li^ Essay upon the Art of the Foundry 



and the allies, the latter were lodged beyond the gate in a 

 place called Stenon, The French, however, freely fre- 

 quented the city, and the two nations lived in peace and 

 good understanding. The emperor even invited the allies 

 to prolong their stay at Constantinople, as there was a pow- 

 erful party among the Greeks against him. 



During this period, a quarrel arose between the Greeks 

 and the crusaders. The French had forced and pillaged 

 the mosque of the Saracens ; the Greeks took part with the 

 latter, and assisted them in revenging themselves upon their 

 adversaries, who, being enraged upon finding they were the 

 weakest, set fire to the city. The flames, increased by the 

 •wind, gained ground so rapidly that nothing could stop 

 them. The fire lasted eight days, and occupied the space of 

 a league in circumference. A great number of houses, 

 churches, and convents, fell a prey to the devouring ele- 

 ment ; among others, the loss of a grand double portico was 

 much deplored, being that of the square of Constantine and 

 the Hippodrome. After this disaster, the good understand- 

 ing which had subsisted between the Greeks and the French 

 entirely ceased : all foreigners established at Constantinople 

 were obliged to quit the city, to the number of 15,000 ; the 

 young emperor Alexius became cool towards them, and waS' 

 extremely slow in executing the treaties, so that war soon' 

 recommenced with more fury than before. During the war, 

 the young Alexins was imprisoned, and strangled by order of' 

 Marzuflus, one of his ministers, and old Isaac died of 

 grief. The crusaders, when informed of this new cata- 

 strophe, assembled in council, declared Marzuflus unAVorthy 

 t6 reign, and formed the resolution of redoublinsf their ac- 

 tivitv to take the city, and proceed to the election of a new 

 emperor. After several attacks, the city was at last taken 

 a second time on an Easter Monday, 1204. Marzuflus 

 withdrew to the palace Bucoleon, and afterwards fled. The 

 city was given up to plunder, while a new fire burst out, 

 which, according to Villehardoin*, destroyed more houses 



* Histoire de la Conqvtte de Cotistantinoplr, par GuJifroid de I'lllekardoin, 

 Marechal de Champagne et de Romanic, p. 1 32. 



than 



