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
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 my lords and brothers deceive him, by promising him by means of a 20chrysobull20 some village or land for him and his heirs in succession, and being persuaded, he might reject the four stated articles and act according to the fifth, which will be most grievous to me. 16. You yourself know also of the monk sent from Cyprus by the queen, my niece, who said to me, that since the queen did not have a faithful and suitable man through whom to inform me of all that was necessary, nor was it possible, as she desired, to speak with me face to face, I should send to her a proven and faithful man from our court. For this reason it is not fitting for anyone else besides you to know our secrets; and no one is more suitable than you, if not you alone, who has acted and established and spoken and informed on all matters with her on another occasion; wherefore the matter cannot be brought to a conclusion through anyone else. 17. And I, answering again, said to the emperor: As your majesty commands, so it is. On account of these reasonable causes, my wife, your servant, together with my relatives, will not hinder me, if I happen to carry out what has been commanded to me; whom I shall win over by reporting to her also about what, through the goodness of your majesty, you have arranged for me concerning the 20marriage of my daughter and of places and20 the gift of honor and sponsorship, more than for the other noblewomen. And so, as it was time for luncheon, I did obeisance and departed for home. 18. After luncheon, when the grand duke came to the palace, the emperor told him all that he had discussed with me about 372 my going as an ambassador, but he did not reveal to him for what reason. And he added this also, that it is necessary for us to honor Phrantzes, because the office which he holds is no expression of gratitude from us, since it was bestowed on him by the emperor my brother. Therefore tell him what other of the offices he desires; and let us hear. And the duke, going out and finding me, asked what office I desired, so that the emperor might bestow it on me. And I, answering, said that I too had in mind to ask for a greater office, which no one else holds and which, while I live, will be bestowed on no one other than me; and what is fitting thus seems to me to be, which I also desire, since even before20 my departure to Trebizond I heard and endured so many reproaches and accusations because there were also two other lords in the office which I hold; which I did not want. But so that my word may be confirmed, as you have told me and I desire, if it is also pleasing to my lord the emperor, bestow on me the office of grand constable. And so Notaras departed and reported everything to the emperor. But he, answering, said to him: For that very office I give to no one, because my former father-in-law is grand constable, having been made so in the Peloponnese by the emperor my father, when he was building the Isthmus. However, I will give him another, greater office, that of the grand logothete. But the duke, answering, said: And what will become of Palaiologos Metochites, because your majesty, at the request of the despot your brother, made the son of Kantakouzenos stratopedarch because of the kinship by marriage and because of the protostrator, his father? And if you give to Phrantzes such an office, which is superior to that of the grand stratopedarch, what will happen? Nevertheless, if it is pleasing to your majesty, bestow on him the office of grand primikerios, which is after that of the grand stratopedarch. But the emperor said: I told you before that Phrantzes accepts no office held by another, even if it were greater; How then would he accept that of the grand primikerios? Nevertheless, speak to him a second time and let us see his opinion. Then the grand duke came to me again, saying: The emperor said that that of the grand
τούτου πάλιν· Ἀλλ' ὑποψίαν ἔχω, ὅτι, ἐὰν ἕτερόν τινα πάρεξ σοῦ ἀποστείλω, οὐ φυλάξει μοι τὴν πρέπουσαν εὔνοιαν καὶ πίστιν,
μή πως ἀπατήσωσιν αὐτὸν οἱ δεσπόται καὶ ἀδελφοί μου, ὑποσχόμενοι τούτῳ διὰ 20χρυσοβούλλου20 τινὰ κώ μην ἢ χώραν αὐτῷ καὶ τοῖς
κληρονόμοις αὐτοῦ κατὰ διαδοχήν, καὶ πει σθεὶς ἀποδοκιμάσῃ τὰ τέτταρα εἰρημένα κεφάλαια καὶ πράξῃ κατὰ τὸ πέμπτον, ὅπερ βαρύτατόν
μοι ἔσεται. 16. Αὐτὸς οἶδας καὶ τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς Κύπρου ῥηγίσσας τῆς ἐμῆς ἀνε ψιᾶς ἀποσταλέντα μοναχὸν λέγοντά μοι, ὅτι, ἐπεὶ ἡ
ῥήγισσα οὐκ εἶχεν ἄνθρωπον πιστὸν καὶ ἐπιτήδειον μηνῦσαί μοι δι' αὐτοῦ, τὰ ὅσα ἦν ἀναγ καῖα, οὔτε δυνατὸν ἦν, ὡς ἐκείνη ἐπεθύμει,
συλλαλῆσαί μοι διὰ στόματος, ἐξαποστείλω ἐγὼ πρὸς αὐτὴν ἄνθρωπον ἐκ τῆς ἡμετέρας αὐλῆς δόκιμον καὶ πιστόν. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο ἕτερόν
τινα οὐχ ἁρμόζει πάρεξ σοῦ εἰδέναι τὰ μυ στήρια ἡμῶν· καὶ οὐδεὶς ὁ ἁρμοδιώτερός σου, εἰ μὴ μόνον σύ, ὁ πράξας καὶ στήσας καὶ
ὁμιλήσας καὶ πληροφορήσας τὰ πάντα μετ' αὐτῆς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ καιρῷ· διὸ οὐ δύναται δι' ἄλλου τινὸς ἡ ὑπόθεσις πέρας λα βεῖν.
17. Ἐγὼ δὲ πάλιν ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπα τῷ βασιλεῖ· Ὡς κελεύει ἡ βα-σιλεία σου, τοιούτως ἔχει. Ἕνεκεν τούτων τῶν εὐλόγων αἰτιῶν ἡ
ἐμὴ σύνευνος ἡ δούλη σου ἅμα τοῖς ἐμοῖς συγγενέσιν οὐ κωλύσωσί με, εἰ τύχῃ καὶ ποιήσω τὸ προσταχθέν μοι· ἣν εὐμενίσω, ἀναφέρων
αὐτῇ ἔτι περὶ ὧν διὰ τῆς καλοκαγαθίας τῆς βασιλείας σου ἔταξάς μοι περὶ τῆς 20ἐμῆς θυγατρὸς ὑπανδρίας καὶ τόπων καὶ20 τιμῆς
δωρήσεως καὶ ἀναδοχῆς πλέον τῶν ἄλλων ἀρχοντισσῶν. Καὶ οὕτως καιροῦ δὴ ὄντος τοῦ ἀριστῆναι, προσκυνήσας ἐγὼ ἀπῆλθον οἴκαδε.
18. Μετὰ δὲ τὸν ἄριστον ἐλθόντος τοῦ μεγάλου δουκὸς ἐν τῷ πα λατίῳ, ἐφήσατο αὐτῷ ὁ βασιλεύς, τὰ ὅσα μετ' ἐμοῦ ἐλάλησε περὶ
τοῦ 372 πρέσβυν με ἐπελθεῖν, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψεν αὐτῷ δι' ἣν αἰτίαν. Καὶ προσ έθηκε καὶ τοῦτο, ὅτι ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι τιμήσωμεν
καὶ ἡμεῖς τὸν Φραν τζῆν, διότι τὸ ὀφφίκιον, ὃ κέκτηται, οὐκ ἔστιν εὐχαριστία οὐδεμία πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ἐπεὶ παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ
ἀδελφοῦ μου εὐηργετήθη αὐτό. ∆ιὸ λέξον αὐτῷ, ποῖον ἄλλο τῶν ὀφφικίων ὀρέγεται· καὶ ἀκούσωμεν. Καὶ ἐξελ θὼν ὁ δοὺξ καὶ εὑρών
με ἐπυνθάνετο, τί ὀφφίκιον ὠρεγόμην, ἵνα δωρή σηταί μοι ὁ βασιλεύς. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπον, ὅτι κατὰ νοῦν εἶχον καὶ ἐγὼ αἰτῆσαι
μεῖζον ὀφφίκιον, ὅπερ οὐ κέκτηται ἄλλος καὶ οὔτε ζῶν τός μου εὐεργετήσῃ τινὶ ἑτέρῳ πλὴν ἐμοῦ· καὶ τὸ πρέπον οὕτως μοι δο κεῖ
εἶναι, ὃ καὶ ὀρέγομαι, ἐπεὶ καὶ πρὸ20 τοῦ ἀπελθεῖν με εἰς Τραπεζοῦντα τοσαῦτα ὀνείδη καὶ κατηγορίας ἤκουσα καὶ ὑπέφερα διὰ
τὸ εἶναι καὶ ἐτέ ρους δύο ἄρχοντας ἐν τῷ ὀφφικίῳ, ὃ ἔχω· ὃ οὐκ ἤθελα. Ἀλλ' ἵνα βεβαιω θῇ ὁ λόγος μου, ὡς μοι εἴρηκας κἀγὼ
ὀρέγομαι, εἰ καὶ ἀρεστόν ἐστι τῷ αὐθέντῃ μου τῷ βασιλεῖ, εὐεργέτησαί μοι τὸ ὀφφίκιον τοῦ μεγάλου κοντοσταύλου. Καὶ οὕτως ἀπῆλθεν
ὁ Νοταρᾶς καὶ ἀνέφερε πάντα τῷ βασιλεῖ. Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Αὐτὸ γὰρ τὸ ὀφφίκιον οὐ δίδωμι οὐδενί, ὅτι ὁ πρώην μου
πενθερός ἐστι μέγας κοντόσταυλος, γεγονὼς ἐν τῇ Πελοποννήσῳ παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ πατρός μου, ὅτε ᾠκοδόμει τὸν Ἰσθμόν. Πλὴν
δώσω αὐτῷ ἕτερον μεῖζον ὀφφίκιον, τὸ τοῦ μεγάλου λο γοθέτου. Ὁ δὲ δοὺξ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπε· Καὶ τί γενήσεται μετὰ τοῦ Πα λαιολόγου
τοῦ Μετοχίτου, ὅτι ἡ βασιλεία σου ζητήσει τοῦ δεσπότου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου ἐποίησας στρατοπεδάρχην τὸν τοῦ Καντακουζηνοῦ υἱὸν
διὰ τὴν τῆς συγγαμβρίας συγγένειαν καὶ διὰ τὸν πρωτοστράτορα τὸν ἑαυ τοῦ πατέρα; Καὶ ἂν δώσῃς τῷ Φραντζῇ τὸ τοιοῦτον ὀφφίκιον,
ὅ ἐστι πρῶτον τοῦ μεγάλου στρατοπεδάρχου, τί γενήσεται; Ὅμως εἰ ἀρεστόν ἐστι τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, εὐεργέτησον αὐτῷ τὸ τοῦ μεγάλου
πριμικηρίῳ ὀφφίκιον, ὅ ἐστι μετὰ τὸ τοῦ μεγάλου στρατοπεδάρχου. Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· Ἐγώ σοι προεῖπον, ὅτι ὁ Φραντζῆς οὐδὲν
ὀφφίκιον δέχεται παρ' ἄλλου κρατούμενον, εἰ καὶ μειζότερον εἴη· Πῶς οὖν καταδέξηται τὸ τοῦ μεγάλου πριμικηρίου; Ὅμως ἐκ δευτέρου
λάλησον αὐτῷ καὶ ἴδωμεν τὴν γνώμην αὐτοῦ. Λοιπὸν αὖθις ἦλθε πρός με ὁ μέγας δοὺξ λέγων· Ὁ βασιλεὺς ἔφη, ὅτι τὸ τοῦ μεγάλου
