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 refused to acknowledge him as their king, and as an excuse charged him with breaking that part of his coronation oath that said that he was to take no part in the government during the life of Matthias.

Early in the spring of 1619, General Buquoi left Budweis and attacked many small towns of Bohemia; but Count Thurn, regardless of this, entered into Moravia, where the people were divided into two factions, one favoring the cause of Bohemia, and the other, led by the celebrated Charles of Zerotin, advising complete neutrality. The arrival of Thurn into the country soon had the effect of changing the current of public opinion, and the States not only joined the confederation, but induced those of Lusatia and Silesia to do likewise. A temporary government was also formed consisting of twenty-four Directors.

With his army re-enforced, Thurn then marched into Lower Austria, and took his stand at the very gates of Vienna. At the same time the Protestants of Vienna had risen in revolt, forced their way into the palace of the king, demanding of him liberty to worship God according to their own ritual. The States of Austria asked of him that he dismiss the troops raised against Bohemia, and give Lower Austria permission to join the confederation, as Upper Austria had already done. For some time Ferdinand was in great peril; but just at the critical moment, General Dampierre appeared before the gates of the city with a small army, which so alarmed the insurgents that they betook themselves to flight, and the king was saved.

In Bohemia, General Buquoi won some brilliant victories over Count Mansfield, which alarmed the Di-