the minds of many of the more thoughtful citizens, who feared that he might again presume to violate their liberties.
Pressed by the murmuring citizens of Prague, the aldermen of the three towns called a great assembly, where a union was formed, whose purpose was to defend the liberties of the realm. Being joined by many Calixtine lords and knights, they drew up a memorial asking the king to renounce all that he had gained in the twenty years of his reign that was in any way prejudicial to the liberties of the country, especially the clause granted in 1545, establishing the heredity of the crown of Bohemia in the house of Austria. Messengers were sent to all parts of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia, asking the States to join the union made at Prague.
The States then asked Ferdinand to call a Diet, in order that the difficulty might be settled. Fearing the consequences of openly opposing the union, he consented, and the proposed Diet met just after Christmas the following year.
While the Diet was in session, and the country had reason to hope much good would be accomplished, news came to Prague that struck a panic into the hearts of those who had joined the union. The two leaders in the Smalkald League were taken prisoners by the emperor. The members of the Diet, instead of considering what might be done to avert the threatening danger, thought only of their own safety. Some fled to their own estates, while those that remained in the city prepared a humble apology to the king. Ferdinand received the messengers with apparent kindness, but demanded the immediate dissolution of the union, since
