Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/71

 which the expectation was expressed. A few, however, did not allow themselves to be surprised into an utterance; they perceived with what purpose they had been called, and refused to express their views on a subject properly considered only in the Diet. Having thus revealed their opposition to Ferdinand’s elevation, they were admonished by his partisans that it would be well for them to have each two heads. Some of the opposition were frightened by this threat, and kept away from the transactions of the Diet for want of courage to maintain their opinions.

On the 5th of June, 1617, the Diet was opened. Before the ceremonial opening, at which Matthias himself was to be present, at an early hour of the morning all the high functionaries and counsellors were summoned to the Chancellor’s office, where the terms of the royal proposition to be laid before the Estates were communicated to them. Those invited, with the exception of Thurn, all appeared. The chief Burggrave, Adam von Sternberg, made a friendly address, specially framed to conciliate the Protestants. He represented that the succession was settled and unavoidable; it would therefore be better quietly and peaceably to accept this state of things, thus laying the future King under the obligations of gratitude, than to embitter him by a useless opposition. He then called upon those present to deliver their views, according to station and duty. The first who declined to follow out this suggestion was William von Lobkowitz. He answered that he should not give his opinion until he gave it in the Diet; and he persisted in his refusal, although the Chancellor commanded him, as a counsellor of the King and the country, to speak. His example was followed by Ruppa, who gave utterance to his astonishment