gary a certain vague right of election, which was last exercised in the case of Matthias himself. This occurred also on the same occasion in Bohemia, because Matthias, on account of his brother’s enmity, must renounce his hereditary right and be elected by the Estates. To all these circumstances no regard was paid on the Spanish side. Philip claimed the succession as his undoubted right, and would enter into no negotiations except with the princes of his house. Such were, however, the circumstances, that in case the right of the Hapsburgs were not contested, then the Archduke Ferdinand was the called heir, since in Bohemia, as in Hungary, precedent agreed with legal decisions that the female line could be called to reign only after the extinction of the male line.
Ferdinand, when informed of the claims of Philip, was in difficulty. If he should call upon the Hungarian and Bohemian Estates to decide the question, he might indeed hope that the Catholics would reject the Spanish pretensions. On the other hand, however, it was certain that the Protestants would use their opportunity, once for all, to set aside the hereditary right of the Hapsburgs—at least they would strongly contest this right. He deemed it therefore most prudent to enter into confidential negotiations with his Spanish cousin for the purpose of buying him off with promises—which promises, however, were doubtful as to the possibility of their fulfilment. Philip, foreseeing that his claims in Hungary and Bohemia would meet with decided opposition, showed himself inclined to enter into negotiations, which were accordingly opened between the Spanish ambassador, Zuñiga,and Ferdinand’s confidential agent, Herr von Eggenberg. After a year’s correspondence back and forth, Philip offered to renounce his inheritance in consideration of an indemnity, and, in
