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 mous; and had they devoted a reasonable part of it to the national cause, it would doubtless have been brought to a successful issue, and they might have lived to enjoy the rest in peace. But in their blind selfishness and perversity, they could not, or would not, see this, and the price they afterward paid for their obstinacy was fearful.

The moral degradation and weakness into which the people had sunk is one of the saddest things to contemplate in the whole eventful history of Bohemia. Not that they were criminally depraved, but that, in their selfish love of ease and luxury, they had sunk into a sort of moral imbecility. As Rome had fallen long before the Northern barbarians invaded and overcame the country, so Bohemia had fallen long before the Catholic barbarians of Europe turned against her, in deadly hatred seeking her ruin.

In the spring of 1620 the Bohemian army, under Hohenloh and Mansfield, invaded Austria, but were repulsed by Buquoi, whose army had been re-enforced by Spanish troops. Shortly after, Bethlen Gabor, having closed the truce with Ferdinand, again renewed his alliance with the Bohemians. Osman, the Sultan of Turkey, sent his congratulations, and promised some assistance to Frederick.

On the other hand, several princes came to aid Ferdinand. Maximilian of Bavaria entered Upper Austria with a large and splendidly-equipped army, commanded by himself and Count Tilly. This so alarmed the people that they submitted to his authority without a struggle. The Elector of Saxony gained possession of Lusatia; and an army of Cossacks, fitted out by the King of Poland, succeeded in marching through Silesia