Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/406

 Count Thurn, the opponent of Ferdinand, was immediately chastised by being deprived of the high office of Burggrave of Carlstein, that honor being conferred upon the arch enemy of the Protestants, William Slavata, thus giving the people a hint as to what they might expect from their new ruler.

The question of succession being settled, Matthias gathered together his treasures, took his court, and moved to Vienna, making that city the capital of his dominions.

The government in Bohemia was left in the hands of ten regents, seven of whom were Catholic and three Protestant. This was an ill omen, since among the seven were found the chief enemies of Protestantism; viz., Popel Lobkovic, William Slavata, and Jaroslav Martinec.

Having the example of Styria before them, and the “Most Catholic Prince” crowned as their future sovereign, the Jesuits and fanatical Catholics felt greatly encouraged, and at once began the work of anti-reformation. The Catholic lords and prelates compelled their peasants to attend mass, droye away their Protestant pastors, and inflicted all manner of evils upon them. The persecution reached its climax in the treatment of the people of Broumov and Hrob. These were German cities, on the borders of Bohemia, the former under the jurisdiction of the Abbot of Braunau, and the latter under that of the Archbishop of Prague. The people of these towns being Protestants, had constant troubles with their authorities, who did all they could to oppose them in their religious services. After the passage of the Letter of Majesty, they raised funds and