his babbling false prophet Mohammed and a dwelling place for brute animals and camels. Therefore, brothers and fellow soldiers, consider this in yo
or to enter. And when we 20came to the Caligaria at the first hour of the cockcrow and dismounting from our horses we went up into the tower and 20we
Theophilos Palaiologos and Demetrios Kantakouzenos, most excellent men, leaping forward, conquer the Hagarenes and put them to flight and cast them do
encouraged the enemy and shouting many cries, all eagerly and without fear climbed upon the walls. 10. When, therefore, the unfortunate emperor and m
many and various and countless lamentations, enslavements of noble ladies and virgins and those consecrated to God, being dragged by the Turks by the
they marveled at his counsel. But Notaras said to the emir: All these things I was guarding for your kingdom and behold, now I bestow them on you as
From Augustus Caesar until the great Constantine Flavius, the thrice-blessed and celebrated and ever-memorable, who transferred the imperial rule from
Concerning the chapters in the Quran of Muhammad and what is contained in them first, in the first discourse and in the first chapter.
Nemeli, which is interpreted fly, he tells about Solomon and the flies a certain foolish falsehood, which he also says. Fourteenth, that in the chapte
having become their [leader], then he also gathered for himself a sufficient force, and he overran and plundered all of Syria and ravaged and destroye
of the palace performed the Blessed, then also a short litany and the Grand Domestic chanted For where the king's presence is and the rest, then
he himself shall be free, and the patriarchs after him forever, likewise also all the high priests subject to him. 458
Then, having nothing else to say except only, as we said before, that we lost the kingdom because we did not think rightly, and they themselves, perha
7. And so through the four winds the great Zacharias and the divine Daniel teach of the four great kingdoms, that of the Chaldeans I say, that of the
of our sound and holy faith and the impiety which the Hagarenes have. And God did not say to him once, but even twice. First, he said: You shall bear
furthermore, so that what the God-seer Moses said might come to pass, and not that the Romans and Serbs and Bulgarians did not think rightly, as our a
he took care of this. For when the cardinal of Russia was found in the city, I also mediated 472 concerning this with my lord the king, of celebrated
Galata, in order that they might send men, and they did not send them? or who performed fasts and prayers for himself and through the priests, giving
he spoke with authority, Lazarus, come forth, and the breathless one obeyed the command of the Lord, showing both his divinity and humanity so at t
Muhammad: I have made all things for your sake, and you for my sake and this the Christians do not accept. But also the name of Muhammad is found wri
state, he was perplexed within himself, that there is some power that holds together and governs the universe. And since all men confess that there is
the baptized as impious. If, then, you love Muhammad, because he speaks truly, how do you call the baptized impious and not follow the teaching of the
eighty years old for he was found to be of so many years, when he was commanded by God to lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt but Christ had the te
smoother, and nothing is truer than the truth. But nevertheless, let us examine and see what the words of the lawgiver mean. Surely nothing else, but
are works of wrath and aversion and the results of sin. For before the transgression and sin of Adam, where were baths, where were houses at all, wher
it is also concerning his sons and their wives. But Moses himself, when ascending Mount Sinai, speaks thus to the Jews: Sanctify yourselves, each one,
drinkings and baths and women, which are the results of sin and wrath, as has been said, but holiness and purity and an angelic way of life, joy and g
Who would have dared to cast out the name of Mohammed from the Gospel, if it were found written in it? On the one hand, because he who dared to add or
Yes. And the beast said: I will not permit him to ascend, unless he first should pray to God for me. And I prayed to my God for the beast, and I mount
himself, but also of all those, into whom Gabriel had no entrance, but was so inferior to them, that he handed over Muhammad himself to another angel,
of certain proofs for the manifestation of the truth but since God truly and clearly reveals himself, I have considered it superfluous to give any de
this one to be found dissonant, but also not even to be in agreement with himself, just as this present Muhammad is in the whole of his writing. But i
concerning the Quran, that no one among men, not even Muhammad himself, knows its interpretation, but only God. And if this is true, what is the benef
of the earth and became guilty of many other sins, for which God, as they say, sympathized with him. Furthermore, Christ performed terrible and extrao
spiritual and bodily health, as in the case of Christ, or for use, as in the case of Moses and Joshua the son of Nun. But how did the moon perform suc
Lightning does not happen in another way, except by the interaction of the winds and the collision of the clouds, as being forced by the winds, a cras
You will see this truly Take pure rain water in a glass jar and leave the water, until it disappears, and you will find earth, as we have said. And t
I returned to Patras, by God's help alone we escaped the evil of the sea, which found us on the way. 9. In June of the same year the amir took the cit
XVI. In the month of October of the year #22'67 the emir, having sent an ambassador to the despot lord Demetrios, asking for his daughter as a wife, 2
the worst and most useless race of the Albanians, having found an opportunity suitable to their reputation and their rapacious and greedy and unjust m
his Sakkos having celebrated the sacred rite. And when in the divine liturgy he showed the holy things to the people, saying, With fear of God and fa
beauty and the virtues of the citizens, the emperors in succession honored their holy church and the citizens themselves of the renowned fortress, and
cities and regions of my empire are assigned by chrysobulls and ordinances of my holy and ever-memorable and blessed lords and emperors, both the fath
of them, or from west to east or from east to west or from the region of Zagora, transporting animals or anything else, whether to Sozopolis or to Aga
of the emir himself and to the parts around Leontari, and finding it deserted of people, he took it because the people had fled. But in Gardiki, as it
and there a most beautiful monastery in the name of Saint Nicholas, which my mother's father had built from its foundations. And when Raoul George and
fear of the plague, as has been shown. 11. And after a time, finding a residence in the name of Saint Elias near the city, when I had gone there, I to
20. In November of the year #22oa-ou, Amaris, the son of Turahan, made an incursion and took captive all those around Naupactus of Aetolia, in its dis
how many there are of his, he marveled and we are condemned for if concerning that blessed master, such a man, they marveled how he had so many here,
Let them love all, let them converse with all, both their own and strangers, with honor let them not be arrogant, let them be humble and calm. And le
and the lords who are here are taking counsel. His Beatitude the Pope and I are writing to the legate of the Marches, that he may help you and assist
he poured out threatening words to those advising him, saying that because of their cowardice and faithlessness they too did not join in the pursuit o
many myriads of people, not thousands among whom also the daughter of the despotes, 20the sultana, died. 15. In the #22nd year, in the month of Novem
of God and you believe in the Son of God and these things are written, that they may believe that this is the Christ, the Son of God and the only-bego
of Mary the virgin20 Isaiah: behold, the virgin shall conceive in her womb and bear a son. Gospel and how shall this be to me, since I know not a man
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. When the Comforter comes, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send i
of the Spirit. 580 20 I look for the resurrection of the dead From Acts: it is concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am on trial. F
Honorius and Pyrrhus the foolish, but two wills and two energies, that is a divine and a human energy and will, and that neither of the natures is wit
along the shore they destroyed down to the foundations, but the rest they hold. And after he passed through as far as the Principality and having retu
will be a cause for forgiving me many of the things in which I have erred against him for there has not been in my life a sin, nor an action, nor any
the fear of Orhan; and he was always seeking a suitable opportunity, so that, if possible, he might try again and bring the empire under himself. But having heard of Orhan's death and how his son Murad succeeded to the rule, having organized an army from both Serbia and Bulgaria, in order to come again against his son-in-law and emperor John; but the emperor John, having learned these things, sent an ambassador to his father-in-law with a letter containing the following.
Letter of John the Emperor to Kantakouzenos his father-in-law
X. I, indeed, reflecting often and now, have marveled how your conscience and discernment and old age do not rebuke you, so that you might call to mind death and the judgment of that impartial Judge, before whom we all are to stand naked and 186 exposed, and each will receive his recompense according to his deeds and works. For it was necessary for you, as a man sensible and practical and well-versed in the Scriptures and suitable in all things, as you say and boast and are proud, that you might come to realize for so long a time what it is you ask from me, and what your right is legally and canonically according to the order and custom of the Romans. And have you not been satisfied until now with so many scandals and so many civil wars and murders and bloodsheddings and enslavements of our kinsmen and Christian brothers and so much ruin and evil to all the subjects? Let be, let be, for the mercies of the all-good God, so that the humble and wretched and unfortunate Christians may receive some respite and a little rest from their evils and pains. In Asia, as you know, that greatest evil and beast, the offspring of Othman, has corrupted and destroyed and annihilated all; and those who have fled from the storms and misfortunes from there and both those who remain here, let us allow them to receive some relief. And if concerning the nations that have no law the divine David, exhorting, says, that those who want wars be scattered, how much more judgment shall we have, we whom Christ our God, through His ineffable mercy, redeemed with His own blood and gave us law and commandments, and ordained peace and love as the first and chief sign for his own disciples, "3I wish to be"3 he said. For you know this well, and it is clear to all, that my ever-memorable father and emperor raised you from a low position to a great rank and office and even deemed you worthy of the name of emperor at his death. Remember well the love and the spiritual disposition which he had towards you. And he handed me, the wretched and unfortunate one, into your hands, and having commanded the kinship, he decreed that it should be between us and you even in the last hours of his life, and he entrusted into your hands all authority to govern and to shepherd both me and the empire of the Romans. But you have not acted in all things as a true shepherd, nor do you cease to act so, but rather as an outright wolf and robber and thief, and by every necessity, if possible, you wish and desire, that you might strip the empire from me, the heir of the rule and successor and descendant of four emperors, and make me a private citizen, and make you, who are a private citizen, emperor. But I, to the invincible power, commit the injustice which you have done and are doing to me, and I commit him who causes all the scandals and is their origin, and what is right will be done in the sight of the Lord.
How Kantakouzenos received the letter?
XI. But when Kantakouzenos received the letter and saw what was written, the
conscience was not bent and his heart was not softened, but he was always preparing the preparation and the work of war, hoping that he would also have help from the
τὸν φόβον τοῦ Ὀρχάνου· καὶ ἐζήτει πάντοτε καιρὸν ἐπιτήδειον, ἵνα, εἰ δυνατόν, πάλιν δοκιμάσῃ καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν ὑφ' ἑαυτὸν
ποιήσῃ ἐλ θεῖν. Ἀκούσας δὲ τὸν τοῦ Ὀρχάνου θάνατον καὶ πῶς ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ Ἀμουράτης τὴνἀρχὴν διεδέξατο, στρατὸν οἰκονομήσας
ἔκ τε τῆς Σερβίας καὶ Βουλγαρίας, ἵνα πάλιν κατὰ τοῦ γαμβροῦ καὶ βασιλέως Ἰωάννου ἔλθῃ· ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Ἰωάννης ταῦτα μαθὼν
ἔστειλε πρέσβυν πρὸς τὸν πενθερὸν μετ' ἐπιστολῆς περιεχούσης οὕτως.
Ἐπιστολὴ Ἰωάννου τοῦ βασιλέως πρὸς τὸν Καντακουζηνὸν τὸν πενθερὸν αὐτοῦ
χ. Ἐγὼ μὲν πολλάκις καὶ τὰ νῦν συλλογιζόμενος, ἐθαύμασα πῶς ἡ συνείδησις καὶ ἡ διάκρισις καὶ τὸ γῆρας οὐκ ἐλέγχει σε, ἵνα
κατὰ νοῦν ἐνθυμηθῇς τὸν θάνατον καὶ τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ ἀπροσωπολήπτου ἐκείνου κριτοῦ, ἐν ᾖ μέλλομεν πάντες γυμνοὶ καὶ 186 τετραχηλισμένοι
παρίστασθαι, καὶ κατὰ τὰς πράξεις καὶ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἕκαστος τὴν ἀν τάμειψιν λήψεται. Ἔδει γάρ σε ὡς συνετὸν καὶ πρακτικὸν καὶ
τὰς Γραφὰς καλῶς εἰ δότα καὶ εἰς πάντα ἐπιτήδειον, ὡς σὺ λέγεις καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖς καὶ ἐπαίρεσαι, ἵνα εἰς αἴσθησιν ἔλθῃς τοσοῦτον
καιρὸν τὶ ἂν εἴη τὸ παρ' ἐμοῦ αἰτεῖς, καὶ τὶ τὸ σὸν δίκαιον νομίμως καὶ κανονικῶς κατὰ τάξιν Ῥωμαίων καὶ συνήθειάν ἐστι. Καὶ
οὐκ ἀρκέσθης ἕως τοῦ νῦν τοσαῦτα σκάνδαλα καὶ τοσούτους ἐμφυλίους πολέμους καὶ φόνους καὶ αἱματοχυσίας καὶ ἀνδραποδισμοὺς
τῶν ὁμοφύλων καὶ Χριστιανῶν ἡμῶν ἀδελφῶν καὶ τοσούτην φθορὰν καὶ κακὸν εἰς πᾶν τὸ ὑπήκοον; Ἔασον, ἔασον διὰ τοὺς οἰκτιρμοὺς
τοῦ παναγάθου Θεοῦ, ἵνα ἄνεσιν λάβωσι καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν μικρὰν τῶν κακῶν καὶ ὀδυνῶν οἱ ταπεινοὶ καὶ ἐλεεινοὶ καὶ δυστυχεῖς Χριστιανοί.
Ἐν μὲν Ἀσίᾳ, ὡς οἶδας, τὸ μέ-γιστον κακὸν καὶ θηρίον, ἡ τοῦ Ὀτθμάνου γονὴ τοὺς πάντας διέφθειρε καὶ ἀπώλεσε καὶ ἠφάνισε· τοὺς
δὲ φυγόντας ἐκ τῶν ἐκεῖθεν χειμώνων καὶ συμφορῶν καὶ ἄμφω τοὺς ἐναπομείναντας ἐνταῦθα καὶ ἀναψυχὴν ἀφήσωμεν ἵνα λάβωσι. Καὶ
ἐὰν περὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα ὁ θεῖος ∆αβὶδ παρακαλῶν φησίν, ἵνα διασκορπισθῶσι τὰ τοὺς πολέ μους θέλοντα, πόσον μᾶλλον
κρῖμα ἕξομεν ἡμεῖς, οὓς ὁ Χριστὸς καὶ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δι' ἄφατον ἔλεος αὐτοῦ τῷ οἰκείῳ αἵματι ἐξηγόρασε καὶ νόμον καὶ ἐντολὰς ἐχαρίσατο
ἡ μῖν, τήν τε εἰρήνην καὶ ἀγάπην ἐνομοθέτησε σημεῖον πρῶτον καὶ κεφάλαιον τοῖς αὑ τοῦ μαθηταῖς "3θέλω εἶναι"3 ἔφησεν. Οἶδας
γὰρ καλῶς καὶ τοῦτο, καὶ τοῖς πᾶσι φανερόν ἐστι, ὡς ὁ ἐμὸς ἀείμνηστος πατὴρ καὶ βασιλεὺς ἐκ μικροῦ ὄντα σε εἰς μέγα ἀξίωμα
καὶ ὀφφίκιον ἀνεβίβασε καὶ ἕως καὶ βασιλείας ὄνομα ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ αὑτοῦ ἠξίωσέ σε. Ἐν θυμήθητι καλῶς τὴν ἀγάπην καὶ τὴν διάθεσιν
πνευματικήν, ἣν εἶχε πρὸς σέ. Καὶ ἐμὲ τὸν ταλαίπωρον καὶ δυστυχῆ εἰς χεῖρας σου ἐπαρέδωκε, καὶ τὴν συγγένειαν προστά ξας,
ὥστε καὶ ἐν ὑστέραις ὥραις τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ ἀνὰ ἡμῶν καὶ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι ὥρισε, καὶ τὴν πᾶσαν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ διοικεῖν καὶ ποιμαίνειν
καὶ ἐμὲ καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν Ῥω μαίων εἰς χεῖρας σου ἐνεμπίστευσε. Σὺ μὲν οὐχ ὡς ποιμὴν ἀληθινὸς εἰς ἅπαντα ἐποίη σας καὶ οὐ
παύεσαι ποιεῖν, ἀλλ' ὡς ἄντικρυς λύκος καὶ λῃστὴς καὶ κλέπτης, καὶ κα τὰ πᾶσαν ἀνάγκην, εἰ δυνατόν, θέλεις καὶ βούλεσαι, ἵνα
ἐμὲ τὸν κληρονόμον τῆς ἀρχῆς καὶ διάδοχον καὶ τεσσάρων βασιλέων ἀπόγονον τῆς βασιλείας γυμνώσης καὶ ἰδιωτεύ σῃς καὶ σὲ τὸν
ἰδιώτην ὄντα βασιλέα ποιήσῃς. Ἐγὼ δὲ τῇ ἀμάχῳ δυνάμει τὴν ἀδι κίαν, ἣν ἐποίησας εἰς ἐμὲ καὶ ποιεῖς, καὶ τὸν τὰ πάντα τὰ σκάνδαλα
ποιοῦντα καὶ ἀρχὴν τούτων ὄντα ἀνατίθημι καὶ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον κυρίου γενήσεται.
Πῶς ὁ Καντακουζηνὸς ἔλαβε τὴν ἐπιστολήν;
XI. Λαβὼν δὲ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ὁ Καντακουζηνὸς καὶ τὰ γεγραμμένα ἰδών, τὴν
συ νείδησιν οὐκ ἐκάμφθη καὶ τὴν καρδίαν οὐ ἐμαλάχθη, ἀλλὰ τὴν παρασκευὴν καὶ τὸ ἔργον τοῦ πολέμου πάντοτε ἡτοίμαζεν ἐλπίζων
ἵνα καὶ βοήθειαν ἕξῃ παρὰ τοῦ
