Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/419

QUARREL BETWEEN BALDWIN AND BONIFACE. 401 place his case also in the hands of Dandolo. Messengers were sent to inform Baldwin of what had taken place. The em- peror, in the meantime, had heard of the siege laid to Adria- nople by Boniface, and had hastened to its relief. lie was, however, in considerable difliculties. Then, as now, the neigh- borhood of Salonica was highly feverish. Some of his best followers had died, and many more were disabled with fever. Hence the army which followed him was weak and almost unfit for service. While he was on his way to the relief of Adrianople the messengers from Dandolo met him and for- mally requested him to submit the matters in difficulty with Boniface to the four arbitrators already mentioned, adding the distinct threat that they would on no account allow a resort to force between him and his late chief. The emperor was irri- tated and angry. He consulted his council, in which, says the marshal, who is throughout the partisan of Boniface, there were many who had helped to cause the broil. Many hard words — grosses paroles — were used. The emperor made a compromise. His army was too weak to resist Boniface with his Greek allies. He dared not openly break with Dandolo, who was master of the capital, but he would not consent, until he knew the situation better, to place himself in the hands of the self-constituted tribunal. He replied that he would not pledge himself to submit the difficulty, but he would proceed at once to his capital, and in the meantime would promise not to attack Boniface. On his arrival in Constantinople Baldwin recognized before Arbitration ^^^ fourtli day that the course proposed was the accepted. |^gg|. ^vi^Jdj^ uudcr tlic circumstauccs, he could adopt. Boniface was sent for, and he also, after some hesitation, con- sented to come to the capital. On his arrival the arbitrators decided that the emperor was wrong. Salonica was to be given to Boniface, and as a pledge that this should be done the marshal was ordered to take possession of Didymotica, and to hold it until he should be assured that Boniface was safely installed in Salonica. This decision was carried out, and the principality or kingdom of Salonica was surrendered to Boni- face, Marquis of Montferrat. 26