During the late troubles, the treasures of the state, and even the furniture of the palace, had been alienated or embezzled; the royal banquet was served in pewter or earthenware; and such was the proud poverty of the times, that the absence of gold and jewels was supplied by the paltry artifices of glass and gilt-leather.
[33] [Footnote 291: Nicephorus says four, p.734.] [Footnote 30: The two avengers were both Palaeologi, who might resent, with royal indignation, the shame of their chains.

The tragedy of Apocaucus may deserve a peculiar reference to Cantacuzene (l.iii.

c.
86) and Nic.

Gregoras, (l.xiv.c.

10.)] [Footnote 31: Cantacuzene accuses the patriarch, and spares the empress, the mother of his sovereign, (l.iii.33, 34,) against whom Nic.
Gregoras expresses a particular animosity, (l.xiv.10, 11, xv.