488 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. if. 'KingjamesI frequently broken, till at length the jefuits erected a fl:ately college, and '6190J put the papifts on a level with the proteftants. Matthias the prefent emperor, having adopted his coufin Ferdinand of :Aufiria, had a mind to get him the crown of Bohemia ; for which purpofe, he fummoned an affembly of the Rates, without fending as ufual, to the proteftants of Silefia, Moravia, and the upper and lower Alfatia : Thefe therefore not attending (according to the emperor's with) made the catholicks a ma- jority, who declared Ferdinand prefumptive fucceffor to Matthias ; after which, he was crowned at Prague, and refided at Gratz. The na- FENDERs taking notice of this breach of their conftitution, and per- ceiving the defign of the Imperial court to extirpate the proteftant re- ligion, fummoned an affembly of all the Oates, and among others, thofe of Silelia, Moravia, and Alfatia, who drew up a petition to the empe- ror, to demand the execution of the laws, and a reafonable fatisfaétion for the injuries they had received ; after which theyadjourned themfelves to the Monday after Rogation week 1618. The emperor inftead ofgrant- ing their requefls, ordered his lieutenant to hinder the re-of embling of the Oates, as being called without his licence; but the hates affembled according to the adjournment, and being informed of the force that was deûgned againfl them, went in a body tri the chancery, and having feized the emperor's chief juftice, the fecretary, and another of his council, they threw them out of the cattle window, and then drove the jefuits out of the city. In orderto juftify their proceedings, they publifhed to the world an apology, and having figned .a confederacy, to hand by one another againft all oppofers, they chofe twenty -fourprotectors, empowering them to raife forces, and levy loch taxesas they fhould find neceffary. Eleíior Pa- In this .fituation of affairs, the emperor who was alfo king of Bohemia latine chofèn died, and on the 18th of Augu/t 1619. Ferdinand was chofen his fuc- he,ñiá lio cefíor in the empire, but the Bohemians not only difowned him for their king, but declared the throne vacant, and on September 5. chofe Frederick elector palatine, king fames's fon in law, for their fovereign. Deputies were immediately fent to acquaint him with the choice, and pray him to repair immediately to Prague. Frederick difpatched an exprefs to England, to defire the advice of his father in law; but the affair not admitting of fo long delay, he accepted of the kingdom, and was crowned at Prague November 4. All the protellant electors rejoiced at this providence, and gave him the title of king of Bohemia; as did mot of the proteftant powers of Acceptable to Europe, except the king of England. It was acceptable news to the Eng- she Puritans. glh puritans, to hear of a proteftant prince in Bohemia; and they ear- neftly defired his majefty to fupport him, as appears by archbifhop Abbot's letter, who was known to (peak the fenfeof that whole party. This pre- late
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