and, what is remarkable, at a Juncture when there had been three Popes who were degraded to make Way for a legal Pope, viz. Suidgert, Bishop of Bamberg, who was chofe Pope by the Name of Clement II. in 1056. It was an Hermit, Confeffor to the Emperor, who perfuaded him to make ufe of his Authority for putting an End to this Schifm, as appears by the Words of Engelbufen, reported in the Margin (1). In fine, Regulations were made both in the one and the other, with respect to Spirituals and Temporals. The Hiftorian that I have just now quoted, tells us that the Emperor Henry difmifs'd the Merry-Andrews, (Hiftrionum Collegium) and caufed the Money they had gain'd by that Calling to be given to the Poor; that he turn'd a vaft Number of loofe Women out of the Army; that he pardon'd those who had offended him; that he forgave a great Number of Debts, and repair'd all the Injuries that he had done. The fame Author adds, that when an End was put to the Schifm, he exacted an Oath of the Romans never to chufe a Pope without the Confent of the Emperor, because their Competitorship had been the Cause of fo great a Schism. (2) WHAT is certain is, that there was a Council at Conftance in the fame Century under Gebhard, Bishop of that City; and that a great many good Regulations were therein made, touching Ecclefiaftical Difcipline: Therefore it was a Place of a very good Omen. Befides, they could not have chofe one more commodious, more free, and more at hand to all the Parties concern'd. Nevertheless, as it was a City at the Emperor's Devotion, 'tis very furprizing that the Legates of John XXIII. gave their Confent to this Choice; for they were both his Creatures. He had made Anthony de Chalant, Cardinal Bifhop from a Cardinal Priest that he was before; and had bestow'd the Purple on Zabarella. If they were not forced to this Choice by the Neceffity of the Times, 'tis a very advantageous Teftimony to their Probity, that they preferr'd the Intereft of the Publick to their Master's particular Inclination; and I had rather pass this Judgment on them, than to accufe them of Infufficiency, as Bzovius has done, who was one of Baronius's Continuators. Dispatches X. AFTERWARDS, all the neceffary Difpatches were drawn up for calling and fent for calling the Council. In the Hiftory of the Council of the Council. Pifa may be feen (a) Sigifmond's Edi&t for inviting all Christendom (a) Part II. to it; his Letters to Gregory XII. and Benedict XIII. his Embassy P. 190, 192. (1) Tum Eremita quidam Confer Regis friphit & eleganter in hæc Verba. Imperator Henrice, Omnipotentis Vice, una Suamitis nupfit tribus maritis. Diffolve connubium, triforme dubium. Rex, ficut erat homo difcretus, collecto exercitu Conftantiam venit. Ubi Synodo Principum, Pacem hactenus inauditam ftatuit, & per Edictum, ficut Conradus inceperat, confirmavit, ubi fupr. (2) Idem Henricus, tempore quo fedavit Schifma, compulit Romanos jurare, quod fine confenfu Imperatoris, nullus alumatur in Papam, eo quod tantum Schifma fecerunt. ut fupr. 3 to to the King of Arragon, to reduce that Anti-Pope; together with that Emperor's Letter and Embaffy to Charles VI. and lastly, John XXIII.'s Bull for calling the Council. 1414. XI. THINGS being thus regulated, John XXIII. and Sigifmond parted, in order to meet again by the Time appointed. The former Death of went ftrait to Mantua, where he spent the Winter with the Marquis Ladislaus, A ret. P 258. John Francis de Gonzague, his Friend and Protector. The following Naucl. Plat." Spring he return'd to Bologna, to fet his Affairs in Order against La- ubi fupr. diflaus, who having a great Army then on Foot, with which he made all Italy tremble, was refolved to go and befiege John XXIII. in Bologna itself, and to pursue him whitherfoever he went. The Pope was never reduced to fuch a fatal Extremity as this. The Bolognefe fo difliked his Government, that he could not truft them; and all the Force that he was able to rendezvous, was not fufficient to make Head against Troops puff'd up with their late Victory, and encourag'd by a Leader newly provok'd at the League which feveral Princes and Cities of Italy had just then form'd against him, with John XXIII. and Sigifmond. Even the Pope's best Friends were feiz'd with a Pannick, fone retiring to Ferrara, and others to Venice, for Shelter from the Storm which they faw was rifing. In this Extremity he was very Niem ap. agreeably furpriz'd with the unexpected News of the Death of La- V. d. Hardt, diflaus, who, as he was on the March to Bologna, was attack'd with T.II. p.388. a violent Distemper, which obliged him to return to Naples, where Bzov.Spond. he died in a few Days, (a) in the Flower of his Age, and the Bloom Raynal. of the fairest Hopes. His Death, which was variously talk'd of, (a) In Aug. gave Italy fome Refpite, and deliver'á Sigifmond, as well as John XXIII. 1414, Enfrom a formidable Enemy. Leon. Aret. guerrand. de Monstrelet, Vol. I. As to his Death, I will here report the Words of Theodoric de Niem. In the midst of all thefe Alarms, fays he, we heard the agree- p. 130. able News of the Death of Ladislaus. As he was preparing to come to Bologna with a great Army, he was feiz'd with a violent and incurable Distemper, which obliged him to go back to Rome, from whence he embark'd to Naples with Paul Des Urfins, whom he carry'd away Prifoner, with Defign to put him to Death. He was scarce arrived at Naples, when being tormented with cruel Pains all over his Body, and efpecially in a Part not mention'd, by the just Judgment of God, he died miferably, before he had measured half the Days of Man (1). Monftrelet affirms it for a Certainty, that he was poifon'd by a Physician's Daughter that he was in Love with, to whom her Father gave a Dofe that difpatched them both. The Italian Hi (1) Ubi, poftquam cum vehementibus doloribus, quibus torquebatur in corpore & præcipuè igne Sacro in membro virili, jufto Dei judicio, pervenerat, infeliciter obiit antequam dimidiaret dies fuos. De L ftorians 1414. () Hift. Flor. L. 17. p. 668. (6) Hift. ftorians of that Time, whom I had an Opportunity to confult, as Pogge, Leonard Aretin, and Anthony de Florence, do not speak of Poifon, but only of a Distemper. Scipio Ammirati, a) a more modern Author, fays, that 'twas a high Fever, accompany'd with a Delirium, during which he continually threaten'd the Death of Paul des Urfins, and the Ruin of Florence. This both Pogge and Antonin report, almoft in the Flor. Lib. 6. very fame Words (h); and thus alfo does Pandolpho Collenucio relate it p. 196. in his Hiftory of Naples. Indeed he also mentions the Story of the poisoning, almost in the Terms of Monftrelet, according to the Relation, fays he, of fome, and according to common Fame, which he looks upon as uncertain; and alfo in the Opinion of many as fabulous (1). Among the Manufcripts in St. Paul's Library at Leipfic, I met with a Letter from an Italian, named Simeon of Perufa, Advocate at that Time to the Pope's Confiftory, written to King Wenceslaus, and dated the 12th of August 1414. This Letter fays, that Ladislaus died at Naples of an Ulcer, upon the 4th of that Month; and that he expired raving mad, continually calling out upon the Devils; (Dæmones continue exclamando.) However, I would not too fondly give Credit to Simeon of Perufa, as to this pretended Despair, because he was a Creature of John XXIII. very much incenfèd against Ladislaus: Neither do I know whether greater Credit ought to be given to what Windeck reports, in his Hiftory of Sigifmond, that his Death was contrived by the Clergy of Hungary, and especially by the Archbishop of Strigonia: However that be, thus died this Prince, after having been the Terrour of the whole World. No wonder that the Hiftorians, devoted to the Court of Rome and the Popes, have drawn frightful Characters of him, because he once reduced Rome to the laft Extremity, and made himself Mafter of it but just before his Death. Yet Collenucio has not drawn fo horrid a Picture of him. He reprefents him indeed as an ambitious Prince, but then he gives him Capacity enough to fupport it." He was, fays he, Warlike, Valiant, Laborious, and Vigilant; Magnanimous "in his Conduct, and in the Execution of his Defigns; formidable "to all, and efpecially to the Florentines, for whom he had fo inve terate an Averfion, that they thought themselves fecured by his "Death from all Manner of Dangers and Alarms. The Art of War "was his Paffion, and he was in Perfon at all Battles and Military "Expeditions, unless he was hinder'd by invincible Obftacles. He "was morcover well fhap'd, and his Converfation was engaging, af"fable, and honourable to Strangers. 'Tis true that he had an im pediment in his Speech, which, as 'twas believ'd, was owing to "the Poifon he received in his Youth. He was Liberal to every body, especially the Soldiery, to whom he could deny nothing, "tho' he was very plain in his Manner, particularly in the Army. "The Poison that was given him, had render'd him fufpicious and "timorous; and as he often went into the Camp to view the Soldiers, " he took Care in the first Place to fee what they cat; for he cat with "them of every thing indifferently, without any Royal State or Pomp." In a word, Collenucio thinks that Ladislaus has a Right to be rank'd with the good Princes, rather than with the bad. I thought myself obliged to put out this Picture, in Oppofition to other Pictures of this Prince, drawn by different Hands; and among the Moderns by the Jefuit Maimbourg in his Hiftory of the Great (a) Western Schifm, leav- (4) Par. II* ing the Reader to his Liberty of judging. HAVING no Iffue, he left his Kingdom, by his Will, to his Sifter Joan, Daughter to Charles of Durazzo, which gave Occafion to the Prophesy then current, That fhe would be the laft of the Durazzo Family that would poffefs the Kingdom of Naples; (1) which was fulfill'd about thirty Years after, the Kingdom devolving into the Hands of the Arragonefe. The Monk of St. Denis, a cotemporary Author, tells us, that the greatest Lords of the Kingdom of Naples fent a Deputation at first to John XXIII. to defire him to difpofe of this Crown according to his own Will and Pleafure, as being a Fief of the Church. But he adds, that the Ambaffadors who were fent to the King of France to carry the Tidings of Ladislaus's Death, reported, that his Sifter was Mistress of the beft Part of the Kingdom; and that being acquainted that the Pope intended fhe fhould marry one of his Nephews, he immediately fent, by the Advice of the Barons of Sicily, for (2) James of Bourbon, Count de la Marche, (2) because of the Reputation he had of being a Prince very difcreet, well fhap'd, and very flout in his Perfon; that she fent him a good Sum of Money to defray his Journey; that she and her States received him with great Joy; that fhe marry'd him, and that he affum'd the Title of King, tho' the Kingdom had been newly confirm'd by the Church to (4) King Lewis of Anjou, who was detain'd at that Time by a grievous Distemper which hinder'd him from profecuting his Right. (5) Mean time, Collenucio reports the Matter otherwife. He fays not a Tittle of any Offer made to the Pope of the Kingdom of Naples; nor does he fay that Joan took a Refolution to marry, that he might not be oblig'd to (1) Ultima Dyrrachi fiet Destructio Regni. Collen. ubi fupr. (2) That is to fay, the Great Men of Naples. (3) Collenucio fays 'tis the Marquifate of Ancona. Picenum. (4) At the Council of Pisa. (5) Monk of St. Denis's Hiftory of Charles VI. tranflated by M. le Laboureur, whofe Verfion I have follow'd; Lib. 4. p. 963, 964. L 2 have p. 112, 113. have the Pope's Nephew, but that it was to appeafe the Murmurings of the Great Men and Courtiers, who were very much incenfed against her, for abandoning the Administration of the Kingdom and the Court to the Count of Naples, her Chamberlain, whom she always took along with her after the Death of her first Husband, Count William of Auftria, and whom the lov'd even to Diftraction. In a word, Collenucio declares, that fo far was James of Bourbon from affuming the Name of King, that Joan only marry'd him on Condition that he should not take it; that he fhould content himself with the Title of Prince or Duke of Tarentum; and that he even fatisfy'd himself with the Title of Count, tho' the Grandees would fain have (4) Collenue. proclaim'd him King (a). This Prince will appear again in due ubi fupra. 1414. an. 1414. n. Place. 1414. ConXII. THE Pope was in fufpence what Courfe to take upon this vention a. News, which to him was a Sort of Crifis. On the one hand, he faw bout the himself now at full liberty to keep his Word by affembling the Counmanner of receiving t the cil, which Ladislaus would no doubt have thwarted to the utmost of Pope at his Power, as he had done that of Pifa. But on the other hand, as Conftance. he did not now ftand in fuch great need of Sigifmond, he was much raBzov. ad an. ther inclin'd to return to Rome, which was ready to receive him with open Arms, in order to eftablish his Authority there, than to go and expofe it in a Town beyond the Alps at the Emperor's DeVotion. 'Tis certain, that he would not have gone to Conftance if he had been rul'd by his Kindred and Friends, who warn'd him to take care left tho' he went there as Pope, he should return as a private Man. Raynald ad But if we may believe fome Annaliits, his Cardinals gave him more 6. p. 436. c.2. generous Advice. They apprehended with reafon enough, that if once he was at Rome a quiet Poffeffor of his See, he would think no more of the Council, and that all the Hopes of the Union would vanish into Smoke. Therefore they made an unanimous Reprefentation to him, that he might give his Orders to his Generals and his Lieutenants, as to Temporals; but that it was for the Honour of his Character to go to this Council to anfwer the Expectation of the whole World, in labouring for the Union and Reformation of the Raynald ad Church. At length he went to the Council, but not without violent Reluctance; and having therefore fent Cardinal James de l'Ifle, or Ifolani, a Bolognese Gentleman, to Rome, to exercife the Sovereign Authority there in his ftead, and to reduce that City and the whole ecclefiaftical State under his Obedience, he bent all his Thoughts to the Council. This Cardinal embracing the Ecclefiaftick State after the Death of his Wife, fignaliz'd himself very foon by feveral Negotiations. John XXIII. gave him the Purple in 1410. with the Title of Cardinal Deacon of St. Eustachius, afterwards of St. Mary le Neuve, as a Reward for his Services. During his Legatefhip at Rome, Ladislaus an. 1414.n.6. had |