Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/192

 son-in-law. He did in reality need to make this apology if he would avoid suffering the shipwreck of his darling plan of effecting a close alliance with Spain and the marriage of his son with the Infanta Mary. When, however, in addition to this application from Dohna, he was urged also by Carleton, his ambassador at the Hague, acting at the request of the States-General, to a decision favorable to the Palsgrave, he was forced to summon his council to advise him in regard to the future course of England. During the sitting, which took place on the 30th of September, the news was brought in that the Palsgrave had decided to accept the Bohemian crown, and all the members of the council united in requesting the King to sanction Frederic’s decision, and by a public proclamation make known the alliance with him. This, too, was all in vain. Two days later Dohna was admitted to an audience with him, in which he gave vent to his entire accumulation of resentment towards his son-in-law. The answer which he sent to the latter was, in substance, that he not only for himself refused him all aid, but also denied his prayer for his intercession with the King of France and the Venetian Senate, and censured him for his course of action.

The King was soon obliged, however, to use language implying that he had not yet finally declined to give support to the Palsgrave, otherwise he could not defend himself against the impetuous pressure of some of his own partisans. One of the English bishops, in a letter which came to James’ knowledge, entered most warmly into the defence of Frederic and his cause, which cause he deemed to be bound up with that of the gospel, and the support of which was the most imperative duty of every believing prince. Similar language was employed by Noël de