Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/175

 of the insurgent government. The Electors took the oath that they would act in the election which was to follow according to their best knowledge and conscience, and then proceeded to the Election Chapel (Wahlkapelle) each of the Electors and of the chief envoys attended by three counsellors, who were to act as witnesses in the execution of the capitulation. A notary read the document, and the Electors bound themselves that, in case one of their numbers should be chosen, he would faithfully observe the terms of the capitulation. Then all but the seven Electors withdrew.

The Elector of Mentz began the proceedings by calling upon the Elector of Treves for his vote; to which call he responded by naming King Ferdinand, Archduke Albert, of Austria, and Duke Maximilian, of Bavaria, as suitable candidates, and closed by giving his vote for Ferdinand. The Elector of Cologne followed with the declaration that his brother Maximilian, of Bavaria, declined to be regarded as a candidate, and he therefore gave his vote, for weighty reasons, in favor of King Ferdinand. It was Ferdinand’s next turn to vote; but the Elector of Mentz did not call upon him, but turned, as if in forgetfulness, to Count Solms, as representative of the Palsgrave. Solms drew forth a paper which contained the vote, and read it. In this were named as fit persons for the place, on the Evangelical side, the King of Denmark and the Elector of Saxony, and, on the Catholic side, King Ferdinand, Archduke Albert, and the Dukes of Bavaria and Savoy. The Palsgrave desired that the Empire have a head capable of putting an end to the present sad condi-