book h im t o t h e g rav fe t h e r e g r e t o f h i s f u b j e d t s , a n d a c l a im
ii.
/to t h e v e n e r a t i o n o f p o f t e r i ty . He js d e f c r ib e d ( f o r t h e
figure o f fo a m i a b l e a c h a r a c t e r c a n n o t f a i l to - b e in t e r e f t in g ) -
as t a l l i n h i s p e r f o n , a n d in c l in e d t o c o r p u l e n c y , w i t h a m a -
j e f t i c a f p e d t, t h i c k a n d c u r l i n g h a i r , l o n g b e a r d , w i t h a f l r o n g
v o ic e f o m e w h a t l i f p i n g
Next to the remains of Cafimir-repofe the allies o f La-
diflaus t II. known by the appellation of Jaghellon, the father
of a race of kings called from him the Jaghellon line.
This fovereign was originally duke of Lithuania, and, together
with his fubjedts, a worihiper of idols; but having
embraced Chriftianity, and efpoufed Hedwige fecond daughter
of Louis, he obtained the throne of Poland. This event
happened in 1386, in which year he was publicly baptized,
married, and crowned at Cracow, and affirmed a new bap-
tifmal name of Ladiilaus I I .; he died in 14 34 in a very
advanced age, in the 50th year of a long and glorious
feign.
Among his pofterity, whofe bodies are depofited in this
cathedral, the moft memorable is Sigifmond If a great and
able monarch, the protestor of the arts and fciences, which
made no inconfiderable figure under his aufpices. He is
reprefented, however, as not fufficiently watchful over the
royal prerogative J 5 and as yielding too eafily to the encroach-
* Vir ilatnra elevata, corpore craflo, fumed the regal authority, he ought to be
fronte venerabili, crine cireino et abun- called Ladiilaus II.. Ladiilaus Inter Poloniaj
dante, barba promifsa, voce aliquantulum reges illius nominis fecundus. ,Lengnich,
balba fed fonora. -Hiih. Pol. p. 31.
Deceffit Cafimirus a. 137,c^fays Lengaich,. $• A b hoc potiflimum rege n im i s indulcui
Polonia leges, judicia, cultum, plurimaa gente, licentia'nobilitatis incrementa contra
civitates, arces, et alia edificia debet. H i i l . jura majeilatis, cum injuria f u c c e d e n t iu m
Pol. p. 25. regum, et reipub., decremento, funjere et
+ He is fometimes called Ladiilaus IV. praevalere coepit, u t fapientes,. &c. Pe
and fometimes Ladiilaus V. j but reckoning Scripts Pol. &c. p. 4.
from the time the fovereigns of Poland afments
jnents of the nobility to the injury of fucceeding monarchs, chap.
arid the detriment of the republic. But thefe compli-'— J— >
ances admit of great palliation, when we refledt, that the
nobles, to whom they were made, had raifed him to the
throne, and were become nearly uncontroulable by the con-
cefiions of his immediate predeceflors.
As I viewed the tomb of Sigifmond Auguftus, fon of the
laft mentioned monarch, I recolledted, not without a mixture
of regret and fympathy for this unhappy country, that in
him terminated that hereditary influence, which had given
tranquillity during a long fucceffion of fovereigns to the
diets of eledtion; and that upon his death all thofe troubles
and confufions, which are infeparable from a crown
wholly eledtive, broke in upon the kingdom. From this
period the cabals and convulfions, continually recurring at
every appointment of a new fovereign, rapidly impaired the
ftrength of the ftate and the dignity of the fovereign. The
Poles gradually loft their confequence among foreign powers-;
and the authority of fucceeding kings depended more on
their own perfonal .abilities, and accidental circumftamces,
than on any permanent principle of vigour inherent in the
crown, which has been nearly ftripped of all its prerogatives.
The firft of the new fucceffion, whofe remains are inferred
in this church, is Stephen Bathori prince of Tranfyl-
vania, elected in 15 7 6, upon the abdication of Henry of Valois
: he owed his elevation to his marriage with Anne
daughter of Sigifmond I .; a princefs who, being in the
S id year of her age, was not endowed with any winning
attractions, if fhe 'had not brought a kingdom for her portion.
The epitaph upon his tomb juftly afcribes to Stephen
a long catalogue of civil and military virtues.
X a I came