AMURATH THE SECOND.

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688. Describe the reign and character of Amurath the Second.

Cantemir, in his History of the Ottoman Empire, says, "Sultan Murad, or Amurath, lived forty-nine, and reigned thirty years, six months, and eight days. He was a just and valiant prince, of a great soul, patient of labours, learned, merciful, religious, charitable; a lover and encourager of the studious, and of all who excelled in any art or science; a good emperor, and a great general. No man obtained more or greater victories than Amurath. Belgrade alone withstood his attacks. Under his reign, the soldier was ever victorious, the citizen rich and secure. If he subdued any

country, his first care was to build moschs and caravansaras, hospitals and colleges. Every year he gave a thousand pieces of gold to the sons of the prophet, and sent two thousand five hundred to the religious persons of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem." This portrait is transcribed from the historian of the Ottoman empire; but the justice and moderation of Amurath are attested by his conduct, and acknowledged by the Christians, who consider a prosperous reign and a peaceful death as the reward of his singular merits.

689. What testimony do Chalcondyles, Ducas, and Marinus Barictius bear to the noble character of Amurath?

"He never engaged in war till he was justified by a previous and adequate provocation. The victorious sultan was disarmed by submission; and in the observance of treaties, his word was inviolate and sacred."

690. What is the most striking feature in the life and character of Amurath?

The double abdication of the Turkish throne.

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AMURATH'S DOUBLE ABDICATION.

691. Did infirmity warn the royal philosopher of the vanity of human greatness?

No; he was only forty years old when he resigned the sceptre to his son, and retired in the zenith of his military glory to the Zichida of Magnesia.

692. How was his dream of enthusiasm awakened?

By the Hungarian invasion; and his obedient son was the foremost to urge the public danger and the wishes of the people. Under the banner of their veteran leader, the Janizaries fought and conquered; but he withdrew from the field of Varna, again to pray, to fast, and to turn round in endless rotation with his Magnesian brethren.

693. Name the second occasion on which these religious performances were interrupted.

The inexperience of the youthful ruler was disdained by the victorious army; the city of Adrianople was abandoned to rapine and slaughter; and the unanimous divan implored his presence to appease the tumult, and prevent the rebellion of the Janizaries.

694. Did Amurath effect this?

Yes; at the well-known voice of their master, they trembled and obeyed; and the reluctant sultan was compelled to support his splendid servitude, until, at the end of four years, he was relieved by the angel of death.

695. Of what is Amurath alone an example?

Of a prince, who, in the full liberty of choice, after the trial of empire and solitude, has repeated his preference of a private life. Other monarchs have been tempted by age or disease, misfortune or caprice, to descend from the throne, and have repented their irretrievable step in the leisure of retirement.

BATTLE OF WARNA.

696. With whom did Eugenius form a league?

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Philip, Duke of Burgundy; the maritime republics of Venice and Genoa, the kingdoms of Hungary and Poland, the Scythians and Sarmatians, and some private warriors of France and Germany who enlisted under the "holy banner."

697. What was the conduct of the Byzantines?

The Greek emperor, with a spirit unknown to his fathers, engaged to guard the Bosphorus, and to sally from Constantinople at the head of his national and mercenary troops.

698. Who was king of Poland and Hungary?

Ladislaus, usually written Wladislaus to distinguish him from his rival the infant Ladislaus of Austria: this young and ambitious soldier passed the Danube, and led an army of his confederate troops as far as Sophia, the capital of the Bulgarian kingdom. In this expedition two signal victories may be justly ascribed to the valour and conduct of John Huniades, a hero whose name was popular among the Christians, and formidable to the Turks.

699. When was the battle of Warna?

A.D. 1444, after the violation of the treaty on the part of the Christians. At a moment when the advantage appeared to be on his enemies' side, Amurath beheld his Turkish wings broken, and turned to follow his flying squadrons; but a veteran Janizary seized his horse's bridle,—and he had the magnanimity to pardon and reward the soldier who dared to perceive the terror, and arrest the flight of his sovereign. The king of Hungary was stopped in his career, whilst rushing forward in the confidence of victory, by the impenetrable phalanx of Janizaries; his horse was

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CARDINAL JULIAN.-JOHN HUNIADES.

pierced by the javelin of Amurath; he fell among the spears of the infantry; and a Turkish soldier proclaimed with a loud voice, "Hungarians, behold the head of your king!"

700. Was the death of Ladislaus the signal of defeat?

Yes; on his return Huniades deplored his error and the public loss: he strove to rescue the royal body, till he was overwhelmed by the tumultuous crowd of the victors and the vanquished; and the last efforts of his courage were exerted to save the remnant of his Walachian cavalry.

701. What was the loss of the Christians at the battle of Warna?

Ten thousand: the loss of the Turks, more considerable in numbers, bore a smaller proportion to their total strength; yet the philosophic sultan was not ashamed to confess, that his ruin must be the consequence of a second and similar victory.

702. How did Amurath record his triumph?

By commanding a column to be erected on the spot where Ladislaus had fallen; the modest inscription, instead of accusing the rashness, recorded the valour, and bewailed the misfortune, of the Hungarian youth.

703. Name two principal actors on the field of Warna.

The Cardinal Julian, and John Huniades.

704. Name the seven chiefs who have deserved, without wearing, a crown.

Belisarius, Narses, Gonsalvo de Cordova, William first Prince of Orange, Alexander, Duke of Parma, John Huniades, and George Castriot, or Scanderbeg.

SCANDERBEG.-PHRANZA.

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705. When did Scanderbeg revolt from the Turks? A.D. 1443. George Castriot was the son of the hereditary prince of Epirus, or Albania: his Turkish appellation Iskender beg, or, the lord Alexander, is an indelible memorial of his glory and servitude. His ingratitude to Amurath is not palliated by his historians.

706. Who was the last of the Roman or Greek emperors?

Constantine, the son of Manuel; he ascended the throne four years after the Hungarian crusade, on the decease of John Palæologus, A.d. 1448.

707. What is said of his ambassador Phranza?

He was an historian: his embassies to the different courts, were negociations for the marriage of the emperor. His decisions were in favour of a Georgian princess.

708. Did Constantine value the friendship of this faithful servant?

Yes, he treated him with unbounded confidence, and welcomed his return with these words: "Since the death of my mother and of Cantacuzene, who alone advised me without interest or passion, I am surrounded by men whom I can neither love, nor trust, nor esteem. You are not a stranger to Lucas Notaras, the great admiral; obstinately attached to his own sentiments, he declares, both in private and public, that his sentiments are the absolute measure of my thoughts and actions. The rest of the courtiers are swayed by their personal or factious views and how can I consult the monks on questions of policy and marriage? I have yet much employment for your diligence and fidelity. In the spring you shall engage one of my brothers to

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