Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/161

 against the Estates, not a counsellor was at his side to speak in his behalf and turn the storm from his own person. Should he meet violence with violence; should he answer threats with charges; or should he break off the audience? His ascetic nature and habits he turned to account on this occasion, though unconsciously, yet in a masterly manner. Not for a moment did his needed self-pos sion forsake him. He blamed with well-sustained moderation those present for their alliance with Bohemia, and, descending even to entreaty, sought to turn them from the path upon which they had entered. He mingled appeals to their patriotism, praying them to unite with him in a defence against the approaching enemy, only, however, to learn anew at each turn that his words were powerless.

This scene had continued for nearly an hour, and its bitterness grew even more intense for Ferdinand, when all at once there came a change. A day or two before, the King had directed that the defence of the city should be strengthened by calling in the small garrisons of some neighboring places; the execution of his order came exactly at the opportune moment. While Ferdinand was subjected in the Hall of Audience to the deepest humiliation which in his whole life he ever personally experienced, and it could not be perceived how the contest would end, there was suddenly eard the sound of a rapidly approaching cavalry troop. It consisted of four companies of a regiment of cuirassiers which was just being formed, and which on the day before, with a strength of 400 men, had set out from Krems, and about 11 o’clock in the forenoon arrived in Vienna, where the commander of the arsenal, Gilbert von Saint-Hilaire, placed himself at their head. Their appearance did not fail of its effect in the Audience