Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/33



NTON GINDELY was born in Prague in 1829. His father was a poor day-laborer, and was unable to aid his son; the latter therefore earned by teaching a portion of the means needed in obtaining his education. Remarkable health—he never lost an hour during his entire course of study—persistence, and industry enabled him to surmount all obstacles, and he completed his gymnasium and university courses with highest honor. The revolution in the condition of Austrian affairs in 1848, and especially the founding of numerous new institutions of learning, had for young Gindely the good effect that, when but twenty-four years of age, he obtained a good position in a school of science in Prague, and but three months later was called to an Adjunct Professorship in the University of Olmutz. This gave him a fine opportunity for the study of the history of Bohemia, to the ecclesiastical branch of which he devoted himself. His attention was drawn to the Unitas Fratrum (United Brethren), founded in the fifteenth century. These adhered in their doctrine in general to the opinions of John Huss, which they further developed. Their distinguishing trait was that they willingly submitted to persecution as the early Church had done. Thus originated Gindely’s first work, “The History of the Bohemian Brethren,” in two volumes. He carried this down to 1609, the year in which the Bohemian Utraquists forced from the Emperor Rudolph II. the Royal Charter. Investigation of the