Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/434

 the best part of the nation, as regards culture and character, was thus driven into exile.

Many of the exiles sought homes in Germany; some went to Holland, and others to Norway and Sweden. As most of them were very poor, they were obliged to resort to various methods of obtaining a livelihood. The noblemen generally became officers in foreign armies; the educated men became teachers, scribes, and authors. Among those who became celebrated were Paul Skála of Zhore, and Paul Stránský, both of whom wrote able and trustworthy histories of their times; and John Amos Comenius, renowned throughout the world for his works on pedagogy.

This fearful persecution of the Bohemians, although ostensibly directed against their religion, was, in fact, an attempt to root out their nationality. At this very time, Silesia, whose population was mostly German, was left to enjoy so much religious liberty that many of the Bohemian exiles sought and obtained refuge in that country. This work of denationalization was especially furthered by the aid of the foreign nobility, who, obtaining possession of vast estates by their power and influence, succeeded in corrupting the native Cath-