THE EMPERORS FREDERIC II.

AND MAXIMILIAN I.
From 1477 to 1500.
Wanderings of the Emperor Frederic .-- Proposed Alliance with the Duke of Burgundy .-- Mutual Distrust .-- Marriage of Mary .-- The Age of Chivalry .-- The Motive inducing the Lord of Praunstein to declare War .-- Death of Frederic II .-- The Emperor's Secret .-- Designs of the Turks .-- Death of Mahomet II .-- First Establishment of standing Armies .-- Use of Gunpowder .-- Energy of Maximilian .-- French Aggressions .-- The League to expel the French .-- Disappointments of Maximilian .-- Bribing the Pope .-- Invasion of Italy .-- Capture and Recapture .-- The Chevalier De Bayard.
Adversity only developed more fully the weak and ignoble character of Frederic.

He wandered about, recognized Emperor of Germany, but a fugitive from his own Austrian estates, occasionally encountering pity, but never sympathy or respect.

Matthias professed his readiness to surrender Austria back to Frederic so soon as he would fulfill the treaty by paying the stipulated money.

Frederic was accompanied in his wanderings by his son Maximilian, a remarkably elegant lad, fourteen years of age.