(Pelzel.  Geschichte  von  Bohmen,  i.  494.)  The  deputies  of  Matthias  tried  to  set
the  Italian  princes  in  motion.  (Philippus  Bergomas,  Supplementum  Chroni-
corum.)  France  likewise  belonged  to  this  party.  The  reason  why  Bavaria
joined  it  is  evident.  The  eyes  of  her  dukes  were  always  turned  either  towards
Lombardy  or  the  Netherlands.  Freiberg  :  Geschichte  der  Baierischen  Land-
stande,  i.  655.
2  Pfister,  Geschichte  von  Schwaben,  v.,  p.  272.
3  A  league  of  cities,  princes,  and  knights,  founded  1488,  primarily  with  the
object  of  maintaining  order  in  Swabia.
4  In  his  very  first  address  the  emperor  declares  the  object  of  the  league  to  be,
that  the  states,  "  bei  dem  heiligen  Reiche  und  ihren  Freiheiten  bleiben,"  "  should

remain  in  adherence  to  the  holy  empire,  and  in  possession  of  their  liberties."

Datt,  de  Pace  Pub.,  272.      Who  could  believe  that  for  the  history  of  this  most
important  of  all  early  leagues  we  have  still  to  refer  chiefly  to  Datt  ?

4


SO  FOUNDATION  OF  A   NEW  CONSTITUTION     [Book  I.
