gentry; well aware that no other expedient could introduce order, except a limitation of the vaſt influence, poſſeſſed by the Palatines or principal nobility. It this prince had been poſſeſſed of any ideas of a free government, he might eaſily have formed the people and inferior gentry into an aſſembly by themſelves, and, by uniting his power with theirs, againſt the encroachments of the nobles upon both, have preſerved it. His nephew, Louis of Hungary, who ſucceeded him, being a foreigner, was obliged by the nobility to ſubſcribe conditions at his acceſſion, not to impoſe any taxes by his royal authority, without the conſent of the nation, that is of the nobles, for no other nation is thought on: that in caſe of his demiſe without male heirs, the privilege of appointing a king ſhould revert to the nobles. In conſequence of this agreement Louis was allowed to aſcend the throne: having no ſon, with a view of inſuring the ſucceſſion to Sigiſmund his ſon in law, he promiſed to diminiſh the taxes, repair the fortreſſes at his own expence, and to confer no offices or dignities on foreigners.
Louis died: but Sigiſmund was emperor, and therefore powerful, and might be formidable to the new immunities. The Poles, aware of this, violated the compact with Louis, neglected Sigiſmund, and elected Ladiſlaus, upon his ratifying Louis's promiſes, and marrying his daughter.
Ladiſlaus, having relinquiſhied the right of impoſing taxes, called an aſſembly of prelates, barons, and military gentlemen, in their reſpective provinces, in order to obtain an additional tribute. Theſe provincial aſſemblies gave birth to the Dietines; which now no longer retain the power of raiſing money in their ſeveral diſtricts, but only elect the nuncios or repreſentatives for the diet.
