Hereupon the 7. of Iune the three States of Bohemia gave this answer to the Em∣perours proposition, That for his request, and for the fatherly affection that he did ever beare to that kingdom, they consented and agreed to accept Ferdinand for their King, and thereupon they assigned the 24. of Iulie for the day of his Coronation at Prague, upon which day this decree was solemnly read, and the States assembled be∣ing asked (according to Custome) by the cheif Burgrave, if any did dislike, or could shew cause to contradict this Free Election, they all freely and orderly with a ge∣nerall applause approved it, and upon that so good warrant the Burgrave proclai∣med Ferdinand King of Bohemia, and offered unto him (as their Custome was) a certaine contribution of his inauguration. So here is an Election made, Frequenti Senatu, & plenâ curiâ, the Emperours assent (who was King in Esse) a consent of the States in a generall assembly, and modo & formâ according to Law and Cu∣stome, And Ferdinand himself was present, and brought upon the stage to take the Oath usually ministred to his predecessors, and to conclude the whole Country ac∣knowledged his regality by doing really the homage unto him, So as no defect was in the proceeding, no Competitor, no barre or opposition to his claime, neither was there any packing or partiality in the Election, and by this solemnity he was created actually King, and albeit his government was not to commence, untill after the death of Mathias, yet the Royalty he had in Esse, their Oathes at his Coronation, their homages, and their contribution was a full confirmation of his title in pre∣senti, (and the rather because the States themselves did him all the honour apper∣taining to their King) so he was more then an heir apparant, for they could not un∣do that which they had done, and dispence with their Oathes, no more then Henry the second of England could unKing Henry his Sonne (though he take Armes a∣gainst him) because he was created King by order and Authoritie.
Besides, after this Election, by the Emperours investiture, being possessed of the Electorate of Bohemia, it stood as reall livery and seisin of his right, honour, and ju∣risdiction, which no man could avoid or defeate, and furthermore, there is extant one Letter from the States, and two from the Directors themselves, written in the life time of Mathias: which were sent to King Ferdinand, wherein they all give him the title of King of Hungaria and Bohemia, and call him their good Lord and Prince, and moreover they all promised to provide him a Crown fitt for their King and Lord, So soone as God should take to his mercy the Emperour Mathias, Therefore if the State only had absolute power to Elect their King: then was Ferdinand, orderly, generally, and freely Elected: And if they had not such power, how had they power afterwards to create another? how could the power serve the turne for Frederick and be defective for Ferdinand?