Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/194

 cumulated savings, and set out for Prague. When he reached Amberg, where he tarried a week, in order to make the needed preparations for his entry into Bohemia, an imperial ambassador made him a visit. Ferdinand, who had been disappointed in his hope of falling in with the Palsgrave on his return from Frankfort and dissuading him from furnishing further support to the Bohemian insurrection, desired to make still a last attempt, and to this end dispatched Count Fürstenberg to Frederic. The ambassador requested him, in the Emperor’s name, to concur in the calling of an Imperial Diet, by which all existing variances might be ended, and desired at the same time an assurance from the Palsgrave that he would not accept the offered crown. In the written answer which was handed in the next day it was stated that the Elector had no hope of salutary results from the calling of an Imperial Diet, unless the manifold grievances which had long been subjects of complaint in Germany could be removed beforehand. As to the Bohemian election, he would still consider this important subject, and trusted that he should not fall into any “unjust suspicion” if he should come somewhat to the aid “of the oppressed lands which had elected him.” If we clothe this language in simple words, they would indicate that the Elector would probably accept the Bohemian crown, though this was not yet irrevocable.

About the 20th of October, Frederic departed from Amberg and journeyed to Waldsassen, a place situated near the Bohemian frontier, where he arrived on the 23d. Hither arrived, on the next morning, a deputation of twenty persons to greet him in behalf of the Diet. Frederic received them in a ceremonial audience in the presence of his brother, his eldest son, Prince Christian of