Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/195

 Anhalt, and the most prominent members of his retinue, and gave answer to the address of Count Andrew Schlick, who acted as spokesman, and touched upon the reasons of the Bohemian royal election in a free and fluent speech. The deputation then repaired to the wife of the Palsgrave, where Ruppa spoke for the rest, thanking her Highness that she had shown herself so kindly disposed towards the wishes of the Bohemians, and that she had encouraged her husband to accept the royal crown. Elizabeth responded to the French speech in the same language, assuring the deputation that what she had done she had done gladly and for the sake of religion. Thenceforth the Electoral pair bore the royal title.

On the 25th of October, Frederic, attended by his whole court, consisting of not less than 569 persons, including servants of all kinds, continued their journey to Bohemia. In each large town which he touched a festive reception was prepared; but the most brilliant were where he passed the nights. After the last night, which was spent in the Castle of Buštěhrad [Bushtyehrad], the royal procession, early in the morning of the 31st of October, arrived before the Zoological Garden, called the Stern [Eng., "Star "], in Prague. Before the castle which adorns this garden awaited the King a numerous portion of the Bohemian nobility, many envoys from the neighboring lands, and numerous companies of mounted men festively clad and consisting partly of young noblemen and partly of citizens of Prague. The first impression made by this young man of twenty-three years upon the waiting crowd, which he was now to rule, won them. His tall and slender form and his captivating features received general applause. As soon as he saw the company in waiting for him, he descended from his carriage, took off his hat, and