Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/99

 entrusted to thirty Directors, ten from each of the three Estates. It might be supposed that they would at once have felt the necessity of electing a head, or of making an arrangement for presiding alternately. It was several weeks, however, before they recognized this necessity, and invested Wenceslas William von Ruppa with the presidency. He was indeed the most eminent man the directorial government could furnish ; he had for several years been conspicuous in the front ranks of the opposition, and had become known throughout the land. For intercourse with foreign lands, which must, in the immediate future, become important, he was well qualified, for he spoke and wrote with facility several languages. He had effective ability also in matters of home administration, having been practically schooled in them. His knowledge and the manner and bearing of his action had, even before the insurrectionary outbreak, fixed upon him the attention of the agent of the Rhenish Palatinate.

Thurn was not among the number of the Directors, for he was provided with a prominent place in the work of organizing the army. If any one seemed called to place himself at the head and assume the reins of government, it was he. For years he had fomented the insurrectionary spirit, and more recently had shown no concern about the favor or disfavor of the Emperor; he had by the window hurling rendered his breach with the dynasty forever irreparable. His name in Bohemia was in every mouth; he enjoyed the highest respect, and seemed therefore destined to walk in the footsteps of George of PodẽbradPoděbrad [sic] [Podyebrad], not indeed to wear the crown, but still as governor to guide the destinies of the country until a new King should be elected. Such a position was, however, beyond his talents, and he had never desired it.