He took occasion to declare, towards the end of the Council of Constance, that he confirmed all its "conciliar" decrees, meaning by this phraseology to withhold his approval from two decrees, on Annates, and on a book by the Dominican Falkenberg, not passed by the Council in full session, but in the congregations of certain nations. The two other Obediences also,2 in giving in their adherence to the Council afterwards, assented to its decrees, as is clearly shown by the Concordat of Narbonne, in the twentieth session, which enumerated the subjects coming within the competence of the Council in accordance with the decrees of the fourth and fifth sessions. After the deposition of John XXIII., and the resignation of Gregory XII., there occurred a significant division and struggle between the Latins and Germans. Germans and English wanted the reformation of the Church, which was the most important and difficult task of the Council, to be undertaken before proceeding to the election of a new Pope. The experience of the Council of Pisa had proved that the election of a new Pope at once put an end to every scheme of reformation.

The

to be Peter's successor, "habens supremam auctoritatem in Ecclesia (not Ecclesiam) Dei," and that every General Council, including that of Constance, represents the universal Church.

1 "Conciliariter" is opposed to "nationaliter."

[The adherents of Benedict XIII. and Gregory XII.—TR.]

But the Cardinals, and with them the Italians and French -the latter from jealousy of the lofty position held by the German King Sigismund,-pressed for the election taking precedence of the reformation. Sigismund contended skilfully, bravely, and perseveringly for the interests of the Church, the Empire, and the German people, who then with good reason called themselves "the godly, patient, humble, and yet not feeble nation." Had they been somewhat less patient and humble, and had something more of that strength which union bestows, the ecclesiastical and national discomfiture of 1417 would not have been followed by the revolt of 1517, the religious division of the nation, the Thirty Years' War, and many other disastrous consequences. But the Cardinals and Latins carried the day by gaining over the English, and corrupting some German prelates, as, for instance, the Archbishop of Riga, and the Bishops of Coire and Leutomischl. And before the new Pope, Martin v., had been elected above a few weeks, the Curia and "curialism" were again in the ascendant. The new rules of the Chancery, at once published by Martin, must have opened the eyes of the short-sighted French, and have shown them that in the 1 See De Hardt, Acta Conc. Const. iv. 1419.

2 Ib. iv. 1427.

disposal of benefices the whole network of abuses and corrupt trading upon patronage was to be maintained.1

Only a few reforming ordinances came into force; the worst wounds and sores of the ecclesiastical body remained for the most part untouched. Martin understood how to divide the nations by pursuing a different policy towards each. His two Concordats, with the German States and the Latin nations, chiefly related to the possession of offices, and expressly reserved to the Pope what a long and universal experience had proved to be hateful abuses, as, e.g., the annates, which were so demoralizing to the character of the clergy, and compelled them to incur heavy debts. And most of the articles were so drawn as to leave open a door for the renewal of the abuse. In the life and practice of the Church, the Papal system, with all its attendant evils, was restored.

§ XXIV. The Council of Basle.

The Episcopal system, which was the true principle of reform, still survived in the decrees of the fourth and fifth sessions of Constance, and for a long time no one dared to meddle with them. One other hope re1 Sce De Hardt, Acta Conc. Const. i. 965 seq.

mained the Synod had decided that another should be held after five years, and that for the future there should be an Ecumenical Council every ten years. Here again Martin V. showed that he felt bound to observe the decrees of Constance, for he actually summoned the Council, in 1423, to meet, first at Pavia, and then at Sienna. But the moment any signs of an attempt at reform manifested themselves, he dissolved it, "on account of the fewness of those present." However, shortly before his death, he summoned the new Council to meet at Basle. Eugenius IV. could not avoid carrying out the duty he had inherited from his predecessor, to which he was already pledged in conclave. When the earliest arrivals at Basle took place at the appointed time, the citizens laughed at the new-comers as dreamers, so little could they now conceive the Pope's being in earnest in convoking the Council after the course events had taken since 1417. In fact, Eugenius ordered the dissolution of the still scanty assembly immediately after its first proceedings, December 18, 1431, on the most transparently frivolous pretexts, with a view to its resuming its sittings a year and a half later at Bologna, under his own presidency. And yet the need for a Council had 1 Æn. Silv. Commentar. de Rebus Basil. Gestis (ed. Fea. Rom. 1823), p. 33.

never seemed more urgent than at that moment, on account of the triumphs of the Hussites. The assembly, relying on the decrees of Constance, which had been repeatedly promulgated, remained united, and profited by the warning of the evil consequences resulting at Constance from the sharp division of nations to frame a better organization for itself, by forming four deputations, in which different nations and orders were represented. And thus the contest with the Pope began, at first under favourable circumstances, for public opinion throughout Europe was already enlisted on the side of the Council. Moreover, it received strong support from King Sigismund, and Eugenius found himself hard pressed in Italy, and deserted by many Cardinals, and even by the Court officials, hundreds of whom had run away from him. In vain he pronounced excommunication against the prelates who were on their way to Basle. Letters of adhesion poured into Basle from kings, princes, and prelates, from bishops and universities; it seemed as if once again the spell was broken whereby the Papal system had held men's minds enthralled. Eugenius saw that he must give in,and he signified his assent to the continuance of the Council in his Bull of February 4, 1433, and named four cardinals to preside over it.