"holy lord Nicholas. Whatever part of St. Peter's Patri66 mony shall fall into our hands, we will restore it to his "holiness; and he, to whom we shall commit the adminis"tration of our kingdom of Italy, shall swear to assist his "holiness in defending St. Peter's Patrimony to the utmost "of his power. So help me God, and his holy Evange

"lists 5."

The emperor now proceeded to Viterbo, where he was in danger of his life from a tumult of the populace: so indifferently attended was this successor of Charlemagne! From Viterbo he repaired to Rome, where he was met by the whole college of cardinals; and as it had been customary for the late emperor, who went thither to be crowned, to continue some time without the walls, Frederick ordered tents to be pitched, and there passed one night. He made his public entry next day, when he was crowned king of Lombardy, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the depu ties of Milan; he not chusing to put himself in the power of Sforza, who was master of that city, and which properly belonged to the empire, the last duke having died without legitimate issue. Three days after this ceremony, he was married to Eleonora, and together with her received the imperial crown. The emperor and the pope next A. D. 1452. ratified the Concordata of the German nation, touching the collation to prelacies and other benefices, which had some years before been agreed to by cardinal Carvajal, Nicholas's legate at the imperial court.

Having thus transacted matters at Rome, Frederick set out on his return to Germany; and in his passage through Ferrara was waited upon by Borsi, marquis of Este, a prince of extraordinary merit, whom he created duke of Modena and Reggio. On his arrival in Austria, he found himself involved in a number of difficulties, out of which he was never able fully to extricate himself.

5. Fogger, lib. v. 6. Barre, tom. vii. Neucler. sub. ann. 7. Id. ibid.

VOL. II.

M

The

The Hungarians had often entreated Frederick to send home their king Ladislaus, whom he still detained at the imperial court, under pretext of being guardian to that young prince and they had, by the most earnest and repeated instances, besought him to restore their crown and regalia, which were in his custody. But he found means, under various pretences, to postpone his compliance with these demands. The Austrians, joined by a number of Bohemians, and encouraged by several princes of the empire, also sent a deputation to expostulate with Frederick on the same subject; and as he lent a deaf ear to their request likewise, and amused them with fresh evasions, they had recourse to arms, and compelled him to sign an accommodation. It was agreed, That Ladislaus, being yet of too tender years to take upon himself the government of his kingdoms, should be put under the tuition of Ulric count Celley, his uncle by the mother's side, and that the dispute touching the wardship of the emperor should be determined at Vienna.

Count Celley's ambition was elated by the power which he derived from being tutor to Ladislaus. He attempted to make himself absolute master in Austria: he secured the principal fortresses, by giving the command of them to his creatures; and he gradually removed Elsinger, a Bohemian gentleman, who had headed the insurrection, and the Austrian nobility, from all offices of importance. His friends and favourites only were trusted. The people were incensed at such proceedings; and Elsinger, profiting by their discontent, roused their ressntment to such a degree, that the count was obliged to retire into Hungary, after having delivered up the person of Ladislaus, who consented to take the oath imposed upon him by the Bohemians, and was crowned with great solemnity at Prague9.

A. D. 1453.

During these contests the city of Constantinople was taken by the Turks, after they had subdued the rest of Greece; and by this blow the Roman empire in the east was utterly

8. Aen. Sylv. Hist. Bohem.

9. Id. ibid.

annihilated,

annihilated, as shall be related more at length in its proper place. Here it is only necessary to observe, that the progress of the Mahometans alarmed all the princes of Christendom, and made them think of uniting, though too late, in order to oppose the common enemy. A diet was convoked at Ratisbon on this subject, and the members unanimously agreed, that there was a necessity for taking some A. D. 1455. speedy measures to stop the progress of the Infidels. But what these measures should be, was a consideration referred to another diet assembled at Frankfort: where, although there was a vast concourse of princes, and great appearance of zeal, very little was done for the common cause. Other diets were afterwards held for the same purpose, but with no better success; a backwardness which was chiefly owing to the timid and slothful disposition of the emperor, who would never heartily embark in the undertaking 10.

The German princes however, at the solicitation of Carvajal, the pope's legate, sent a body of troops to the assistance of John Hunniades, a famous Hungarian general, who had long gallantly defended his country against the Turks, and gained several advantages over them. Hunniades, thus reinforced, marched to the relief of Belgrade, A. D. 1456. which was besieged by Mahomet II. the conqueror of Constantinople, and the terror of Christendom; and compelled the sultan, after an obstinate engagement, to raise the siege, and retreat with the loss of four thousand men, left dead on the spot". But the death of Hunniades, which happened a few days after the battle, prevented the Christian army from making any progress against the Infidels. The fruits of their victory, and their future projects, perished with their illustrious leader.

In the mean time Ladislaus, king of Hungary and Bohemia died, and various competitors arose for those crowns, as

10. Aen. Sylv. Europ.

11. Id. ibid.

well

well as for the dominions of Upper Austria, which belonged to that prince. Among these was the emA. D. 1457. peror Frederick III. who reaped nothing but damage and disgrace from a civil war which desolated Germany for many years, but which was productive of no event that merits attention. His son Maximilian was more fortunate, and better deserved success.

This young prince, who was active and enterprising as his father was indolent and timid, married, at twenty years of age, the only daughter of Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy. She brought him Flanders, Franche-Comte, and all the Low Countries. Lewis XI. who disputed some of these territories, and who, on the death of the duke, had seized Burgundy, Picardy, Ponthieu, and Artois, as fiefs of France, which could not be possessed by a woman, was defeated by Maximilian at Guinegaste; and Charles VIII. who renewed the same claims, was obliged to conclude a disadvantageous peace12.

A. D. 1492.

About this time died Casimir IV. king of Poland, and father of Uladislaus, who now reigned over Hungary and Bohemia. The death of the Polish monarch had been preceded by that of pope Innocent VIII. who was succeeded in the papacy by Roderic Borgia, under the name of Alexander VI. Nor did the emperor Frederick III. long survive these alterations. He died in the seventy-ninth year of his age, and the fifty-fourth of his reign. No emperor had ever reigned longer, and none less gloriously.

A. D. 1495.

The reign of Maximilian, already elected king of the Romans, introduces a more interesting period than that over which we have now travelled, and opens a vista into some of the grandest scenes of history. But a variety of objects, my dear Philip, must occupy your attention before carry farther the affairs of the empire.

I

12. Mezeray, Chronol. Abreg. tom. ii.

LET.

LETTER XLVIII.

ENGLAND, DURING THE CONTEST BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF YORK AND LANCASTER, AND TILL ITS FINAL EXTINC

TION IN THE ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF TUDOR.

A. D. 1450.

I HAVE HAVE already had occasion to notice the weakness of Henry VI. His incapacity appeared every day in a stronger light. The more he was known, the more his authority was despised; and as the English had abandoned their dominions in France, and were now engaged in no foreign wars, men of restless and ambitious spirits took occasion to disturb his government, and tear with intestine commotions the bowels of their native country.

But the miseries of Henry and of England did not arise solely from these causes: a pretender to the crown appeared; and a title which had never been disputed during the prosperous reign of Henry V. was now called in question under his feeble successor. This competitor was Richard duke of York, descended by his mother from Philippa, only daughter of the duke of Clarence, second son of Edward III. and consequently stood in the order of succession before the king, who derived his descent from the duke of Lancaster, third son of that monarch.

Such a claim could not, in many respects, have fallen into more dangerous hands. The duke of York was a man of valour and abilities, which he had found frequent opportu nities of displaying. In the right of his father the earl of Cambridge, he bore the rank of first prince of the blood: he possessed an immense fortune; and was allied by marriage, or otherwise, to most of the principal families in the kingdom. He was generally beloved by the people; whose discontents, at this time, rendered every combination of the great more dangerous to the throne.

The