InthecathedralofSt。Ambrose，Charleswascrownedwiththeironcrown，whichtraditionascribedtotheLombardmonarchy；buthewasadmittedonlywithapeacefultrain；thegatesofthecitywereshutuponhim；andthekingofItalywasheldacaptivebythearmsoftheVisconti，whomheconfirmedinthesovereigntyofMilan。IntheVaticanhewasagaincrownedwiththegoldencrownoftheempire；but，inobediencetoasecrettreaty，theRomanemperorimmediatelywithdrew，withoutreposingasinglenightwithinthewallsofRome。TheeloquentPetrarch，^151whosefancyrevivedthevisionarygloriesoftheCapitol，deploresandupbraidstheignominiousflightoftheBohemian；andevenhiscontemporariescouldobserve，thatthesoleexerciseofhisauthoritywasinthelucrativesaleofprivilegesandtitles。
ThegoldofItalysecuredtheelectionofhisson；butsuchwastheshamefulpovertyoftheRomanemperor，thathispersonwasarrestedbyabutcherinthestreetsofWorms，andwasdetainedinthepublicinn，asapledgeorhostageforthepaymentofhisexpenses。
[Footnote150:Yet，personally，CharlesIV。mustnotbeconsideredasaBarbarian。AfterhiseducationatParis，herecoveredtheuseoftheBohemian，hisnative，idiom；andtheemperorconversedandwrotewithequalfacilityinFrench，Latin，Italian，andGerman，Struvius，p。615，616。Petrarchalwaysrepresentshimasapoliteandlearnedprince。]
[Footnote151:BesidestheGermanandItalianhistorians，theexpeditionofCharlesIV。ispaintedinlivelyandoriginalcolorsinthecuriousMemoiressurlaViedePetrarque，tom。iii。
p。376—430，bytheAbbedeSade，whoseprolixityhasneverbeenblamedbyanyreaderoftasteandcuriosity。]