Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/191

 Elector, Elizabeth, daughter of the King of England, used similar language; it is at least certain that she never disapproved of his ambitious plans. Frederic decided, therefore (September 25, 1619), to accept the crown without waiting for the concurrence of England, and on the following day informed the King of England accordingly. Two days later he communicated his decision to the Bohemian Directors, and it was known in Prague in the beginning of October that the King elect had accepted the election.

Before giving an account of the coronation which followed, we shall here indicate what were the contents of the declaration from England, so earnestly desired by the Palsgrave, when it finally came to hand. It is evident, from the instructions which James had given to Lord Doncaster, how careful he was of the interests of the Hapsburgs, and how little disposed he was to assume in the Bohemian affairs an unfriendly attitude towards them. It might, therefore, be presumed that the news of the election would not be agreeable to him, while he would be positively exasperated by that of the acceptance. When, on the 13th of September, he was informed by Christopher von Dohna of the actual election, he stoutly rejected all prayers and representations designed to secure his sanction of it and his interest in his son-in-law. It was in vain that Dohna labored to move him; to all entreaties and flatteries of the ambassador he finally answered that he would not be forced to a decision, but would quietly think the matter over. He was not torn with anxiety for his son-in-law, but with solicitude lest it should be thought in Spain that he had had a hand in the election of the Bohemian King. He therefore wrote Philip, and assured him that he was quite innocent of the elevation of his