Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/395

 tor, convoked a Diet to meet at Brünn, where the Moravian lords should do him homage. The Protestants asked some guarantee that their rights and privileges would be respected; but they could obtain no concessions from their new sovereign, and were obliged to be contented with the promise that things would remain as they were.

As had been agreed upon between Rudolph and the States, a Diet was called in January, 1609, in which the chief question to be settled was that of religion. After endless negotiations, the king declared that he should violate his coronation oath, and act contrary to the time-honored custom among Catholic princes, did he give his protection to other than the two acknowledged sects, the Catholic and Calixtine. With this he pronounced the question of religion settled, and asked the Diet to proceed to other business, which when it delayed to do, he declared it adjourned.

This decision caused great commotion, not only among the members of the Diet, but also among the people of Prague. The Protestant delegates armed themselves, and marched to the city hall of New Town, followed by an immense concourse of people, armed with such weapons as they could seize. The king hearing of this uprising, sent messengers to pacify the excited people, promising to call a new Diet, where the religious question would be settled. This concession on the part of the king, was made against the wishes of his Jesuitical advisers. Zdenek Popel of Lobkovic, William Slavata, and Jaroslav of Martinec, who thus greatly incensed the people against themselves.

When the new Diet met, Rudolph resorted to his