The trembling hand and the tearful eye with which Frederic accepted the crown, proved his incapacity to bear the burden in those stormy days.  Placing the government of the Palatinate in the hands of the Duke of Deux Ponts, he repaired, with his family, to Prague.  A rejoicing multitude met him at several leagues from the capital, and escorted him to the city with an unwonted display of popular enthusiasm.  He was crowned with splendor such as Bohemia had never witnessed before.

For a time the Bohemians surrendered themselves to the most extravagant joy.  Frederic was exceedingly amiable, and just the prince to win, in calm and sunny days, the enthusiastic admiration of his subjects.  They were highly gratified in having the King of Bohemia dwell in his own capital at Prague, a privilege and honor which they had seldom enjoyed.  Many of the German princes acknowledged Frederic’s title, as did also Sweden, Denmark, Holland and Vienna.  The revolution in Bohemia was apparently consummated, and to the ordinary observer no cloud could be seen darkening the horizon.

The Bohemians were strengthened in their sense of security by a similar revolution which was taking place in Hungary.  As soon as Ferdinand left Vienna, to seek the crown of Germany, the Protestants of Hungary threw off their allegiance to Austria, and rallied around the banners of their bold, indomitable leader, Gabriel Bethlehem.  They fell upon the imperial forces with resistless fury and speedily dispersed them.  Having captured several of the most important fortresses, and having many troops to spare, Gabriel Bethlehem sent eighteen thousand men into Moravia to aid Count Thurn to disperse the imperial forces there.  He then marched triumphantly to Presburg, the renowned capital of Hungary, within thirty miles of Vienna, where he was received by the majority of the inhabitants with open arms.  He took possession of the sacred crown and of the crown jewels, called an assembly of the nobles from the various States of Hungary and Transylvania, and united them in a firm band against Ferdinand.  He now marched up the banks of the Danube into Austria.  Count Thurn advanced from Moravia to meet him.  The junction of their forces placed the two leaders in command of sixty thousand men.  They followed along the left bank of the majestic Danube until they arrived opposite Vienna.  Here they found eighteen thousand troops posted to oppose.  After a short conflict, the imperial troops retreated from behind their intrenchments across the river, and blew up the bridge.

In such a deplorable condition did the Emperor Ferdinand find his affairs, as he returned from Germany to Austria.  He was apparently in a desperate position, and no human sagacity could foresee how he could retrieve his fallen fortunes.  Apparently, could his despotic arm then have been broken, Europe might have been spared many years of war and woe.  But the designs of Providence are inscrutable.  Again there was