Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/557

 THE SITUATION IN BOHEMIA. 54I enabled George by a coup d'etat, in which there was considerable bloodshed, to render himself master of Prague and to cast Main- hard mto prison, where he died soon after. George thus became the undisputed master of Bohemia. When Ladislas, in 1452, was recognized as king, George secured the regency, and when the young monarch died towards the close of 1457, at the early age of eighteen, George's coronation as king soon followed. Underlim until just before his death in 1471, Rokyzana's influence was al- most unbounded.* The situation of Bohemia, as a member of the Latin Church was unprecedented. After the first break between Eugenius iv' and the Council of Basle the name of the pope disappears in the negotiations for the restoration of unity. These were carried on by both sides as though the concihar authority was supreme, and the papal assent or confirmation was a matter of no moment, al- though a papal legate was present in January, 1436, at the con- ference at Stuhlweissenberg, where the matter was virtually set- tled. As the council drew to its weary end, powerless and dis- credited, the triumphant Eugenius was not disposed to recognize the vahdity of its acts or to ratify them gratuitously. The Bo hemians aUeged that he had confirmed the Compactata, but no positive evidence was forthcoming. To purchase the submission of Germany, in 1447, he had ratified a portion of the acts of the council, but the Compactata could not be included in his carefully guarded decrees. On the accession of Mcholas Y., in 1447, the Bohemians sent to him a deputation offering him their aUegiance but we have seen how wary was the legate whom he despatched m return to Prague. It is true that to obtain the abdication of Eelix y., JSTicholas issued a buU, June 28, 1449, approving aU the acts of the council which might strictly be held to confirm the Compactata, but the character of the bull shows that it had in view rather the material interests involved in benefices and pref er- ment. Whatever doubt the Bohemians may have had as to the , papal intentions towards them was speedily dissipated.f Raynald. ann. 1448, No. 3-5. t ^gid. Carlerii. Lib. de Legation. (Monument. Cone. Gen Saec XV T I pp. 691, 694).-Cochlaei Hist. Hussit. Lib. xii. ann. 1462.-Wadding. ann.*1453,'
 * ^n. Sylvii Hist. Bohem. c. 58.-Ejusd. Epist. xix. (0pp. inedd p. 397)-