In Bohemia, where they constituted two-thirds
of the population, Rudolph II, and after him Mathias, gave conditions
of religious freedom.
"Gradually, however, the Catholic party about the emperor gained the
upper hand; then various acts in breach of the conditions granted
to the Protestants were committed, and public spirit on both sides
became much embittered. On the 23d of May, 1618, the Estates of
Bohemia met at Prague, and the Protestant nobles, headed by Count
Thurn, came there armed, and demanded from the Imperial councillors an
account of the high handed proceedings. A violent quarrel ensued,
and finally the Protestant deputies seized the councillors Martinitz
and Slavata, and their secretary, and hurled them from the window
into the dry ditch, fifty feet below. Fortunately for the councillors
the ditch contained a quantity of light rubbish, and they and their
secretary escaped without serious damage. The incident, however,
was the commencement of war. Bohemia was almost independent
of Austria, administering its own internal affairs. The Estates
invested Count Thurn with the command of the army. The Protestant
Union supported Bohemia in its action. Mathias, who was himself
a tolerant and well meaning man, tried to allay the storm; but,
failing to do so, marched an army into Bohemia.
"Had Mathias lived matters would probably have arranged themselves,
but he died the following spring, and was succeeded by Ferdinand
II.
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