TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been moved to the end of the essay. Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. Sidenotes, also in italics in the original, are surrounded by ♦diamonds♦. Text in small caps has been converted to ALL CAPS. Variations in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been standardized. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. Proper names, French language, and "reproch" in the diary entry, have been retained as published in the original publication. JOHN SOBIESKI. LOTHIAN PRIZE ESSAY FOR 1881. BY EDWARD H. R. TATHAM, B.A. BRASENOSE COLLEGE. “Non perchè re sei tu, si grande sei, Ma per te cresce e in maggior pregio sale La maesta regale.” VINCENZIO DA FILICAIA, _Canzone_. OXFORD: A. THOMAS SHRIMPTON & SON, BROAD STREET. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO. 1881. JOHN SOBIESKI. ♦Strangeness of Polish history.♦ The Kingdom or Republic of Poland has always seemed a strange phenomenon in European history, partly from the aboriginal character of its population, and partly from its exceptional constitution. The ancient Sarmatians, who occupied the same territory, had no share in the old Roman civilisation, but rather, by their constant irruptions upon the empire, were mainly instrumental in its downfall. Christianity was introduced in the tenth century; but, until recent times, no other civilising force has ever effected a permanent conquest of the country. ♦Aboriginal character of the Poles,♦ During the eight following centuries the Poles, surrounded by enemies--on the north and east by more barbarous tribes, on the south and west by a superior civilisation--were exclusively confined to the defensive and so missed those humanising influences to which a conquering nation has so often had to submit. As late as the eighteenth century they might truly be called the lineal descendants in race, in character, and almost in habits, of the hunters and shepherds of the ancient North. ♦Seen in their social system.♦ Throughout their history there were two great classes in the State; the so-called noble class--the heirs of the savage in their desire for equality, and of the nomad in their love of freedom--and the peasant class--the descendants of captives taken in war--whose lives and properties were at the absolute disposal of their masters. Only in the western portion of the kingdom was there a burgher class, and this was on the same[1] political footing with the serfs. The union of two great evils arising from such a system--licence and servitude--made the Polish constitution as disastrous as it was unique. Poland thus differed so widely, both socially and politically, from every other European state, that it would be impossible to examine any important period of her history without explaining alike her position in Europe and some of her internal peculiarities.