Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/176

 tion of its affairs, and he found in the Duke of Bavaria the fittest person for the imperial crown. Mentz next called for the vote of Ferdinand, who, however, requested that the other Electors should first be asked; and the Saxon envoy was called upon, and declared himself, in short, decidedly for Ferdinand. The envoy of Brandenburg named King Ferdinand and the Archduke Albert, and ended by declaring himself for Ferdinand, on the ground that Maximilian declined the election. Mentz, then, after mentioning Albert and Maximilian, gave his vote for Ferdinand, who himself also, as it now came his turn again to vote, declared that, as the majority had decided for him, and, according to the Golden Bull, he had a right to vote for himself, he would avail himself of this right and vote for himself. The Elector of Mentz now put to the envoy of the Palatinate the question whether he would separate himself from the majority; upon which Solms, too, declared himself for Ferdinand. The election was over, and was unanimous. Deeply touched by the gravity of the occasion, Ferdinand gave expression of his thanks for the dignity conferred upon him, and pledged himself to preside with fidelity and earnestness over the Empire.

The election signified, not only the triumph of the Hapsburgs, but a defeat of the party of the Palatinate, such as could not have been more decided. The Palsgrave had moved heaven and earth to prevent, or at least to delay, it; he had, in the end, even meditated a resort to violence, and his endeavors had not only failed, but his envoys had at last, however unwillingly, given their vote for Ferdinand.