STATE PAPERS.
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her the title of Apoftolical Queen of Hungary.
- ' The Roman pontifs, whom
we have fucceeded noiwithftand- ing our want of merit, wifely ne- gledled not^ greatly to their ho- nour, amidfl different regulations, paternally to diltinguifh, and load with favours, as occafion offered, the countries fituated on the fron- tiers of the perpetual enemies of the Chriflian name, and. always regarded thofe countries as the bul- warks, which alone could fecure Chriftianity from hoftile invafion?. We have regarded in the fame light, themoll flourifning kingdom of Hungary, poffeiTed by our dearly beloved daughter in Chriil; which, both by its fituation and the bravery of the people, is the molt proper for the propagation of the Chrillian luftre and name. All the world knows how the noble Hungarians have contributed, by their valour, to the extending and defending the Chriftian religion ; and how often, and with what fuccels, they have fou2;ht againft its hereditary enemy. Who knows not the Hgnal and almoll incredi- ble viftories which they have g:iin- ed, when Chriftendom was in dan- ger of being totally ruined and overwhelmed ?
Thefe actions are generally known. They are recorded in the moft authentic annals, and will be tranfmiited down to the moll dif- tant pofterity. Mean while we ought to call to mind St. Ste- phen, that valiant fovercign of Hungary, whofe memory is pre- cious to the church ; which has been infcribed in the catalogue of the faints, and whom we particu- larly reverence. We talk, even in thefe parts (to the honour of
the Hungarian nation) of his vir- tues, his piety, and his magnani- mity. The princes who have fuc- ceeded him, have exerted them- felves at all times to imitate his virtuous example.
No wonder, then, that the fo- vereign pontifs, having regard to the fincere and unOiaken attach- ment of the princes and kings of Hungary to the catholic faith, and calling to mind the fervice they have done the holy fee, have, from time to time, heigh- tened their merit, and granted them particular privileges. Among other privileges, their kings en- joyed that of h-aving a crofs car- ried before them by a bifhop, when they appeared in public on folemn occafions, as the moH eminent fign of their apolllefhip ; a particular conceffion of the holy fee, which would thereby fliew that the Hun- garian nation, and its kings, glo- ried only in the crofs of our Sa- viour Chrift, and have always been wont to fight and overcome for the catholic faith, under this holy- banner.
The kings of Hungary have alfo, at diverfe times, acquired the privilege of being decorated and honoured with the glorious and magnificent ti tie of A poilolicking5, though the true origin of this cuf- tom, and the authenticity of fuch a high prerogative, cannot be pre- cifely difcovered.
We, for our part, though we, cannot manifeft the true fpirit of our predece.ffbr?, have, ncverthe- lefs, made it our conftant endea- vours to follow their fen timer, ts. We cannot, we imagine, more advan- tageoufly diftinguilh the beginning of our pontificate, tlian by con- ferring all poffible honours, and the M2 uimoft
