him his liege lord. He then appealed for help to Archduke Leopold, the younger brother of Ferdinand of Styria. Leopold was a daring young man, who, although destined for a clerical life and already possessing two bishoprics, that of Passau and Strasburg, nevertheless was eager to embark in any enterprise that might win him glory.
With the sanction of Spain, that of Archduke Charles and other princes, Rudolph entered into an agreement with Leopold, whereby that prince was to humble the States of Bohemia, to nullify the Letter of Majesty and take vengeance upon its authors, get himself declared the successor of Matthias, and compel him to restore his dominions to his brother.
Leopold was so far successful in his plans that, partly by force and partly by artifice, he succeeded in gaining possession of Budweis, Krumlov, Pisek, Tabor, and several other cities, and finally took stand upon the White Mountain, about three miles from Prague.
As soon as the Protestant States saw the proceedings of the armies of Leopold, they met in Prague and asked the king the meaning of this invasion. To satisfy them, he ordered the army of Leopold to leave the country; but knowing his wishes, instead of departing, they advanced to the Small Side, and made preparations to force their way into the Old Town. About two thousand of them succeeded in crossing the bridge, but the gate was closed behind them, and most of them were slain. A report was spread among the people that many of the invaders had obtained refuge in the convents, whereupon these places were attacked by the enraged people, the monks murdered, and the houses plundered of their goods,
