Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/416

 rectors, so that they called Thurn back to defend their kingdom.

In the meantime the all-absorbing question in Bohemia was the election of a new king. There were three candidates,—Charles Emanuel, the Duke of Savoy; John George, the Elector of Saxony; and Frederick, the Elector of Palatinate. The Duke of Savoy was soon dropped from the canvass, the States giving their attention to the last two; those favoring the Lutheran teaching wishing to choose the Elector of Saxony; those the Calvinistic, Frederick. Then, too, Frederick was the head of the Protestant League, formed by the princes of the empire, and by his election it was hoped that considerable aid might be secured from Germany. Another consideration that led the Bohemians to favor Frederick was the fact of his relationship to King James of England, the States imagining that so powerful a sovereign would not leave his son-in-law without assistance, when, by his accepting the proffered prize, a princess of England would become the Queen of Bohemia. Taking all these things into consideration, the Bohemian States elected Frederick, August 26, 1619.

The two disappointed candidates immediately forsook the Bohemian cause; and, indeed, John George went so far as to make friendly overtures to Ferdinand.

In the election of Frederick, the Catholic lords stood aloof, refusing to take any part, but persisting in their loyalty to Ferdinand. All of them were deprived of their offices, and ordered to leave the country. Some went to Passau, some to Vienna, and some entered the army of Ferdinand.

The day following the election of Frederick, there