UNIVERSAL ERUDITION." 



Y. M. tf, 



with his fon-in-law and pupil, was obliged 



to abdicate, and turned monk. 



John V". feigned alone . 2 g o a 



73. Androniclis IV. Palseologas reigned - 300 



74. Emanuel Palseologus . 3100 

 75:. John VII. Palseologus - 27 o 

 76. Conflantine XIII. or, according to others, 



XV. and laft emperor of Confhnlinople, was 

 prefled to death amidft the multitude, at the 

 taking of that city by Mahomet II. in the 

 year 1453, after having reigned about - 8 o 9 



VIII. It were to be wifhed that we could co- 

 ver with a thick veil the whole hiftory of the 

 Eailern empire, and conceal from the eyes of 

 youth thole horrors with which it is crowded 

 from beginning to end. All thefe emperors, 

 unworthy of fo auguft a title, were either egre- 

 gious dolts, or execrable villains ; who acquired 

 the diadem, and maintained it, by the blackefl 

 trcafons and murders. A fcream of blood flowed 

 incefiantly. Continual in (lances of poifoning, 

 putting out of eyes, and other like horrors. No 

 traces of genius or of virtue. This part of hif- 

 tory ought to be made known merely to infpire 

 a juil averfion to guilt : what is dill more de- 

 plorable, all thefe crimes were committed under 

 the fhadow of religion, or rather fanaticifm and 

 fuperftition. We mall fee in" the -hiftory of the 

 ehurch, by what unlucky fchiim Chriftianity was, 

 fo to fay, torn aiunder, and divided into the Greek 

 and Latin churches. Gonftantinople adopted 



i the 



