BOHUSLAV OF LOBKOVIC

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has described the position of the two leading Bohemian humanists in the following Latin verses : — " Primus Boleslaus, Cornelius altera Lux est Sidera nos alii, sed sine luce sumus."

In

Lobkovic undertook an extensive On his return to voyage to Palestine and Egypt. Europe, Lobkovic, who, as his correspondence very the year

1490

clearly proves, was by no means devoid of political ambition, attempted to play a more important part in the affairs of his country. For this purpose mainly Lobkovic aspired to the important bishopric of Olmlitz in Moravia, and he was unanimously chosen by the chapter, which, according to very ancient regulations, had the right of election. Unfortunately about this time Alexander VI. was chosen as Pope, and he immediately appointed to the see of Olmiitz the Cardinal of Monreale, a relation of the Borgia family. Even the strongest partisans of the papal cause were incensed at this decision, which intrusted the bishopric of Olmiitz to an Italian, ignorant of the Bohemian, and even of the betterknown German language, at a moment when the influence of the Bohemian Brethren was very strong in Moravia. A letter of remonstrance was, in the name of the principal Moravian nobles, addressed to Pope Alexander. This remonstrance, couched in rather strong language, was probably the work of Lobkovic, and has been printed by Professor Joseph Truhlaf in his recently published collection of the Latin letters of Bohnslav of Lobkovic. This letter had no result, and Lobkovic appears never We possess several to have forgiven Pope Alexander. Latin epigrams written by him on that pontiff, in which Lobkovic has followed Juvenal and Martial so faithfully that I must refrain from quotation. Even after the death M