“My dear brother-in-law,” said the Electoress, “you are certainly going far away from the subject.”
“I think not,” answered the Margrave. “It is the same condition of things now. Herr Minister, I ask you this. Did not Protestant doctrine spread all over Bohemia under the mild and benignant rule of Maximilian the Second?”
“That it spread under the rule of the Emperor? Yes! That Maximilian was mild and benignant? No! I call him weak and indifferent as to the Catholic religion, otherwise he would not have left his successor so difficult a task.”
“Why this discussion?” interrupted the Electoress. “Let us take up the matter in hand.”
“Gracious sister-in-law, grant me a few minutes and you will understand how deeply I have this matter at heart,” replied the Margrave. He resumed: “Herr Minister, I would recall to you the son of Maximilian the Second, the Emperor Rudolph the Second. In a letter to the Bohemians he promised them the right of free worship. That promise is well known under the name of ‘His Majesty’s Letter.’ Can you deny this?”
“No,” replied Schwarzenberg, “but the fact must be taken into account that this letter was extorted from the Emperor by force.”
“Then, you mean that it has no value?”
“Not any,” replied Schwarzenberg, calmly. Surprise was manifest upon the countenances of the Electoress, the Margrave, and the Chancellor.
“Truly,” said the Margrave, “that is a convenient arrangement! Promise anything and whenever the most solemn promises are made then break them. You mean to say that if the promiser is weak, physically or mentally, and force is applied, his promise is of no account. This infernal method was also followed by the Emperor Matthias and the late Emperor Ferdinand. Whom can the Bohemians trust? Tell me, Herr Minister, is it not notorious that the Emperor has declared he will get the Bohemians back into the Catholic faith, if not by kindness, then by force?”
“I have heard so, and I think he is sufficiently strong and determined to carry out his purpose,” replied Schwarzenberg.