Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

what was unlawful was not binding, and that as
soon as he should be crowned, he might proceed,
the oath notwithstanding, to drive from his
kingdom all religions contrary to that of Rome.[3]
The bishops began to teach the same doctrine and
to instruct Henry, who was approaching Poland by
slow stages, that he would mount the throne as an
absolute sovereign, and reign wholly unfettered
and uncontrolled by either the oath of Paris or the
Polish Diet. The kingdom was in dismay and
alarm; the Protestants talked of annulling the
election, and refusing to accept Henry as their
sovereign. Poland was on the brink of civil war.
At the coronation a new treachery was
attempted. Tutored by Jesuitical councillors, Henry
proposed to assume the crown, but to evade the
oath. The ceremonial was proceeding, intently
watched by both Protestants and Romanists. The
final act was about to be performed; the crown was
to be placed on the head of the new sovereign; but
the oath guaranteeing the Protestant liberties had
not been administered to him. Firley, the Grand
Marshal of Poland, and first grandee of the
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