PROTESTANTISM EXTERMINATED.

209

the death of Wallenstein. In fact, its downfall dates almost from the beginning of the war. That broke out in 1618. Two years after, the hostile armies were brought face to face three miles from the walls of Prague. That day was fought the battle of the White Hill, and when the sun went down, Protestantism in Bohemia was overthrown. The Elector Frederick, who had been chosen king, was driven from his throne, and the ancient kingdom of Bohemia passed forever under the dominion of the emperors of Austria. That fatal victory was followed by terrible scenes. A year after, when confidence was in some degree restored, and many had returned to their homes, suddenly the Protestant leaders were seized and brought before a military tribunal. Twenty-seven of the noblest and best, eight great officers and nobles, fourteen councillors, and a host of inferior persons, were brought to the scaffold. The heads and hands of those of noble birth were cut off and stuck up on the gate tower of the bridge. Thus the Reformation in Bohemia was drowned in blood.

But there was yet a vial of judgments to be poured out upon the kingdom of the oppressor. "In the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; the dregs thereof, the wicked shall wring them out and drink them." Though Protestantism never recovered from this fatal blow, yet the cup which the tyrant gave to others to drink, was again and again pressed to his own lips. The war was not ended with the success of a

single battle. For more than a quarter of a century it raged in every part of Europe, and desolated his own dominions. Once Prague was captured by the Elector of Saxony. And again, at the very close of the war, in 1648, it was besieged and bombarded by the Swedes for fourteen weeks.

Nor was it merely Protestant blood which flowed on that public square in front of the City Hall. Here Wallenstein returned like a hunted lion, after the battle of Lutzen; in which, though his great rival and enemy, Gustavus Adolphus, was stretched upon a bloody bier, yet even in dying he had struck terror into the hearts of his foes, and the Imperial battalions had shrunk in dismay before his last charge. Enraged at his defeat, the iron-hearted Wallenstein caused the strictest inquiry to be made into the conduct of his officers, and eleven of noble birth, besides many of inferior rank, who had shown cowardice, were executed without mercy. Does it not seem like a retribution of God that this inexorable leader at last perished by the hand of the assassin!

At present, Protestantism in Bohemia may be almost said to be exterminated. In the city of John Huss there are now but two Protestant churches, while there are 55 Catholic churches and chapels, 11 monasteries, 4 nunneries, and 10 synagogues!

Yet behold the compensations of Providence! God holds the scales with an even hand, and the loss or the disaster incurred in one part of his great kingdom, is

THE WHITE HILL AND PLYMOUTH ROCK. 211

sometimes repaired by a gain at the ends of the earth. Do not think me a vain American because my thoughts, even at this distance, return so frequently to my own. country. But there I find compensation for all our losses in Europe. The battle of the White Hill was fought in 1620-the very year in which the Pilgrims sailed for New England! It was fought on the 8th of November. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, December 22d. Thus, at the very time that the pure faith was driven from its ancient seats in the Old World, God was preparing for it a broader empire on the shores of the New,

CHAPTER XVI.

VIENNA CONTRAST WITH BERLIN-THE IMPERIAL CITY-HISTORICAL. ASSOCIATIONS-TOMBS OF THE EMPERORS-MARIA THERESA-THE SON OF NAPOLEON-THE PRESENT ROYAL FAMILY-THE GOVERNMENT-FAILURE OF THE REVOLUTION OF 1848-RESULT OF THE WAR IN HUNGARY-SIGNS OF PROGRESS.

THERE could not be a greater contrast between two cities, than that between the two chief capitals of Germany. The one is broad and flat and rectangular, with streets as interminable and dreary as German metaphysics; the other stands thick with tall houses interlocked like lovers' arms, and narrow streets that go winding round and round like a troupe of Viennese waltzers, whirling in the mazes of the dance. Beyond the walls of Vienna, instead of the barren plain, which surrounds Berlin, the eye rests with delight on a rich valley sloping upwards to wooded hills, and in the midst of the landscape, in place of the small and stagnant Spree, trailing its slow course through the sand, is seen the dark-rolling Danube, pouring its majestic flood of waters to the Black Sea.

The associations, too, are all different. Berlin is raw

VIENNA -CONTRAST WITH BERLIN.

213

and new, Vienna old and venerable. With a lofty disdain, the tower of St. Stephen's looks down on the low, plastered houses of the Prussian capital. Vienna is the Imperial city, the royal house of Austria claiming to be the successors of the Roman Emperors, while the Prussian monarchy itself is but an upstart among the dynasties of Europe-only possessing a royal title from the beginning of the last century, when a vain elector of Brandenburg at last obtained what had been the great object of his ambition all his life-the empty title of a king, and was rewarded for his pains, like other upstarts, who step out of their place, by being obliged to endure innumerable mortifications, and by being snubbed by all his royal brethren. Indeed, it was not until the great Frederick became at once the wonder and terror of Europe, that the nations acknowledged that there was a king in the Prussian Israel, and monarchs grew civil to one who asked no consent of theirs to confirm his title to a regal crown.

From that time, Prussia became a great military monarchy, yet Berlin has no stirring memories of battles and sieges, which make it historic ground. Several times, indeed, it has been in possession of an enemy, in the Seven Years' War, and after the battle of Jena, when the Imperial guards of Napoleon poured through the broad streets of the conquered capital. But no great battle by which the fate of nations is decided, has ever been fought around its walls. But Vienna for hundreds of years has