Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/399

Rh On the 9th of May the electors met. The place of meeting was the beautiful Church of Our Lady the Illuminator, which was situated within the walls of Bucoleon

The twelve electors attended a solemn mass, invoked the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and then swore upon the famous relics for which the church was renowned that they would choose him whom they believed in good faith to be the man they were most in need of, and who, according to their con- science, would make the best emperor.

The palace of Bucoleon was tilled with spectators. Venetians. Crusaders, and citizens were anxious to hear the verdict. The electors, says the marshal, were placed in the rich chapel. The doors were locked from the outside, so that no one might communicate with them. The barons and the knights remained near at baud to learn what the decision should be. We know the result of their deliberation. The indications of what went on are scanty. Hurter says that "some were of opinion that as there was only one pope, so there should be but one emperor, and that as Philip had been the cause of the expedition, so also he had through his wife Irene, the only daughter of Isaac, hereditary right to the throne." If such a suggestion were raised, it was probably not at but before the meeting of the electors in the Church of the Panhagia.

Venetian authors assert that the bishops of Soissons and Troyes declared for Dandolo, and that at first the Venetian delegates were ready to vote for him. Justiniani affirms that which this proposition was made it was opposed by Pantaloon Barbo the Venetian delegate, who by his character, position, and influence with the republic, had the greatest authority among them. A long discourse is given, which professes to be that delivered by