Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/126

. JE N E AS. prevailed on to condemn the council of Bafil, nor to go over absolutely to Kugenius's party, but remained neuter. How- ever, when the emperor Frederic began to Savour Eugenius, tineas likewife changed his opinion gradually. He afterwards represented the emperor in the diet of Nuremberg, when they were conSulting about methods to put an end to the fchiSni, and was SentambaSLdor to Eugenius : at the perSua- iion or Thomas Sarzanus, the apoftolical legate in Germany, he Submitted to Eugenius entire! v and made the following fpeech to his holinefs, as related by John Gobelin, in his Commentaries of the life of Pius II. " Moft holy father " (Said he) beSore I declare the emperor's eommiSTion, give " me leave to Say one word concerning my (elf. I do not " queftion but you have heard a great many things which are " tioned to you ; but I mud confefs, that my accuSers have <c reported nothing but what is true. I own I have Said, and " done, and written, at Bafil, many things againft your inte- " refts; it is impoSTibleto deny it : yet all this has been done " not with a deSign to injure you, but to Serve the church. I " have been in an error, without queStion ; but I have been " in jufi the Same circumStances with many great men, as 14 particularly with Julian cardinal of St. Angelo, with Nicho- " las archbifhopof Palermo, with Lewis du Pont (Pontanus) " the Secretary of the holy See; men who are eiteemed the " greateSl luminaries in the !a-.v, and do&ors of the truth ; to " generally again.it you. Who would not have erred with " per Sons of their character and merit? It is true, that when " I discovered the error of thofe at BaSil, I did not at firSt go " Sailing from one error to another, and by avoiding Charib- " my ft If, aft-r a long deliberation and conflict within my Self, " to thole who thought proper to continue in a State of neu- tc trality. I lived three years in the e.rperor's court in this " confrantly the disputes between thoSe of B.ifil and your " to Send ri.e to your clemency, I accepted the opportunity " with the u:;rioft Satisfaction, in hopes that I mould be So c a " happy as to eJin your favour again : I throw myfelfthere- Annai. Ba- " fore at your feet ; and Since I finped out of ignorance, I in- ' : > : . 1445-" ireat you to grant me your pardon. After which I ihall
 * ' not to my advantage. They ought not to have been men-
 * omit mentioning the univerfities and colleges which are
 * ' over to you, as the greateSt part did ; but being afraid of
 * ' dis, a? the proverb cxprefies it, to run upon Scylla, I joined
 * ' Situation of mind, where having an opportunity of hearing
 * ' legates, 1 was convinced that the truth was on your fide:
 * ' it was upon this motive that when the emperor thought fit
 * 5> " open