Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/96

 witz seized his cousin, the Grand Prior, who had grasped Sternberg’s mantle, perceiving that all was lost if the chief Burggrave should retire, entreated that he would not leave him, and that he would share the common lot, whether it were life or death, of the Regents. Sternberg would certainly have remained—Martinitz was indeed his son-in-law—but no choice was left him, or the Grand Prior either; they were crowded and shoved out, and compelled to abandon their colleagues to their fate.

William von Lobkowitz now forced his way behind Martinitz, seized both his hands and held them firmly to his back, while Thurn grasped Slawata by the hand, and both Regents were, with the aid of the other noblemen, drawn to the windows. With their feet braced against the floor, and supplicating for mercy, they attempted extreme resistance. It was of no use: the two were thrown from different windows, from a height of about eighty feet, into the castle-moat.

While this scene was in progress, the secretary, M. Philip Fabricius, was in the background of the stage, where he ventured timidly to warn some nobles who stood near him of the dangerous consequences of the act. When he saw the fate of his superiors, he pressed his way to Count Schlick and entreated protection. Just this circumstance drew the attention of the Estates and aroused the hatred which they had cherished towards Michna, and which they would now gratify upon Fabricius, whom they had never before noticed at all. Several sprang towards him with poniards to stab him; but the request of others, that the place might not be stained with blood, caused Fabricius to be seized, and without ceremony hurled from a window. It was between nine and ten o’clock in the morming, and the execution was complete.