Page:The History of the Bohemian Persecution (1650).djvu/137

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The Bohemian Perſecution.
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formerly it flouriſhed) began after a ſtrange manner to be diſſolved. Wherefore this liberty bringing along with it carnall ſecurity, did not pleaſe all godly men, and ſome began to preſage ill, that ſo a horrible tempeſt from ſome Ferdinand ſhould againe overwhelme them. It was a Propheticall ſpeech, in peace my bitterneſſe is moſt bitter and fullfilled, of which it followeth.

Chap. XLI.

New ſtratagems of the enemies under Matthias.

I. I Muſt begin higher, that the bottom of our calamity may be more apparent. The occaſion of the grant of this ample Religious Liberty, by Rodolphus to the Bohemians and Sileſians, was becauſe the Hungarians with Auſtrians and Moravians forſaking Rodolphus, for ſome civile cauſes, had created his brother Matthew Archduke, King, Duke and Marquis, and with a great army in the year, 1608. entring into Bohemia, even unto Prague, did not only demand the Crowne of Hungarie, which was there kept, but courted the Bohemians to a revolting, but they with the Sileſians, were faithfull to him, and Mathew with the Crowne of Hungarie, and hope for ſucceſſion in the Kingdom of Bohemia after the death of Rodolphus, being ſent away, they asked

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and