doctrines; nor would he accept the Utraquistic view
of the Sacraments; and, in 1563, he explicitly declared
that he believed the teaching of the Brotherhood to
be nearer to Holy Scripture than that of either the
Lutherans or the Utraquists. But the release, which
he would not obtain by concession, was shortly to be
granted to him gratuitously. In the year following
this declaration, Ferdinand felt that his end was
approaching; and, as if seized with remorse for his
injustice, he consented to set Augusta free, without
any further conditions. A few months later the king
died; and the accession of Maximilian produced a
further change in the fortunes of Bohemia.

-405-