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 election of a foreigner and an enemy, he replied scornfully: “If you insist upon having a king of your own people, go to the village of Stadic; there, among the peasants, you may possibly find some old uncle of the family of Premysl. Bring him here, and place him upon the royal throne.” This slurring reference to the humble origin of their kings, roused the wrath of the lords to the highest pitch. Ulric of Lichtenberg sprang up, and, without a word of warning, plunged his sword into the breast of the unfortunate man. Other acts of violence followed. The friends of Austria fled for their lives, leaving the field clear to the adherents of the Duke of Carinthia, who was elected without any further opposition.

In the meantime Moravia had accepted Frederick as their king, and Albert immediately sent an army to help his son to gain the Bohemian crown; but all these preparations for war came to naught by the death of Albert, who was murdered by his own nephew, to whom he had refused to give the estates that rightfully belonged to him.

At the news of the election of Henry, there were great public rejoicings, the people showing much confidence in the good-will and ability of the new ruler. But all these hopes were doomed to a bitter disappointment; for King Henry soon showed that Marshal Tobias was entirely correct in the estimate of his character; he was weak, and totally unfit to govern.

In the beginning of his reign serious troubles arose between the citizens of some of the large towns and the nobles; but King Henry looked on in abject helplessness, doing nothing whatever either to prevent or settle the quarrels. He felt a repugnance to every-