country of the five rivers. The Sirdars or chiefs gradually ranged themselves under twelve banners, and when not preying on their neighbours, fought amongst themselves. This state of things could not last long. A master-spirit soon arose in the person of Runjeet Singh, who conquered not only the twelve tribes of freebooters, but also the country, hill and plain, from the Sutlej to Peshawur. It was only the armed protest of the English that stopped this Lion King from seizing also the entire territory between the Sutlej and the Jumna.

Early in the present century, the English Government of India, alarmed at the grasping spirit of Runjeet, deputed to his court Mr. Metcalfe, whose negotiations, backed by a strong column of troops under the veteran Ochterlony, were successful.*

One incident, which came under the eye of Runjeet during Metcalfe's visit to his court, made a signal impression. It was the season when the followers of Mahomed celebrate with funeral pomp and procession, with beating of the breast and noisy lamentation, the Martyrdom of Husun and Hosein, the sons of Ali. Amongst the Sepoys who formed the escort of young Metcalfe were several Mahomedans, and they proceeded to enact the ceremonies of their religion with the usual noise and display. This was more than the Akalis, or Sikh fanatics, who always followed Runjeet, could bear. Hastily summoning a mob of their fellows, who swarmed round the sacred lake at Amritsur, where the camp happened to be, these sturdy fanatics fell sword in hand upon the handful of Sepoys. In a moment the trained native soldiers stood to their arms, and fired a volley into the Akalis, which sent them howling away. It is said that the Sikh King, who happened to witness this affair, then and there made up his mind. First, never to come to blows with the British. Secondly, to drill his own troops after the European method. For the remaining thirty years of his life Runjeet stood firmly to the resolutions thus hastily formed. And more than this; not only did he submit to the restraint which the English placed upon him, but was ever looking forward to their advancing power and influence.

'What,' said he to an English officer who opened out a map in durbar, (court,) what means this red line?'

'The red line, Maharajah, shows the English boundary. 'Ah,' said the monarch, with a sigh and an expressive nod. hajaga!'—It will all be red one day!

'Sub lal

Considering that Runjeet was brought up merely as a rough soldier, and could neither read nor write, his power as an administrator was remarkable. By the force of his iron will, gentle manners, and natural genins for governing, he kept the most warlike people in awe, heaping up wealth, and enforcing submission in a state of society which had never been settled before. With few personal advantages-deeply scarred with the small-pox, snall of stature, one-eyed-he yet presided with dignity

* See chapter xix. af The Englishman in India, vol. xxix. page 464.

over the most brilliant court in Asia. Dressed in a simple robe of white muslin, it was ever his delight to be surrounded by glittering retainers.* His durbar was crowded by noble-looking men, splendid in silks, satins, jewels, or armour, flanked by bands of Amazons, troops of Cashmerian dancers, and an imposing military staff. Judge of the power of Runjeet Singh in his prime, from his declining hours, when cherry-brandy, hukeem, (doctor,) alms, all failing alike, he sinks towards the grave! Speechless, almost without motion, see the dying monarch still rule the Punjab by signs to his courtiers. A turn of his finger to the south to ask news from the British frontier, to the west for news from Cabool. At last the old Lion is dead, but his influence is as strong as ever.

Observe his funeral obsequies. To the sound of wild melancholy music a procession advances across the plain of Lahore. The dead body of the king is borne along in a car like a ship, with sails of gold brocade. Four of his queens, in sumptuous apparel, with all the insignia of royalty, follow; behind them a troop of female slaves, some of them famous for their beauty. They form a tableau on the funeral-pile and round the body, which reposes in their arms. There is a pause-the heir to the throne steps forward with a torch in his hand. A blaze of fire-works, a crash of tomtoms, a scream, a shout, and all is over. one sea of flame both the living and the dead are consumed.

In

A feeble prince ascended the throne; and in a few months the empire which Runjeet had so carefully built up began to crumble away. Princes, queens, generals, statesmen, one after the other fell victims to the blind rage of the army. Nothing remained but a military despotism. The unwieldy mass, fit only for mischief, and incapable of control, rushed blindly to its own destruction. Like some terrible engine, whose motive power remains after the guiding hand has been removed, this vast machinery threatened ruin all around. Specially dangerous was the force to those who attempted to restrain it. The surviving leaders had no choice, and were only too happy to launch this terrible power across the Sutlej. And so the Sikh myriads flung themselves on the British soil, and invaded our hitherto peaceful territory.

It was to meet this danger that Broadfoot now summoned the English chiefs. Hardinge and Gough hurried to the frontier, and Havelock found himself once again hastening to the battle-field.

(To be continued.)

I add a few remarks on Runjeet. Like all of the Sikh race, no razor ever touched his head; and his appearance, in other respects mean, was rescued from insignificance by a noble beard, which reached his waist. Like other Sikhs, he eschewed tobacco, but made up for this privation, which is positively commanded, by a free use of opium and ardent spirits. Of cherry-brandy he was very fond, and his intemperance shortened his life. He was a regular merchant of shawls and salt, and although unlettered, could check long and complicated accounts. His passion for horses led him into more than one war; and at his death, thirteen hundred bridles were found in his treasure-house, ornamented with gold, silver, and even diamonds. Steinbach, an officer then at Lahore, computed the treasure left by Runject at eight millions of pounds sterling!

CAMEOS FROM ENGLISH HISTORY.

CAMEO LXXIV.

THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE.

THE Great Schism had lasted forty years. It may be remembered, that Philippe le Bel had in 1310 carried off the Roman pontiff and his court to Avignon; and that when, sixty years after, the Popes attempted to return to Rome, a party of the cardinals, who preferred Provence, elected one Pope, and the other cardinals held to another of Italian sentiments. Ever since that unhappy dispute, in 1378, there had been a Pope at Rome, and an Antipope at Avignon-the first acknowledged by Germany, England, Portugal, and all their allies; the second, by France, Scotland, Aragon, and all the countries of that party.

The uncertainty as to the headship of the Church had fatally relaxed the discipline of the clergy, since neither claimant of the Papacy durst enforce stringent measures, lest he should drive their object to espouse the party of his rival. On the other hand, the loss of half the revenues from the various countries of the Western Church had made the two Popes and their courts infinitely more grasping and needy; and the doubts, the jealousies, and intrigues, of the rivalship, lowered the whole tone and temper of the antagonistic clergy, so that especially at Avignon, the papal court seemed to be composed of the scum of the earth, and their conduct was a scandal to the whole Church. There had been, however, thus much gained-that the national Churches were resuming more independence and power; and the diffusion of learning was making the wiser and more thoughtful perceive that truth and morality were greater essentials to religion than superstition and pageantry. The displeasure at the flagrant abuses permitted and practised by the clergy, had broken out in England in the teaching of Wycliffe and the Lollards; and in Bohemia, John Huss and Jerome of Prague were extending the same doctrines. And at the same time, the really right-minded men among both lay and ecclesiastical princes were filled with anxiety, both to put an end to the schism, to set the discipline of the Church on a better footing, and to rectify the various abuses in each country.

The only means to this end was the convocation of a Council, as the Roman Church arrogantly called her synods; and vain attempts had been made for the purpose. In 1409 the cardinals of the two parties had been brought together, and had deposed both the rivals, electing a third; but as neither of the former ones chose to resign, there was only confusion worse confounded by rendering this a triangular controversy.

However, the cause was at length taken up by Sigismund of Luxemburg, Emperor of Germany. This prince was the grandson of the blind King John of Bohemia, and the brother of our good Queen Anne of

Bohemia. He was a second son, but had reigned from his early youth over Hungary in right of his wife, the heiress of that kingdom; while his elder brother Wenzel was Emperor of Germany, and there proved himself such a furious madman, as to be deposed, and confined to his hereditary kingdom of Bohemia. After his deposition, Rupert, the Count Palatine of the Rhine, had reigned for a few years, but dying in 1411, Sigismund had been elected. He voted for himself in these words, 'There is no prince in the empire with whose merits I am so well acquainted as with my own. I am surpassed by none, either in power or in the prudence with which I have ruled, whether in adversity or prosperity. Therefore do I, as Elector of Brandenburg, give my vote to Sigismund King of Hungary.'

As might be expected from this speech, Sigismund was a vain and shallow man; but he was full of spirit and activity, and considered himself called upon as emperor to reform the Church, and preside at the Council, like Constantine at Nicea. Even before he was crowned, he sent forth a memorial to all the sovereigns of Europe to propose a Council, to be held in his own dominions; and on the other hand, the Cardinals of Pisa were resolved on bringing their Pope, John XXIII., to the point, as probably they were ashamed of him, for he had been a pirate, and lived the most scandalous life. They would not permit him to enter Rome, declaring that he had only been elected on condition of holding the Council; and his bulls were therefore sent forth, summoning the whole Western Church to meet in the city of Constance. Sigismund himself was indefatigable in collecting the members of it, and travelled about Germany, and to Italy several times, before he even went to Aix-la-Chapelle to receive the crown of Germany.

In the meantime, John XXIII. had set forth, being conducted across the Alps by Duke Frederick of Austria, who promised to secure his retreat in case he should be deposed. It is said that his litter was upset, and that the Swiss peasants who came to help, were much amazed by hearing the Pope swearing like the pirate he had once been. However, the other two Popes were swearing nearly as much, only in the more decorous form of excommunications against anyone who should attend the Council; Benedict XIII. at Perpignan, and Gregory XII. at Rimini. On the 15th of October, 1414, John XXIII. rode into Constance with a canopy over his head; and a few weeks after, the Emperor arrived with his second wife, the Empress Barbara. On Christmas night the Pope celebrated the mid-night mass; and the Emperor assisted as a deacon, and read the Gospel, wearing the dalmatica and the imperial crown.

'I

A few days after, he appeared in the Council, and made a Latin address to the members, saying, 'Date operam ut illa nefanda schisma eradicatur.' One of the cardinals observed that schisma was neuter. am King of the Romans, and above the laws of grammar!' returned Sigismund. The present Council consisted of three Patriarchs, thirtythree Cardinals, forty-seven Archbishops, one hundred and forty-five

Bishops-three being English, those of Salisbury, Hereford, and Bathtwo hundred and twenty-four Abbots, one thousand eight hundred Priests, seven hundred and fifty Doctors of Theology; and besides these, the city and its suburbs were filled with the most motley crew imaginable. It was like a huge prolonged fair; and buffoons, mountebanks, and moneylenders swarmed. Encampments and booths spread on the shore of the lake, and the wild merriment of the scene was as unlike as possible to the solemnity befitting a synod of the fathers of the Church.

Thither too had come two very different persons, namely, Johann Huss, and Jerome Faulfisch, of the University of Prague, who had adopted and boldly preached doctrines like those of Wycliffe, with such success, that a large number of the Czechs of Bohemia were loudly entreating for a liturgy in the vulgar tongue, and for the Communion in both kinds. So fine an excuse did these opinions give King Wenzel of Bohemia for imposing fines on their holders, that punning on the name of Huss, which signifies a goose, he declared that he must take good care of the Goose that laid such golden eggs for him. However, Sigismund summoned Huss to the Council to give an account of his doctrine, and granted him a safe-conduct to come and go in safety; and trusting to this, Huss arrived at Constance two days before the Pope.

The representatives of the various nations were in such unequal numbers, with such a preponderance of Italians and French, that it was decided that each language should form a separate chamber. The French declared that there were four chief nations-Italy, Germany, France, and Spain, and that the lesser ones might be ranged as belonging to one or other of these; but the Englishmen stoutly objected to be thus disposed of. They said they had four kingdoms and five languages in their island, and made their cause good, so as to have a chamber to themselves, though there were only twelve of them present. However, the nations were thus described :-'The Germans are enduring as well as impetuous; the French boastful and arrogant; the English prompt and sagacious; the Italians subtle and intriguing.' Robert Hallam, Bishop of Salisbury, was an exceedingly wise and upright man, and was called the Emperor's right hand. The northern party was considered to consist of the Germans, French, and English, and to be really desirous of reform; and they formed a majority which decided that the Council was superior to the Pope, true or false.

And now Sigismund was extremely busy and self-important in his negotiations with the three rival Popes; and he informed the Council that Gregory had engaged to submit himself to their decision, provided John XXIII. did not preside; and that Benedict had promised to come with the King of Aragon to Nice in June, to treat with him and the Emperor. John was in much anxiety, and bribed all who would attend to him to tell him of any plans against him, always giving them absolution for any oaths of secresy they might have taken. By these means he discovered that a memorial had been sent in to the Fathers of the