This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 Excerpt: ...he was arrested by the hand of disease, and forced to withdraw, first to Rome and then to Naples, where he breathed his last.1 The pope's former reluctance to leave Italy returned.8 He stood longer in pressing need of Sigismund's aid. In his anxiety to secure Rome again, he sent his general, Isolani, to seize and take possession of it. He would have been glad to have followed himself. It is amusing to see the efforts of the pope and emperor to elude and deceive one ather. Sigismund was afraid that w, after all, the pope would t appear at Constance. Some of his friends warned him of the danger he incurred of going thither as pope and coming back a private man. But the counsel of the cardinals, more anxious for the union of the church, prevailed.1 John determined, before he set out, to secure of the emperor the most advantageous terms possible. Sigismund, on his part, dared t refuse the pope's demands, lest his absence should defeat the design of the council. The emperor's commissary at Constance was to accept, in the emperor's name, the pope's terms, and the magistrates and burgesses of Constance were exhorted and commanded to swear, on their part, to their faithful observance. No pretext was to be left the pope for n-appearance. The emperor knew the man with whom he had to deal, and, with a policy which matched the pope's, conceded everything. John XXIII. was to be received at Constance with all the hors due to the papal dignity: he should be recognized as true and sole pontiff; he should be at perfect freedom to come or go, and should exercise his authority over his dependents and all that appertained to him, without restriction. The city was bound to see that justice was done him, and his safe-conducts were to be recognized and respected. S...