of the holy commission were judged to be so great, that it became, from that time, a permanent establish

ment.

The religious spirit of the times was manifested, chiefly, by the passion for pilgrimages, and the crusades; but genuine Christianity had nothing to do with these superstitions and wild adventures. The conversion of pagans was a much nobler attempt, and this continued to engage the minds of a few pious believers.

Christianity was propagated in Pomerania, in the island of Rugen, among the Finlanders, and the Sclavonians, by the labours of missionaries. Forcible and unjustifiable measures were, however, taken to convert the Prussians, and the inhabitants of Livonia. They were compelled, by force of arms, to receive baptism. This iniquitous procedure was ordered by the popes.

In Spain, Christianity gradually gained ground. The Saracen princes were continually opposed, by the kings of Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Arragon, and defeated. In consequence of this contest, the pale of the church was extended on every side. Christianity was, also, with some success, propagated by the Nestorian christians in the East, particularly on the borders of Cathay.

PERIOD VII,

THE PERIOD OF THE PAPAL SCHISM,

EXTENDS FROM

THE FOUNDING OF THE TURKISH
EMPIRE,

1299 YEARS A. C.

ΤΟ

THE TAKING OF CONSTANTINOPLE,

1453 YEARS A. C.

The length of this period is 154 years.

Emportant Events in Period VXX.

The principal events included within this period are six.

First, the Founding of the Turkish Empire: Second, the Establishment of the Swiss Republics :

Third, the Battle of Poictiers:

Fourth, the Schism of the double Popes at Rome and Avignon:

Ta

Fifth, the Taking of Bajazet prisoner by Tamerlane:

Sixth, the Recovery of France from the power of the English.

The dark ages continued until towards the conclusion of this period, when a concurrence of circumstances, favourable to the development of the human intellect, dispelled the darkness which had so long hung over the moral and literary world.

1. The Founding of the Turkish Empire was connected with very important consequences in the history of the world, more particularly in regard to the Greek empire, which it at length superseded. This event is dated 1299 years A. C. and took place under Ottoman, or Othoman, the first Sultan.

The Huns and Turks who were the descendants of the Scythians or Tartars had established themselves some centuries before in a tract of Asia called Georgia or Turcomania.

They became Mahometans; and in 1037 seized Persia, and ravaged the neighbouring countries, making themselves masters of Palestine. The insults which the Christian pilgrims received from them led to the Crusades, which we have already mentioned.

Ottoman, to whom the Ottoman empire owes its name and establishment, was a caliph or prince of the Turks. Seizing on Bithynia, he fixed the seat of his government at Byrsa and assumed the title of Sultan. From this time they were known as the Ottoman race and sovereignty.

By degrees they encroached on the borders of the Greek empire, and were prevented from subverting it at an early stage, only by the necessity of defending themselves against the victorious Tamerlane.

2. The Establishment of the Swiss Republics in 1307 A. C. was occasioned by the tyrannical conduct of Albert, emperor of Germany. The

Swiss having petitioned him against certain oppressions of his governors, he, in resentment, increased their burdens, which provoked a revolt, and ended in the expulsion of the Austrians. The several cantons associated for their common defence.

Switzerland was the Helvetia of the Romans, and was conquered by Julius Cæsar. Its natural strength left its inhabitants under but little more than a nominal subjection to the successors of the Roman Empire.

It was at the time of their emancipation, that William Tell refused to make obeisance to Gesler's cap, for which he was ordered to be hanged, unless he shot an arrow through an apple, placed at a distance on his own son's head. He succeeded in the painful exploit.

Three of the cantons only first combined to assert their freedom, and a small army of 400 or 500 men defeated an immense host of the Austrians in the pass of Morgate, 1315. The rest of the cantons by degrees joined the association. Their liberty cost them 60 pitched battles.

3. The Battle of Poictiers on Sept. 19, 1356 years A. C., was gained by Edward the black prince over John king of France. The latter was taken captive, and led in triumph to London. His army, consisting of 60,000 men, much exceeded that of the English.

Edward III., father of the black prince, had, for some years preceding, pursued a career of victory over the French, having gained the famous battle of Cressy, in 1348. He had taken Calais which the English had held more than two centuries.

The black prince, who was so called from the colour of his armour, followed in the steps of his father. The victory of Poictiers has immortalized his name. The English successes, however, were more honorable than serviceable to the nation. The French vigorous

ly prosecuted the war during the captivity of their sovereign.

The black prince died before his father, an event which broke the spirits of Edward, and plunged the nation in grief. He was a virtuous and heroic man, and fitted to rule a great empire.

4. The Schism of the double Popes at Rome and Avignon, which began 1378 years A. C., continued 38 years. These places were each a separate seat of the popedom, made such by the opposite factions which prevailed in the electoral college. This was an Occurrence which greatly distracted the affairs of the Church.

By pope Clement V. the popedom was transferred from Rome to Avignon, in 1309, where it remained till 1377. The factions of Italy were the cause of this removal.

Three separate parties of the French and Italian cardinals, having elected three separate popes, the emperor Sigismund judged this division of the church to be a fit occasion for his interference, to reconcile all differences, and establish his own supremacy.

In 1414 he summoned a general council at Constance, and ended the dispute by deposing all the three pontiffs, and naming a fourth, Martin Colonna. It was at this council that the celebrated John Huss, a disciple of Wickliffe, was tried and condemned for reputed heresy, and burnt alive.

5. The Taking of Bajazet prisoner by Tamerlane occurred 1402 years A. C. It was the result of the battle of Angoria in Phrygia, in which Bajazet was defeated. Nearly a million of men fought in this battle, and 300,000 were slain. The victorious career of the Turks was, for a time, suspended by this event.

Bajazet was a Turkish sultan, and successor of Amurat. Having purposed to besiege the capital of