[Footnote22:IntheirletterstotheemperorFredericIII。theHungariansslay80，000Turksinonebattle；butthemodestJulianreducestheslaughterto6000oreven2000infidels，AeneasSylviusinEurop。c。5，andepist。44，81，apudSpondanum。]
[Footnote23:SeetheoriginoftheTurkishwar，andthefirstexpeditionofLadislaus，inthevthandvithbooksoftheiiiddecadofBonfinius，who，inhisdivisionandstyle，copiesLivywithtolerablesuccessCallimachusl。iip。487—496isstillmorepureandauthentic。]
Duringthewholetransaction，thecardinallegatehadobservedasullensilence，unwillingtoapprove，andunabletooppose，theconsentofthekingandpeople。ButthedietwasnotdissolvedbeforeJulianwasfortifiedbythewelcomeintelligence，thatAnatoliawasinvadedbytheCaramanian，andThracebytheGreekemperor；thatthefleetsofGenoa，Venice，andBurgundy，weremastersoftheHellespont；andthattheallies，informedofthevictory，andignorantofthetreaty，ofLadislaus，impatientlywaitedforthereturnofhisvictoriousarmy。"Andisitthus，"exclaimedthecardinal，^24"thatyouwilldeserttheirexpectationsandyourownfortune?Itistothem，toyourGod，andyourfellow—Christians，thatyouhavepledgedyourfaith；andthatpriorobligationannihilatesarashandsacrilegiousoathtotheenemiesofChrist。HisvicaronearthistheRomanpontiff；withoutwhosesanctionyoucanneitherpromisenorperform。InhisnameIabsolveyourperjuryandsanctifyyourarms:followmyfootstepsinthepathsofgloryandsalvation；andifstillyehavescruples，devolveonmyheadthepunishmentandthesin。"Thismischievouscasuistrywassecondedbyhisrespectablecharacter，andthelevityofpopularassemblies:warwasresolved，onthesamespotwherepeacehadsolatelybeensworn；and，intheexecutionofthetreaty，theTurkswereassaultedbytheChristians；towhom，withsomereason，theymightapplytheepithetofInfidels。ThefalsehoodofLadislaustohiswordandoathwaspalliatedbythereligionofthetimes:
themostperfect，oratleastthemostpopular，excusewouldhavebeenthesuccessofhisarmsandthedeliveranceoftheEasternchurch。Butthesametreatywhichshouldhaveboundhisconsciencehaddiminishedhisstrength。Ontheproclamationofthepeace，theFrenchandGermanvolunteersdepartedwithindignantmurmurs:thePoleswereexhaustedbydistantwarfare，andperhapsdisgustedwithforeigncommand；andtheirpalatinesacceptedthefirstlicense，andhastilyretiredtotheirprovincesandcastles。EvenHungarywasdividedbyfaction，orrestrainedbyalaudablescruple；andtherelicsofthecrusadethatmarchedinthesecondexpeditionwerereducedtoaninadequateforceoftwentythousandmen。AWalachianchief，whojoinedtheroyalstandardwithhisvassals，presumedtoremarkthattheirnumbersdidnotexceedthehuntingretinuethatsometimesattendedthesultan；andthegiftoftwohorsesofmatchlessspeedmightadmonishLadislausofhissecretforesightoftheevent。ButthedespotofServia，aftertherestorationofhiscountryandchildren，wastemptedbythepromiseofnewrealms；andtheinexperienceoftheking，theenthusiasmofthelegate，andthemartialpresumptionofHuniadeshimself，werepersuadedthateveryobstaclemustyieldtotheinvinciblevirtueoftheswordandthecross。AfterthepassageoftheDanube，tworoadsmightleadtoConstantinopleandtheHellespont:theonedirect，abrupt，anddifficultthroughthemountainsofHaemus；
theothermoretediousandsecure，overalevelcountry，andalongtheshoresoftheEuxine；inwhichtheirflanks，accordingtotheScythiandiscipline，mightalwaysbecoveredbyamovablefortificationofwagons。Thelatterwasjudiciouslypreferred:
theCatholicsmarchedthroughtheplainsofBulgaria，burning，withwantoncruelty，thechurchesandvillagesoftheChristiannatives；andtheirlaststationwasatWarna，nearthesea—shore；
onwhichthedefeatanddeathofLadislaushavebestowedamemorablename。^25
[Footnote24:IdonotpretendtowarranttheliteralaccuracyofJulian'sspeech，whichisvariouslywordedbyCallimachus，l。
iii。p。505—507，Bonfinius，dec。iii。l。vi。p。457，458，
andotherhistorians，whomightindulgetheirowneloquence，whiletheyrepresentoneoftheoratorsoftheage。Buttheyallagreeintheadviceandargumentsforperjury，whichinthefieldofcontroversyarefiercelyattackedbytheProtestants，andfeeblydefendedbytheCatholics。ThelatterarediscouragedbythemisfortuneofWarna]
[Footnote25:Warna，undertheGreciannameofOdessus，wasacolonyoftheMilesians，whichtheydenominatedfromtheheroUlysses，Cellarius，tom。i。p。374。D'Anville，tom。i。p。312。
AccordingtoArrian'sPeriplusoftheEuxine，p。24，25，inthefirstvolumeofHudson'sGeographers，itwassituate1740
stadia，orfurlongs，fromthemouthoftheDanube，2140fromByzantium，and360tothenorthofaridgeofpromontoryofMountHaemus，whichadvancesintothesea。]
ChapterLXVII:SchismOfTheGreeksAndLatins。
PartII。
Itwasonthisfatalspot，that，insteadoffindingaconfederatefleettosecondtheiroperations，theywerealarmedbytheapproachofAmurathhimself，whohadissuedfromhisMagnesiansolitude，andtransportedtheforcesofAsiatothedefenceofEurope。Accordingtosomewriters，theGreekemperorhadbeenawed，orseduced，tograntthepassageoftheBosphorus；
andanindeliblestainofcorruptionisfixedontheGenoese，orthepope'snephew，theCatholicadmiral，whosemercenaryconnivancebetrayedtheguardoftheHellespont。FromAdrianople，thesultanadvancedbyhastymarches，attheheadofsixtythousandmen；andwhenthecardinal，andHuniades，hadtakenanearersurveyofthenumbersandorderoftheTurks，theseardentwarriorsproposedthetardyandimpracticablemeasureofaretreat。Thekingalonewasresolvedtoconquerordie；andhisresolutionhadalmostbeencrownedwithagloriousandsalutaryvictory。Theprinceswereoppositetoeachotherinthecentre；andtheBeglerbegs，orgeneralsofAnatoliaandRomania，commandedontherightandleft，againsttheadversedivisionsofthedespotandHuniades。TheTurkishwingswerebrokenonthefirstonset:buttheadvantagewasfatal；andtherashvictors，intheheatofthepursuit，werecarriedawayfarfromtheannoyanceoftheenemy，orthesupportoftheirfriends。
WhenAmurathbeheldtheflightofhissquadrons，hedespairedofhisfortuneandthatoftheempire:aveteranJanizaryseizedhishorse'sbridle；andhehadmagnanimitytopardonandrewardthesoldierwhodaredtoperceivetheterror，andarresttheflight，ofhissovereign。Acopyofthetreaty，themonumentofChristianperfidy，hadbeendisplayedinthefrontofbattle；anditissaid，thatthesultaninhisdistress，liftinghiseyesandhishandstoheaven，imploredtheprotectionoftheGodoftruth；andcalledontheprophetJesushimselftoavengetheimpiousmockeryofhisnameandreligion。^26Withinferiornumbersanddisorderedranks，thekingofHungaryrushedforwardintheconfidenceofvictory，tillhiscareerwasstoppedbytheimpenetrablephalanxoftheJanizaries。IfwemaycredittheOttomanannals，hishorsewaspiercedbythejavelinofAmurath；
^27hefellamongthespearsoftheinfantry；andaTurkishsoldierproclaimedwithaloudvoice，"Hungarians，beholdtheheadofyourking!"ThedeathofLadislauswasthesignaloftheirdefeat。Onhisreturnfromanintemperatepursuit，Huniadesdeploredhiserror，andthepublicloss；hestrovetorescuetheroyalbody，tillhewasoverwhelmedbythetumultuouscrowdofthevictorsandvanquished；andthelasteffortsofhiscourageandconductwereexertedtosavetheremnantofhisWalachiancavalry。TenthousandChristianswereslaininthedisastrousbattleofWarna:thelossoftheTurks，moreconsiderableinnumbers，boreasmallerproportiontotheirtotalstrength；yetthephilosophicsultanwasnotashamedtoconfess，thathisruinmustbetheconsequenceofasecondandsimilarvictory。AthiscommandacolumnwaserectedonthespotwhereLadislaushadfallen；butthemodestinscription，insteadofaccusingtherashness，recordedthevalor，andbewailedthemisfortune，oftheHungarianyouth。^28
[Footnote26:SomeChristianwritersaffirm，thathedrewfromhisbosomthehostorwaferonwhichthetreatyhadnotbeensworn。TheMoslemssuppose，withmoresimplicity，anappealtoGodandhisprophetJesus，whichislikewiseinsinuatedbyCallimachus，l。iii。p。516。Spondan。A。D。1444，No。8。]
[Footnote27:Acriticwillalwaysdistrustthesespoliaopimaofavictoriousgeneral，sodifficultforvalortoobtain，soeasyforflatterytoinvent，Cantemir，p。90，91。Callimachusl。
iii。p。517moresimplyandprobablyaffirms，supervenitibusJanizaris，telorummultitudine，nonjamconfossusest，quamobrutus。]
[Footnote*:CompareVonHammer，p。463。—M。]
[Footnote28:BesidessomevaluablehintsfromAeneasSylvius，whicharediligentlycollectedbySpondanus，ourbestauthoritiesarethreehistoriansofthexvthcentury，PhilippusCallimachus，deRebusaVladislaoPolonorumatqueHungarorumRegegestis，libriiii。inBel。Script。RerumHungaricarum，tom。i。p。433—
518，Bonfinius，decad。iii。l。v。p。460—467，andChalcondyles，l。vii。p。165—179。ThetwofirstwereItalians，buttheypassedtheirlivesinPolandandHungary，Fabric。Bibliot。Latin。Med。etInfimaeAetatis，tom。i。p。324。
Vossius，deHist。Latin。l。iii。c。8，11。Bayle，Dictionnaire，Bonfinius。AsmalltractofFaelixPetancius，chancellorofSegnia，adcalcemCuspinian。deCaesaribus，p。716—722，
representsthetheatreofthewarinthexvthcentury。]
BeforeIlosesightofthefieldofWarna，Iamtemptedtopauseonthecharacterandstoryoftwoprincipalactors，thecardinalJulianandJohnHuniades。Julian^29CaesariniwasbornofanoblefamilyofRome:hisstudieshadembracedboththeLatinandGreeklearning，boththesciencesofdivinityandlaw；
andhisversatilegeniuswasequallyadaptedtotheschools，thecamp，andthecourt。NosoonerhadhebeeninvestedwiththeRomanpurple，thanhewassentintoGermanytoarmtheempireagainsttherebelsandhereticsofBohemia。ThespiritofpersecutionisunworthyofaChristian；themilitaryprofessionillbecomesapriest；buttheformerisexcusedbythetimes；andthelatterwasennobledbythecourageofJulian，whostooddauntlessandaloneinthedisgracefulflightoftheGermanhost。
Asthepope'slegate，heopenedthecouncilofBasil；butthepresidentsoonappearedthemoststrenuouschampionofecclesiasticalfreedom；andanoppositionofsevenyearswasconductedbyhisabilityandzeal。AfterpromotingthestrongestmeasuresagainsttheauthorityandpersonofEugenius，somesecretmotiveofinterestorconscienceengagedhimtodesertonasuddenthepopularparty。ThecardinalwithdrewhimselffromBasiltoFerrara；and，inthedebatesoftheGreeksandLatins，thetwonationsadmiredthedexterityofhisargumentsandthedepthofhistheologicalerudition。^30InhisHungarianembassy，wehavealreadyseenthemischievouseffectsofhissophistryandeloquence，ofwhichJulianhimselfwasthefirstvictim。Thecardinal，whoperformedthedutiesofapriestandasoldier，waslostinthedefeatofWarna。Thecircumstancesofhisdeatharevariouslyrelated；butitisbelieved，thataweightyencumbranceofgoldimpededhisflight，andtemptedthecruelavariceofsomeChristianfugitives。
[Footnote29:M。LenfanthasdescribedtheoriginHist。duConciledeBasle，tom。i。p。247，&c。andBohemiancampaignp。
315，&c。ofCardinalJulian。HisservicesatBasilandFerrara，andhisunfortunateend，areoccasionallyrelatedbySpondanus，andthecontinuatorofFleury]
[Footnote30:Syropulushonorablypraisesthetalentofanenemy，p。117:。]
Fromanhumble，oratleastadoubtfulorigin，themeritofJohnHuniadespromotedhimtothecommandoftheHungarianarmies。HisfatherwasaWalachian，hismotheraGreek:herunknownracemightpossiblyascendtotheemperorsofConstantinople；andtheclaimsoftheWalachians，withthesurnameofCorvinus，fromtheplaceofhisnativity，mightsuggestathinpretenceforminglinghisbloodwiththepatriciansofancientRome。^31InhisyouthheservedinthewarsofItaly，andwasretained，withtwelvehorsemen，bythebishopofZagrab:thevalorofthewhiteknight^32wassoonconspicuous；heincreasedhisfortunesbyanobleandwealthymarriage；andinthedefenceoftheHungarianbordershewoninthesameyearthreebattlesagainsttheTurks。Byhisinfluence，LadislausofPolandobtainedthecrownofHungary；andtheimportantservicewasrewardedbythetitleandofficeofWaivodofTransylvania。ThefirstofJulian'scrusadesaddedtwoTurkishlaurelsonhisbrow；andinthepublicdistressthefatalerrorsofWarnawereforgotten。DuringtheabsenceandminorityofLadislausofAustria，thetitularking，HuniadeswaselectedsupremecaptainandgovernorofHungary；andifenvyatfirstwassilencedbyterror，areignoftwelveyearssupposestheartsofpolicyaswellasofwar。Yettheideaofaconsummategeneralisnotdelineatedinhiscampaigns；thewhiteknightfoughtwiththehandratherthanthehead，asthechiefofdesultoryBarbarians，whoattackwithoutfearandflywithoutshame；andhismilitarylifeiscomposedofaromanticalternativeofvictoriesandescapes。BytheTurks，whoemployedhisnametofrightentheirperversechildren，hewascorruptlydenominatedJancusLain，ortheWicked:theirhatredistheproofoftheiresteem；thekingdomwhichheguardedwasinaccessibletotheirarms；andtheyfelthimmostdaringandformidable，whentheyfondlybelievedthecaptainandhiscountryirrecoverablylost。
Insteadofconfininghimselftoadefensivewar，fouryearsafterthedefeatofWarnaheagainpenetratedintotheheartofBulgaria，andintheplainofCossova，sustained，tillthethirdday，theshockoftheOttomanarmy，fourtimesmorenumerousthanhisown。AshefledalonethroughthewoodsofWalachia，theherowassurprisedbytworobbers；butwhiletheydisputedagoldchainthathungathisneck，herecoveredhissword，slewtheone，terrifiedtheother，and，afternewperilsofcaptivityordeath，consoledbyhispresenceanafflictedkingdom。ButthelastandmostgloriousactionofhislifewasthedefenceofBelgradeagainstthepowersofMahomettheSecondinperson。
Afterasiegeoffortydays，theTurks，whohadalreadyenteredthetown，werecompelledtoretreat；andthejoyfulnationscelebratedHuniadesandBelgradeasthebulwarksofChristendom。
^33Aboutamonthafterthisgreatdeliverance，thechampionexpired；andhismostsplendidepitaphistheregretoftheOttomanprince，whosighedthathecouldnolongerhopeforrevengeagainstthesingleantagonistwhohadtriumphedoverhisarms。Onthefirstvacancyofthethrone，MatthiasCorvinus，ayouthofeighteenyearsofage，waselectedandcrownedbythegratefulHungarians。Hisreignwasprosperousandlong:Matthiasaspiredtothegloryofaconquerorandasaint:buthispurestmeritistheencouragementoflearning；andtheLatinoratorsandhistorians，whowereinvitedfromItalybytheson，haveshedtheiustreoftheireloquenceonthefather'scharacter。^34
[Footnote31:SeeBonfinius，decad。iii。l。iv。p。423。CouldtheItalianhistorianpronounce，orthekingofHungaryhear，withoutablush，theabsurdflatterywhichconfoundedthenameofaWalachianvillagewiththecasual，thoughglorious，epithetofasinglebranchoftheValerianfamilyatRome?]
[Footnote32:PhilipdeComines，Memoires，l。vi。c。13，fromthetraditionofthetimes，mentionshimwithhighencomiums，butunderthewhimsicalnameoftheChevalierBlancdeValaigne，Valachia。TheGreekChalcondyles，andtheTurkishannalsofLeunclavius，presumetoaccusehisfidelityorvalor。]
[Footnote33:SeeBonfiniusdecad。iii。l。viii。p。492andSpondanus，A。D。456，No。1—7。HuniadessharedthegloryofthedefenceofBelgradewithCapistran，aFranciscanfriar；andintheirrespectivenarratives，neitherthesaintnortheherocondescendtotakenoticeofhisrival'smerit。]
[Footnote34:SeeBonfinius，decad。iii。l。viii。—decad。iv。l。
viii。TheobservationsofSpondanusonthelifeandcharacterofMatthiasCorvinusarecuriousandcritical，A。D。1464，No。1，1475，No。6，1476，No。14—16，1490，No。4，5。Italianfamewastheobjectofhisvanity。HisactionsarecelebratedintheEpitomeRerumHungaricarump。322—412ofPeterRanzanus，aSicilian。HiswiseandfacetioussayingsareregisteredbyGalestusMartiusofNarni，528—568，andwehaveaparticularnarrativeofhisweddingandcoronation。Thesethreetractsareallcontainedinthefirstvol。ofBel'sScriptoresRerumHungaricarum。]
Inthelistofheroes，JohnHuniadesandScanderbegarecommonlyassociated；^35andtheyarebothentitledtoournotice，sincetheiroccupationoftheOttomanarmsdelayedtheruinoftheGreekempire。JohnCastriot，thefatherofScanderbeg，^36wasthehereditaryprinceofasmalldistrictofEpirusorAlbania，betweenthemountainsandtheAdriaticSea。
Unabletocontendwiththesultan'spower，Castriotsubmittedtothehardconditionsofpeaceandtribute:hedeliveredhisfoursonsasthepledgesofhisfidelity；andtheChristianyouths，afterreceivingthemarkofcircumcision，wereinstructedintheMahometanreligion，andtrainedinthearmsandartsofTurkishpolicy。^37Thethreeelderbrotherswereconfoundedinthecrowdofslaves；andthepoisontowhichtheirdeathsareascribedcannotbeverifiedordisprovedbyanypositiveevidence。YetthesuspicionisinagreatmeasureremovedbythekindandpaternaltreatmentofGeorgeCastriot，thefourthbrother，who，fromhistenderyouth，displayedthestrengthandspiritofasoldier。ThesuccessiveoverthrowofaTartarandtwoPersians，whocarriedaprouddefiancetotheTurkishcourt，recommendedhimtothefavorofAmurath，andhisTurkishappellationofScanderbeg，Iskenderbeg，orthelordAlexander，isanindeliblememorialofhisgloryandservitude。Hisfather'sprincipalitywasreducedintoaprovince；butthelosswascompensatedbytherankandtitleofSanjiak，acommandoffivethousandhorse，andtheprospectofthefirstdignitiesoftheempire。HeservedwithhonorinthewarsofEuropeandAsia；andwemaysmileattheartorcredulityofthehistorian，whosupposes，thatineveryencounterhesparedtheChristians，whilehefellwithathunderingarmonhisMussulmanfoes。ThegloryofHuniadesiswithoutreproach:hefoughtinthedefenceofhisreligionandcountry；buttheenemieswhoapplaudthepatriot，havebrandedhisrivalwiththenameoftraitorandapostate。IntheeyesoftheChristian，therebellionofScanderbergisjustifiedbyhisfather'swrongs，theambiguousdeathofhisthreebrothers，hisowndegradation，andtheslaveryofhiscountry；andtheyadorethegenerous，thoughtardy，zeal，withwhichheassertedthefaithandindependenceofhisancestors。