Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/62

 sador brought his master’s demand in regard to Alsace before an imperial commission, composed of Khlesl and other members of the imperial privy council, and still further demanded that, in case of the extinction of Ferdinand’s male issue, the male issue of the Spanish King should take the precedence of Ferdinand’s female issue. This latter claim was conceded by all, while the other was rejected, and it was suspected—not without ground—that Khlesl expressed himself adversely simply to put off the settlement between Ferdinand and Philip. In order to end all delays, however, Ferdinand determined to yield; but he confided his decision only to Eggenberg—the two agreeing that this should be kept a secret from Khlesl and the Emperor. He gave Count Oñate a bond in which he obligated himself to the cession of Alsace, but still indirectly addressed a request to the King of Spain not to accept this sacrifice, but content himself with the smaller offers made at Gratz. He at the same time conceded the precedence of the King’s male to his own female issue. Oñate then declared to the Emperor and the Cardinal that Philip would, in the meantime, be satisfied with the preference conceded to his male issue, and thus disposed of the Cardinal’s excuse that the Spanish negotiations must be closed before the crowns could be conveyed to Ferdinand. Maximilian was also in Prague, and kept quiet up to this point, but now stormed more loudly than ever, hurling his threats around him, and thus forcing from the Cardinal a promise that he would call a Diet for the coronation at Prague for the month of August. The two Archdukes, satisfied with the promise, departed; but the Emperor fell into an illness of such nature that his immediate death was apprehended, and the Catholic portion of the Bohemian authorities em-