took the Oath first, and then the Soldiers of the Garrison.
On the 10th of October Proclamation was made by Sound of Trumpet for all Foreigners, who were not in the Retinue of the Electors, or the Electoral Ambassadors, to retire out of the City before the Sun was set, till the Electors had chose an Emperor. The Nuncio thought at first, that his Character and the Respect due to the Holy Father would exempt him from the general Rule; but being inform'd of the contrary, he retir'd to Aschaffenbourg.
On the 12th, about seven in the Morning all the Bells were rung, upon which the Burghers and the Soldiers of the Garrison assembled at the Houses of their respective commanding Officers; and then went and posted themselves in the Streets leading from the Town-house to the Church of St. Bartholomew. The Burghers had the Post of Honor from the Soldiers. At nine o'clock the Electors and Ambassadors went to the Town-house, the Courts and Equipages of all but the Ambassadors of Bohemia having laid aside their Mourning.
The Moment after the Electors arriv'd in the usual Chamber of the Assembly they went into other Rooms, where they caus'd themselves to be dress'd in their Electoral Habits, which are very majestic, being wide Gowns very much plaited with very long Sleeves, the Linings and Facings being of Ermin; and over all the Electors wear a sort of Mantle of Ermin. The Habits for the Spiritual and Temporal Electors are much the same, only those of the former are of Scarlet, and those of the latter of Crimson-Velvet. Their Caps are of the Color of their Habits, and like them turn'd up with Ermin.
As soon as the Electors were dress'd they return'd to the Assembly-Room, and then went with the Ambassadors of the other Electors from the Town-House to the Square, where they found Horses sumptuously caparison'd, which they mounted, and thus rode in Cavalcade to St. Bartholomew's Church. The three Electors rode first in one Row bare-headed. The four Ambassadors of the absent Electors rode next, according to the Rank of their Masters. Their Electoral Highnesses and the Ambassadors were receiv'd at the Door of the Church by the Bishop of Neustadt at the Head of the Chapter, who conducted them into the Choir, where they plac'd themselves, according to their Rank, in the Stalls of the Canons, which were lin'd with Velvet and Gold-Lace. The Elector of Triers sate by himself opposite to the Altar, where a Praying-Desk and an Arm-Chair were set up for him, which were lin'd also with Crimson-Velvet.
When all the Company were seated, the Bishop of Neustadt began the Mass. At the first Consecration, the Ambassadors of the Protestant Electors went into the Chappel of the Conclave which joins to the Choir: After the Elevation of the Host they return'd to their Places, where they remain'd during the rest of the Office, and then the Electors and Ambassadors all went up to the Altar. The Elector of Mentz was in the middle between the Elector of Triers on his Right and the Elector-Palatine on his Left. The Ambassadors were in the same Row, according to their Rank, on the Right and Left of the Electors. The Elector of Mentz took the Book of the Gospels and laid his Right Hand upon it, as did also the Electors that were present, and the Ambassadors of those who were absent, and then
took the customary Oath to elect no Person for Emperor but one that they should think in Conscience to be most qualify'd. After having taken the Oath they went into the Chapel of the Conclave, where they were shut up near three Hours. Then they return'd into the Church and plac'd themselves in a Gallery erected over the Grate that separates the Choir from the Nave, which was lin'd with Scarlet Cloth and hung with Tapestry, and had seven Arm-Chairs plac'd in it of red Velvet, adorn'd with Lace and Fringe of Gold. The Electors and Ambassadors being seated, the Chancellor of Mentz read aloud the Act which had been just drawn up in the Conclave, whereby Charles King of the Romans, and of Spain, was proclaim'd Emperor. Then the whole Church resounded with great Shouts of Long live the Emperor! And at the same instant the Cannon was fir'd from the Ramparts, and the Burghers and the Garison made three Discharges of their small Arms.
After the Proclamation the Electors and the Ambassadors descended from the Gallery to their Places in the Choir, and after the singing of Te Deum which was tun'd by the Bishop of Neustadt, they return'd to the Town-House in the same Order that they came. There the Electors quitted their Robes of Ceremony, and each return'd to their Palaces, where they stay'd till the Evening; and the Ambassadors did the same. At Night they all supp'd at the House of the Count de Windisgratcht, the first Ambassador of Bohemia, and by consequence the Ambassador of the new Emperor, who gave a magnificent Feast, which was accompany'd with a very fine Concert of Music. This great Day's Work was concluded by the Choice which the Electoral College made
of Prince Charles of Neubourg, to carry to the new Emperor the Act of his Proclamation.
Notwithstanding the surprizing Concourse of People from all Quarters to see this august Ceremony, there was not the least Disorder in the whole Solemnity, excepting a little Dispute that happen'd between the Prince de la Tour Taxis and the Count of Nassau-Weilbourg. The former, tho' of a modern Family in comparison to the Count, yet presuming upon his Title of Prince, claim'd Precedency of the Count, but the latter decided the Difference in an instant; for he took the Prince by the Arm, and pushing him behind him, said to him, You are to know, Sir, that such Princes as you are, walk behind such Counts as I am. The Prince very much stunn'd at the Compliment, did not think proper to push his Pretensions farther.