Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/356

 338 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. as Nicetas and Yillehardouin declare, he was strangled, it is impossible and immaterial to saj. The new emperor, Mourtzouphlos, had an impossible task Preparations ^^ perform, but he set himself to work in a vigor- for defence, ^^g manner to organize the defence. The treas- ury was empty. Everything was in confusion. The army was disorganized. Such navy as had existed had already been destroyed. A large portion of the city was in ruins from the fires. He at once ordered a heavy contribution from the wealthy classes, and insisted upon the money being paid. He immediately set energetically to work to improve the defences. Men worked day and night in heightening the walls on the harbor side, and in fortifying the gates on the landward side. The emperor encouraged citizens and soldiers by his presence, now at the works, now in leading the attacks that he organized upon the foraging parties of the enemy. His conduct confirmed him in the confidence of the people. He was hampered, however, by the old aristo- cratic spirit of the wealthy nobles. To them he was objec- tionable because in such a time he refused to recognize their privileges. He insisted on their help, and subjected them, together with the rest of the inhabitants, to the severity of discipline of a city in a state of siege. They feared his voice, says Nicetas, like death. His energy seems to have entirely won the confidence of the imperial guard. They probably resented his conduct in withdrawing them from the palace while he obtained possession of Alexis; but wlien they subsequently learned that the emperor had proposed to bring in the enemy, they consented to join Mourtzouphlos.^ There were doubtless men among them who had left Eng- land rather tlian endure Norman tyranny, and such men had now no wish to treat Normans and Frenchmen as friends. Had the Gambetta of this revolution been able to have de- layed the attack upon the city, it is possible, and even prob- the Greeks sent their fire-ships against the Venetians, with having given notice to the Franks beforehand. " Chron. Novgorod." p. 96.
 * The author of the " Chronicle of Novgorod " charges Alexis, when