A.D. 1185. BASTLXTJS PBESEUTS TTJUSAKTUS TO THE PEOrLE. 529 and that he who was to put him to death was in the neighbourhood, and his name was Tursakius Angelus. Accordingly, on the next day, the above-mentioned magicians came to the emperor Androneus, and said to him, " Now at length have your sins overtaken you of which you were guilty when you sat on your tribunal, oppressing the innocent and condemning the just blood without a cause. For the day of your downfall is hastening on ; and lo ! he is close at hand who shall destroy you and take your empire, and the name of that person is Tursakius Angelus. ' After unheard-of torments as your punishment, he will condemn you to a most cruel death, and his deeds will be applauded by the lips of the people, and he himself will become as the very food of those who tell of his exploits, and will reign over us, and his posterity will succeed to the sceptre. It is to your own sorrow that you have deprived his father and brothers of eyesight and other ! blessings. At this moment he is in the suburbs of this city ; therefore expel him, if expel him you can." Androneus, however, on learning that he was at hand who was to put him to death, sent his chancellor with some ι knights and men-at-arms, for the purpose of seizing him. ' On arriving at the place where he lodged, they found the gates closed ; on which those who went first cried with a loud voice, " Open the gates for us, open them ; behold ! it is the emperor's chancellor come ;" and then said, "Tursakius, come forth." Tursakius, seeing that they would « break open the gates if he did not come forth with all speed, quickly saddled his horse, and, mounting it, girded on his • sword ; and then, opening the gates, he darted forth with the greatest rapidity, and, brandishing his sword, made his way amfcng those who resisted, and, rushing upon the chancellor, eut off his head. The rest, however, stood quite astounded, and not one laid hands on him ; on which, passing through the (midst of them, he entered the city, and going through it came »to the church of Saint Sophia, where, finding the patriarch Basilius, he cast himself at his feet, and told him of all that had happened to him. On this, the patriarch raising him from the ground, exclaimed to the whole of the people there assembled, " Come ibither and behold the man whom the Lord hath chosen to reign over us ; say, then, what you think thereof." To this they VOL. I. MM