Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/170

 The call of the Electoral Diet for the 2oth of July, which, according to traditional usage, had been sent out by the Elector of Mentz, was most unwelcome at Heidelberg. It has been related that the statesmen of the Palatinate had baited the Duke of Savoy with the imperial crown, and assured him that he would be elected on the ground that the Palsgrave was supposed to have control of the majority of the votes. It was now perceived that this assurance was too hasty, and effort was made to effect an adjournment of the election. The Palsgrave went in person to the Elector of Mentz, and requested this; but however great the effort might have been, the end was not gained, for Schweikhard of Mentz understood too well what Frederic’s plans were, and that, in case they should succeed, not only would the authority of the Hapsburgs receive a severe shock, but that the Catholic Church in Germany would feel the same.

Frederic now endeavored to win the Protestant Electors for the adjournment of the election, and for this purpose sent his Counsellor, Camerarius, to Dresden, but was repulsed, because John George not only stood in friendly relations with the Hapsburgs, but was, moreover, concerned about his own Electoral hat in case the insurrection should triumph. The Dukes of Weimar had not forgotten how their ancestor, John Frederic, had been by Maurice of Saxony deprived of his dignity and his land, and the revolution in the public relations which was brought about by the Bohemian movement seemed to them a suitable occasion to regain what they had lost. They did not conceal their hopcs, and thus strengthened John George in his friendship for the Hapsburgs.

The Palsgrave personally visited the Duke of Bavaria, and attempted with flattering words to gain him to his