of the Council of Bâle were incorporated into what was called the Pragmatic Sanction', which for some time was regarded as the charter of Ecclesiastical Law in France.

The Pragmatic Sanction contains the following words:"The holy Fathers of the first ages (of the Church) framed wholesome decrees and ordinances for the happy government of the ecclesiastical body, both for the election and institution of the Ministers of the Church, and for their direction and for that of other Prelates. As long as those laws were followed, the Church of God was the fruitful source of honour and virtue; ecclesiastical discipline preserved its vigour; religion, piety, and charity flourished, and men enjoyed peace of mind and worshipped the Author of this godly quietness. But criminal ambition, insatiable cupidity, violating the rights of

of Prelacies, Dignities, and Offices Ecclesiastical be made according to the order of Common Law, and the rules of Councils, and the statutes of the ancient holy Fathers." Cp. Monseign. De Pradt (ancien Archevêque de Malines), "Les quatre Concordats," Paris, 1818. Tom. i. p. 200.

7 Which may be seen in the work of Monseigneur De Pradt, "Les quatre Concordats," i. pp. 204-212.

humanity, began to abandon the wholesome decrees of the ancient Fathers," &c.

But in A.D. 1516-1518 a great revolution was effected; one of the greatest that has ever taken place in ecclesiastical and civil affairs; and its effects are felt in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, even to this day. Pope Leo X. persuaded the French king, Francis I., to set aside the Pragmatic Sanction; and they framed a Concordat, in which the two.contracting parties-the Pope and the King-sacrificed the rights of the People, Clergy, and Metropolitans, in order to aggrandize themselves. The Christian Church was a market, in which the Pope and the King met together in order to barter away what did not belong to them, and what they were bound to protect.

That Concordat has furnished the model to similar contracts between Popes and Sovereigns even to this day.

Perhaps the present age may behold a revival of the spirit which animated the Council of Bâle in the fifteenth century. Is there not some prospect of such a revival in Italy? Has not the age of Concordats passed

away? And will not the proper substitute for them be found in a return to the usages of primitive Christian antiquity?

The apartment in which the Council of Bâle was held is now a Museum. Here is a chest which belonged to Erasmus; and some of the frescos of Holbein's "Dance of Death." On the south side of the Cathedral is an old ruined church, used as a burial-place-very picturesque and interesting.

CHAPTER II.

FROM BÂLE TO MILAN.

Friday, May 16th.-Left Bâle at two P.M. for Lucerne; a beautiful journey, especially as we approached to Lucerne, and its lake. The train travelled leisurely, and afforded time to look at the succession of picturesque views of vale and mountain, Swiss-cottages, fields, gardens, here and there a flock of goats,-and the Alps in the distance, capped with snow; arrived at Lucerne at seven P.M.

Saturday, May 17th.-Lucerne, Hôtel du Cygne, with a beautiful view over the lake. Bells ringing at half-past four in the morning for mass. Walked out early to the cathedral:

fine situation on a hill above the town: the two spires have a striking effect; entered the church by a flight of high steps: mass, and a funeral going on: a great deal of public sympathy shown on these occasions; more than 1000 persons present. The relatives of the

deceased stand ranged on the two sides of the door of a small mortuary chapel (chapelle ardente)-outside the church-hung with black, the men on one side, the women on the other; hundreds of people came up, one after the other, entered the chapel, and touched the hands of the relatives, in token of condolence, and then passed on.

Near the cathedral is a cloister and a cemetery filled with monuments: and still further up the hill is a large enclosed burialground, for the Roman Catholic population; and another smaller one, with a very plain wooden temple-like chapel for the Protestants, with the words "Gott ist Liebe" inscribed over the door. Near it is a beautiful view of the city and the lake.

The cloister near the cathedral is like a Campo Santo, and contains some memorial pictures of the departed, well executed, and in good preservation: also some good specimens of monumental sculpture. The sepulchral inscriptions in this Roman Catholic cemetery are interesting. They do not give any intimation of a belief in the doctrine of Purgatory, but assume that the soul of the deceased

VOL. I.

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