with his remaining troops secretly in the night of December 17, 1742, and went to Eger.
The steward had to laugh heartily every time he thought of the alarm that prevailed after the departure of the French troops, among those who had done homage to the Bavarian Elector. Those who could do so packed up and followed him to Bavaria. But all went unexpectedly well with them; the Empress did not intend to enforce her right to the throne by any harsh measures. She made, however, a very emphatic proclamation to the fugitives to return within six weeks and present themselves at the court. Privately it was known that she did not intend to punish them severely for their disloyalty, but that the guilty would be punished only by fines. The majority of them returned, and their punishment really was very light.
When everything was settled. Maria Theresa came to Prague to be crowned. She behaved as pleasantly as if nothing had happened. The Bishop of Olmutz, Count Lichtenstejn, placed the crown on her head, because the
