Page:Destruction of the Greek Empire.djvu/116

 82 DESTEUCTION OF THE GEEEK EMPIRE part in it by making war against him, an appeal which was unsuccessful and which was followed six months later by the victory of Crecy. In the same year Clement sent two nuncios into Armenia to persuade the members of the ancient Church of that people to enter into union with Kome. In 1347 he wrote to congratulate Stephen of Serbia on his having expressed the desire to enter the Eoman Communion. During the early years of the reigns of John and Canta- cuzenus, Clement does not appear to have had direct com- munication with Constantinople. He had apparently a dislike to or prejudice against the elder emperor, for in 1345 he wrote to the dauphin of France not to treat with Cantacuzenus but only with the Dowager Empress Anne. 1 He had seen with indignation the employment of Turks by Cantacuzenus against his enemies and considered him a usurper of the throne which ought to be occupied only by John, the son of a mother whose predilections in favour of Union were well known. His information, according to the emperor's narrative, was derived from an Italian lady who had lived with the Empress Anne and whose sympathy would naturally be with the cause of her mistress. Cantacuzenus determined to explain to the pontiff his own position, to justify his conduct and at the same time to offer his aid in any expedition that might be formed for attacking the Mahometans and to express his desire to accomplish the Union of the Churches. 2 Accordingly he sent a deputation to Clement consisting of the protovestarius and an Italian in his service who was known to the pope. On their arrival they had long inter- views with Clement and were astonished at his detailed knowledge of the condition of the empire. According to Cantacuzenus, the pope expressed great satisfaction at the clemency shown by him to his enemies and especially at the marriage between his daughter and John, in which he saw the prospect of a united empire and one which would be able to aid in resisting the Moslems. Clement sent the 1 Rayn. iv. lxiii. 2 iv. 9.