The Thirty Years' War 203 the lordships of the Catholic clergy (in which the Evangel- ics conceived a right to build) was the special grievance and cause of breach. On the 23d of May the chief of the Evangelics went The Protes- armed into the castle of Prague, entered the council cham- tants or g an - ber, and opened their grievances; but, enraged by opposi- lution in tion, they threw Slabata, the chief justice, and Smesansius, Prague, one of the council, and Fabricius, the secretary, from an high window into the castle ditch ; others of the council, temporizing in this tumult and seeming to accord with their demands, were peacefully conducted to their own houses. Hereupon the assembly took advice to settle the towns and castle of Prague with new guards ; likewise to appease the people and take the oath of fidelity. They chose directors, governors, councilors provincial to govern affairs of state, and to consult of raising forces against the enemies of God and the king and the edicts of his Imperial Majesty. They banished the Jesuits throughout all Bohemia. After the expulsion of the " Winter King ' from Bohemia, his English wife wrote to her father, James I, as follows : Sire : I do not wish to importune your Majesty with a very long letter. The Baron de Dona will not fail to inform your Majesty of the misfortune that has befallen us and which has compelled us to leave Prague, and to come to this place, where God knows how long we shall remain. I therefore most humbly entreat your Majesty to protect the king and myself by sending us succor ; otherwise we shall be brought to utter ruin. It is your Majesty alone, next to Almighty God, from whom we expect assistance. I most humbly thank your Majesty for the favorable declaration you have been pleased to make respecting the preservation of the Palatinate. I most humbly entreat you to do the same for us here and to send us sufficient succor to defend ourselves against our enemies ; otherwise I do not know 294. A letter from Elizabeth, queen of Bohemia, to her father, James I of England.
