Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/122

 On the evening of July 8th Solms arrived in Prague, and on the following morning was visited by Count Hohenloe, who was present in the city in response to an invitation of the Directors, who desired to associate him with Count Thurn in the command of the troops. Their attention was turned to him because he had distinguished himself in the Turkish war in Hungary. He was ready to obey their wishes, and yet felt some scruples on account of the high position he had won in the imperial service. Solms was next officially greeted at his lodgings by the Directors. After these latter had retired, Ruppa and Budowec returned alone, and there took place a confidential interchange of views as to the causes of the insurrection and the necessity of arming. Both earnestly besought the Count to persuade Hohenloe without further hesitation to accept, in connection with Thurn, the command of the army. Solms promised this, but suggested that, in order to avoid giving offence, it might perhaps be better to place a chief commander over both generals. Ruppa and Budowec both admitted this, but added that this could not be constitutionally done, since the chief command belonged only to the King or the chief Burggrave. The ambassador laughed at their scruples, and observed that, as they had ventured the throwing from the windows, which was certainly not provided for in the constitution, as likewise several other acts, they might perhaps also appoint a commander-in-chief.

Solms employed the leisure left him, after the various greetings were over, to inform himself accurately of the feeling in Prague and learn to what extent the desire for war had spread. He received the not very satisfactory information from a respectable source that even a portion of those Directors who had contributed to bring on the