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Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie

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could they feel for him? Henry took <strong>in</strong>to exclusive<br />

favor the Popish bishops; <strong>and</strong>, emboldened by a<br />

patronage unknown to them dur<strong>in</strong>g former reigns,<br />

they boldly declared the designs they had long<br />

harboured, but which they had hitherto only<br />

whispered to their most trusted confidants. The<br />

great Protestant nobles were discountenanced <strong>and</strong><br />

discredited. The k<strong>in</strong>g's shameless profligacies<br />

consummated the discontent <strong>and</strong> disgust of the<br />

nation. The patriotic Firley was dead -- it was<br />

believed <strong>in</strong> many quarters that he had been<br />

poisoned -- <strong>and</strong> civil war was aga<strong>in</strong> on the po<strong>in</strong>t of<br />

break<strong>in</strong>g out when, fortunately for the unhappy<br />

country, the flight of the monarch saved it from<br />

that great calamity. His brother, Charles IX., had<br />

died, <strong>and</strong> Anjou took his secret <strong>and</strong> quick departure<br />

to succeed him on the throne of France.<br />

Footnotes:<br />

1. Kras<strong>in</strong>ski, Hist. Reform. <strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong>, vol. 2., p.<br />

294.<br />

2. Kras<strong>in</strong>ski, Hist. Reform. <strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong>, vol. 2., pp. 15<br />

-- 34.<br />

93

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