Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/368

 together as to how they might stem the tide of growing heresy. The year 1525 is memorable in the history of the Calixtines, since a reconciliation was effected between them and the Catholics. For eighty years they had striven for the confirmation of the Compactata, and all their efforts were in vain. But now, when the Church feared the formation of a new sect, it willingly granted all they asked. The archbishop and the bishops received orders from Rome to ordain without any distinction all candidates for the priesthood, whether they were Catholics or Calixtines. The event was celebrated with many public demonstrations of joy.

It was believed that now the Silesians would gladly accept Utraquism; but they refused, and remained zealous Lutherans.

The Bohemian Brethren also kept increasing in number, so that at this time the Pope’s legate wrote to Rome as follows: “The Diet discussed how to extirpate Picardism from Bohemia; but the members of this sect have grown so numerous, they are rich, powerful, and devoted to each other, so that, if only they professed a different faith and had different customs, they might be regarded worthy people.”

During the reign of Louis, rich silver-mines were discovered upon the estates of Sir Slick in Loketsky. A settlement was made at St. Joachimsthal in 1517, where a mint was established, and groats or groschen coined like Rhine guilders. These guilders, coined at the “Thal,” were later called thalers, whence the name dollars.

The reign of Louis was disturbed by constant squabbles between the Calixtines and the newly-arisen Lutheran sect. When the Lutherans got into power