Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/70

 in the front rank of the opposition and held the command of the troops of the Estates when the Protestants armed themselves to force the Emperor Rudolph to terms of conciliation. He had indeed no opportunity to win military renown, and yet his name became known throughout Bohemia. His firmness procured for him great respect among the Protestants, and he was looked upon as their military head, as Budowec, an adherent of the Bohemian Brethren, was, on account of his political and literary activity, regarded as their intellectual leader.

The letters missive summoned the Estates to appear at a Diet for the purpose of “accepting” the Archduke Ferdinand as king. The word “acceptance” was used at the elevation of Maximilian II. and Rudolph II. to the throne of Bohemia, and served at that time as the symbol of the hereditary rights of the Hapsburgs. But Rudolph, having been forced by his brother to concede to him the succession, summoned the Bohemian Diet, in the year 1608, not for his “acceptance,” but for his “election.” The party of the government resolved, before entering into the perilous contest in the Diet, to prepare the ground by an endeavor to win over, or intimidate, the opposition, and recommended confidential negotiations as the fittest means to this end. Under the pretence of a consultation in regard to the extinguishment of the royal debts, the most prominent members of the nobility were invited to a conference in the chancery office. After some random remarks about the debts, discourse was directed to the approaching elevation of Ferdinand, which was spoken of by the friends of the Archduke as a matter not to be questioned. The majority of those present were either won or intimidated by the confidence with