Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/114

 The seizure of the Cardinal had been effected; but now the Emperor must be persuaded to assent to this measure: and here began the most difficult part of the solution of the problem of the Archdukes. An hour after the seizure they announced themselves at the apartments of the Emperor, and were refused admission. When no other answer was returned to their repeated requests, they urged their way without the desired permision to his presence, and related what had. been done. The Emperor was violently agitated, said not a word, and bit the bed-clothes in the impotency of his rage. He afterwards resumed his self-control, characterized Maximilian’s act as rude, demanded the Cardinal’s immediate release, and yet, however, became so far appeased as to listen to the reasons by which the two Archdukes defended their action. They failed, however, to win his concurrence, and left him unreconciled; but they did not retreat in their measures in regard to Khlesl.

The parties at the court now fell into a violent ferment. The Cardinal’s adherents, Khuen and Trautmansdorff, took up his defence, while the majority of the prominent men favored Ferdinand’s rising fortunes, and labored to reconcile the Emperor to his cousin, which was not indeed difficult, since he wished Ferdinand no ill, and it was only through his minister that he had fallen into this adverse attitude towards the princes of his house. The Empress was irreconcilable, and would on no ground forgive the act committed upon the Cardinal. But as she was still less than her husband in a condition to give effect to her indignation, she also gradually adjusted herself to the inevitable, and, after several days of pouting, ceased to fight against the treatment of the Cardinal. In the course of time Khlesl was transferred from Ambas to Hall, and