Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/156

 Archduke Albert, should arrive, its administration rightfully belonged to the Estates. In Vienna, Ferdinand frustrated these claims by calling attention to the Archduke’s letter of renunciation in his favor; but in Lintz, where Tschernembl and Godfrey von Starhemberg bore rule, and where the adherents of Ferdinand had no armed force to support them, the first named of these men brought it about that the executive of the Estates seized the administration and summoned a Diet for April 2, 1619, to advise in regard to further measures. This body, when assembled, elected Herr von Polheim as its executive, entrusted him with the government of the land and the care of the Archducal domains, and thus deprived the King at once of his authority and his income. The direction in which they were disposed further to proceed appears in their attitude towards the Bohemian envoys, who had arrived in Lintz with the purpose of entreating the alliance of Upper Austria. Their request was granted, and it was determined that the armament be completed. Only the prelates opposed this and similar action, but without any effect.

When Ferdinand was informed of these events, and called the attention of the Estates to their arbitrary assumptions, they replied that they were ready to defend, even to the last drop of their blood, the cause of the Bohemians as a righteous one. They went further, and sent a deputation which should request of the King the recognition of the government established by them and open intercourse at the same time with the Estates of Lower Austria, and inform them that they had effected an alliance with the Bohemians. In Upper Austria they began to enlist and arm men for the war, and sent, towards the end of April, 300 men to Hohenfurt, in order to intercept the auxiliaries which were being enlisted in Germany