'Let him rule his kingdom, and leave the government of the Church, without any interference, to me.' Some have considered the reply as too harsh, while others have discovered in the overture of Alphonso a want of due veneration for the Vicegerent of Christ. Probably, the monarch had not forgotten, and perhaps the Pontiff could not forgive, the relation which had formerly subsisted between them; and their knowledge of each other's character may have been too deep and intimate to leave much room for reverence on either side.

Calixtus III. reigned only three years, and died in August, 1458, at a very advanced age. His pontificate was signalized The System of by no striking incident, nor were his acts in any Nepotism. respect remarkable, unless, indeed, we should consider him as having introduced into the government of the Church the system of Nepotism. For, though instances of that vice had occasionally occurred before, it was not till now that it became the practice of the Vatican. Calixtus exhausted upon his worthless nephews the riches of the Apostolical Treasury, and limited his ambition to the aggrandizement of his own family. It was to this that the aspirations of pontifical presumption sank at last! From that lofty spiritual arrogance, which, in earlier ages, has extorted from us something approaching to admiration, the character of papacy first descended to the grasping after temporal power; its great object then became to enlarge the dominions of the See to secure the obedience of the city. Avarice attended; still its fruits were, for the most part, applied to ecclesiastical objects—to maintain the interests of the Church, and extend the authority of the Vicar of Christ. Intrigues and wars flowed from the Vatican, and deluged Europe with blood; still they were designed to extend the power, to augment the dignity, of Rome. It was for the declining years of Papal despotism, that the last and lowest degradation was reserved: it was not till the age of Calixtus III. and Sixtus IV. that the ambition of St. Peter's successors degenerated into mere family passion, and was confined to the narrowest circle of selfishness.

Policy of Eneas Sylvius.

In the year preceding his death, Calixtus was accused by the Germans of having raised exorbitant contributions, under the pretext of a holy war, and violated the Concordat made with his predecessor. There was considerable ground for both these complaints. Nevertheless, it was this occasion that Eneas Sylvius, formerly the adversary of pontifical oppression, more recently the advocate of the Imperial claims, came forward in defence of the Pope, and vigorously maintained his rights and justified his conduct. In some letters, composed during this dispute, he reproached the German Prelates for deferring to any other authority, rather than the chief of the Church. He asserted that their grievances, even had they been real, should have been left to the remedial benevolence of the Holy See; he applied himself to confute some arguments against its authority, which were derived from the Councils of Constance and Basle; he made mention of a sort of Pragmatic Sanction, established by certain Prelate-Princes of Germany, with a view to degrade the Holy See; and he reproached the nation with an unnatural ingratitude, in having resolved

*He went to the utmost extent of papal orthodoxy, by asserting, that none who had disregarded the authority of the Roman Pontiff, could at any time enter the kingdom of heaven, and that those, who had spurned the commands of the Apostolical See, should not now have any occasion for exultation. Hos enim Catholica veritas, nisi resipuerint ante obitum, ignis æterni mancipio sine intermissione deputat. Æn. Sylv. Epist. lib. i. Ep. 369, &c.

to withhold contributions from Rome, to prevent appeals, to restore elections to the Ordinaries, to refuse Annates, and so, in effect, to deprive the Sovereign Pontiff of the plenitude of his power.

It is important to notice these particulars, because they indicate the secret working of that spirit, which, in the next generation, broke forth with irresistible violence. Nor is it without a feeling of sorrow, mingled with shame, that we observe the most enlightened ecclesiastic of his age casting off the wise and generous principles of earlier life, as his ambition was warmed by a nearer prospect of gratification, and as his selfish interests became more closely associated with ecclesiastical corruption. Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini was born at Corsigni, near Sienna, in 1405, and his first laurels were gathered at the Council of Basle; he remained faithful to that Assembly, and promoted its objects, and advanced his own reputation in the conduct of some important missions which were confided to him. In the year 1442 he became secretary to the Emperor Frederic; but throughout the pontificate of Nicholas V. he was engaged in the service of the Holy See, and zealously exerted himself, as its Nuncio, in a cause which was always dear to him, to confederate the Christian powers against the Turkish aggressor.

He was raised to the dignity of Cardinal (of Sienna) by Calixtus III., and on the death of that Pope he entered into Conclave with his brethren. The first scrutiny was indecisive; but it was followed by a very effective intrigue, which seemed likely to terminate in the election of the Archbishop of Rouen, an ambitious and unprincipled Frenchman. Piccolomini exerted all his eloquence and influence against that choice; he addressed several of the Cardinals separately; he appealed to their consciences, to their interest, to their vanity; he exaggerated the vices of the Archbishop; he addressed the national jealousy of his compatriots; he threatened them with a second secession to Avignon, and painted the approaching shame and desolation of Italy. The College proceeded a second time to the scrutiny. The golden chalice was placed upon the altar, and the Cardinals of Rouen, of Rimini, and Colonna remained near it. The others took their appointed seats, and, rising in succession, according to seniority, they placed in the chalice the paper which expressed their suffrage. When Sylvius went up in his turn, the Cardinal of Rouen, who knew how bitter an enemy he was, hastily said to him, Remember me on this occasion.' 'What,' replied Piccolomini, do you address me, who am but a vile worm of earth!" He resumed his place; and when the scrutiny was finished, and the papers examined, it appeared that the Cardinal of Sienna had nine votes, and that of Rouen six only.

His Election to

the Pontificate.

Three still were wanting to the former to make good his election; and the Cardinals then proceeded to the accessit. For some time they sat in profound silence. One of them at length arose, and gave his voice to Piccolomini; it was a thunderbolt for the Cardinal of Rouen. There was a second interval of silence, and during it those individuals who had any hopes for themselves, having penetrated the secret, that Piccolomini was on the point of being elected, left their places on various pretexts. Presently another Cardinal gave his vote to Sylvius; and only one more being now required, Prosper Colonna rose; and though the Cardinals of Rouen and Nice endeavoured to prevent his design by a charge of perfidy, he gave his decisive suffrage to Piccolomini. The latter was then saluted Pope by the whole College; and after replying, with great modesty, to the excuses and congratulations of the opposite party, tendered by Bessarion of

Nice, he assumed the name of Pius II., and went through the customary solemnities.

Council of
Mantua.

The object to which the exertions of Æneas Sylvius had been faithfully directed in all his subordinate offices, equally distinguished his pontificate; and the gradual progress of the Turks, by increasing his apprehensions, fortified his zeal. Accordingly he allowed not a moment to elapse before he convoked a Council for the promotion of a general crusade. Mantua was the place selected for that purpose; his call was obeyed by the greater number of the Italian Princes; and, finally, though with more reluctance, by representatives from most of the European States. Many deputies from the East were also present-from Rhodes, from Cyprus, from Lesbos, from the Peloponnesus, Epirus, and Illyria-to express their sufferings or their fears, and pour out their supplications. Pius II. proceeded with extraordinary pomp to the opening of the Council. In various cities through which he passed he was received with the same ostentatious homage which is paid to a temporal Prince; and the religious motive which may have animated the Pontiff was forgotten in the less questionable policy of his design.

Pius II. opened the Council of Mantua on the 1st of June, 1459, just six years after the fall of Constantinople. His first discourse was employed in rebuking the indifference of the Christian Princes; in contrasting the devotion of the Turks for their execrable sect with the apathy of the children of the Gospel; and in expressing his own resolution never to abandon his project, but to sacrifice his life, if necessary, for the people entrusted to him by God. His earnestness, his activity, his brilliant and commanding eloquence, produced an immediate, though it proved but a temporary, effect. The Council continued its sessions till the end of the January following: as its deliberations proceeded, it increased in numbers and dignity; and it grew warmer in the cause, as it was more influenced by the ardour and genius of the Pontiff. The methods by which he proposed to effectuate his design contained nothing that was impracticablemuch that was reasonable and generous. An army of 50,000 or 60,000 confederates was to be immediately collected for the defence of Hungary and the adjacent provinces; the men were to be raised in Germany, Bohemia, Poland, and Hungary. The pecuniary means were to be furnished chiefly by Italy; the clergy were to contribute a tenth of all their property, the Jews a twentieth, and the laity a thirtieth part. The Pope professed his readiness to conduct the war in person, and to consecrate to that purpose all that belonged to him.

The Council was then dissolved; and whatsoever may have been the sincerity of its members, while they were awed by the presence of the Pontiff, and animated by his eloquence, the engagements they contracted were, for the most part, violated. The intestine dissensions of the Christian Powers were too deeply seated to permit any cordial or general co-operation; and so far was Pius II. from succeeding in his attempt to

The Venetians and Genoese were not included in this engagement. The greatest difficulties were raised by the former, partly owing to their commercial and other intercourse with the Infidel, and partly, perhaps, because they had been accustomed to profit by crusades, not to contribute to them. Again, though the Duke of Burgundy had given some reluctant promises of aid, neither the French, Castilians, nor Portuguese had offered any hopes. As to England (said the Pope), we have nothing to expect from that kingdom, on account of the troubles which divide it; nor from Scotland, hidden in the depths of the ocean. Denmark, and Sweden, and Norway, are too distant to send us soldiers, and, content with their fish, they could not send us money, if they would.'

heal them, that he did not himself long escape their contagion, but presently became entangled in the malignant politics of Europe.

Embassy from

the East.

In the same year (1460) a solemn embassy from the Princes of the East arrived at Rome: the respect, which could not be claimed for their power, was offered to their titles and pretensions, and to the object of their mission. The Envoys professed to represent David, Emperor of Trebizond, George, King of Persia, the Sovereigns of the Two Armenias, and many others. They advanced a profusion of hopes and promisesthe Turks were to be assailed from the East by a powerful army, through the Hellespont, Thrace, and the Bosphorus; among their allies they numbered Bendis, King of Mingrelia and Arabia, Pancratius, King of the Georgians, Moüic, Marquis of Goria, Ismael, Lord of Sinope, and some others; it was the object of their mission to inform his Holiness of these preparations, and to render homage to the Vicar of God upon earth. Pius II. applauded their zeal, and accepted their homage; but assuring them that little could be done on his part, unless in conjunction with the Courts of France and Burgundy, he sent them forth to tell their pompous tale beyond the Alps. It may seem needless to add, that this deputation had no result.

The year following, Thomas Palæologus presented himself at Rome, and he was received with a munificence which did honour to the pontifical Court. The Imperial Exile had passed from Corfu to Ancona, and brought to that city the relics of the Apostle St. Andrew. He bestowed the sacred treasure upon the Pope; and accordingly commissioners were appointed, who conducted it with great solemnity to Rome. It was deposited in St. Peter's with every mark of veneration: and though the reader is already familiar with such absurdities; though he has had frequent occasion to deplore the deference to popular superstition which has been paid by very intelligent, and even very pious, ecclesiastics, we may still record another humiliating act, which it was the fate of Pius II. to perform. Catharine of Sienna had died above eighty years before in perfect odour of sanctity; continual miracles, certified by sufficient testimony, had been performed at her tomb; people were anxiously expecting her canonization.* A Duke of Austria and a King of Hungary had successively solicited the Pontiff of the day to do that justice to her extraordinary qualities; but the ceremony had been deferred through the confusion of the Church and the disorders of the Holy See. It was reserved to the genius of Æneas Sylvius at length to perform that office; and one of the most extravagant enthusiasts, that ever dishonoured the profession of Christianity, † was enthroned t among the Saints of the Church by one of the most enlightened Prelates who has in any age adorned it.

From being the zealous advocate of the Council of Basle, we have observed Æneas Sylvius defending the usurpations and exalting the majesty of the Roman See. It was thus that he became qualified to occupy it; and the enjoyment of its power and prerogatives was not calcu lated to revive his ardour for its reformation. To have imposed limits on an authority exercised by himself had been a rare and difficult effort of

The first recorded Act of Canonization was performed in 993, by John XV., in behalf of Udalrig, Bishop of Augsburg. The right in the first instance was not exclusively vested in the Pope: councils, and even prelates of high rank, were qualified to perform it; till Alexander III. placed this among the more important acts of authority (Causæ Majores) to be executed only by the Pope.-See Mosh. Cent. x., p. ii. ch. iii.

The exploits of this fanatic fill twenty-four folio pages in the works of St. Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence.-(Chronicorum, Tertia Pars, p. 692, et seq.)

magnanimity and so far was Pius II. from harbouring the design, that he seized an early occasion to discourage those liberal principles of Church government, which were entertained by many ecclesiastics, and which had so lately been propagated by himself. During the Council of Mantua, shortly before its dissolution, and at a moment when his influence over its members was probably the greatest, he published a celebrated Bull against all appeals from the Holy See to general Councils. 'An execrable abuse, unheard of in ancient times, has gained footing in our days, authorized by some, who, acting under a spirit of rebellion rather than sound judgment, presume to appeal from the Pontiff of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, to whom, in the person of St. Peter, it has been said, "Feed my sheep; " and again, "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;" to appeal, I say, from his judgments to a future Council-a practice which every man instructed in law must regard as contrary to the holy canons, and prejudicial to the Christian republic....' The Pope then proceeded to paint in vague and glowing expressions the frightful evils occasioned by such appeals; and finally pronounced to be ipso facto excommunicated all individuals who might hereafter resort to them, whether their dignity were imperial, royal, or pontifical, as well as all Universities and Colleges, and all others who should promote and counsel them.

This Edict, published in January, 1460, was no unworthy prelude to the most remarkable act of the pontificate of Pius-his Recantation of public retractation of his early opinions. Not contented Pius II. to leave others to contrast his actual conduct with his former principles, and both were too notorious to escape such contrast, he boldly stepped forward as his own judge, and published the most unequivocal condemnation of himself. Before his departure for Ancona, in the year 1463, he addressed to the university of Cologne a bull to the following effect :-That being liable to human imperfection, he had said, or written, much which might unquestionably be censured; but that, as he had sinned, like Paul, and persecuted the Church of God through want of sufficient knowledge, so he now imitated the blessed Augustine, who, having fallen into some erroneous expressions, retracted them; that he ingenuously acknowledged his former ignorance, lest what he had written while young should lead to some error prejudicial to the Holy See; for if there were any one whom it peculiarly became to defend and maintain the eminence and glory of the first Throne of the Church, it was assuredly that individual, whom God, in his mercy and goodness, had raised to the dignity of the vicar of Jesus Christ. That, for these reasons, no confidence was due to those of his writings, which offended, in any manner, the authority of the Apostolical See, and established opinions which it did not acknowledge. Wherefore (he added) if you find anything contrary to its doctrine, either in my dialogues, or my letters, or any other of my writings, despise those opinions, reject them, and follow that which I now proclaim to you. Believe me now that I am old, rather than then, when I spoke as a youth; pay more regard to the Sovereign Pontiff than to the individual; reject Eneas-receive Pius. The former name was imposed by my parents-a Gentile name,—and in my infancy: the other I assumed as a Christian in my Apostolatet.' In conclusion, the Pope, anticipating the natural suspicion of ambitious

Execrabilis et pristinis temporibus inauditus' are the opening words, which give the title to the decree.

Eneam rejicite, Pium recipite-illud Gentile nomen parentes indidere nascenti; hoc Christianum in Apostolatu suscepi.'