Character of Maximilian.—His Accomplishments.—His Wife.—Fate of his Children.—Rhodolph III.—The Liberty of Worship.—Means of Emancipation.—Rhodolph's Attempts against Protestantism.—Declaration of a higher Law.—Theological Differences.—The Confederacy at Heilbrun.—The Gregorian Calendar.—Intolerance in Bohemia.—The Trap of the Monks.—Invasion of the Turks.—Their Defeat.—Coalition with Sigismond.—Sale of Transylvania.—Rule of Basta.—The Empire captured and recaptured.—Devastation of the Country.—Treatment of Stephen Botskoi. Page 182
[CHAPTER XIII.]
RHODOLPH III. AND MATTHIAS.
From 1604 to 1609.
Botskoi's Manifesto.—Horrible Suffering in Transylvania.—Character of Botskoi.—Confidence of the Protestants.—Superstition of Rholdoph.—His Mystic Studies.—Acquirements of Matthias.—Schemes of Matthias.—His increasing power.—Treaty with the Turks.—Demands on Rhodolph.—The Compromise.—Perfidy of Matthias.—The Margravite.—Fillisbustering.—The People's Diet.—A Hint to Royalty.—The Bloodless Triumph.—Demands of the Germans.—Address of the Prince of Anhalt to the King. Page 198
[CHAPTER XIV.]
RHODOLPH III. AND MATTHIAS.
From 1609 to 1612.
Difficulties as to the Succession.—Hostility of Henry IV. to the House of Austria.—Assassination of Henry IV.—Similarity in Sully's and Napoleon's Plans.—Exultation of the Catholics.—The Brother's Compact.—How Rhodolph kept it.—Seizure of Prague.—Rhodolph a Prisoner.—The King's Abdication.—Conditions Attached to the Crown.—Rage of Rhodolph.—Matthias Elected King.—The Emperor's Residence.—Rejoicings of The Protestants.—Reply of the Ambassadors.—The Nuremberg Diet.—The Unkindest cut of all.—Rhodolph's Humiliation and Death. Page 213
[CHAPTER XV.]
MATTHIAS.
From 1612 to 1619.
Matthias Elected Emperor of Germany.—His Despotic Character.—His Plans Thwarted.—Mulheim.—Gathering Clouds.—Family Intrigue.—Coronation of Ferdinand.—His Bigotry.—Henry, Count of Thurn.—Convention at Prague.—The King's Reply.—The Die Cast.—Amusing Defense of an Outrage.—Ferdinand's Manifesto.—Seizure of Cardinal Klesis.—The King's Rage.—Retreat of the King's Troops.—Humiliation of Ferdinand.—The Difficulties Deferred.—Death of Matthias. Page 229
[CHAPTER XVI.]
FERDINAND II.
From 1619 to 1621.
Possessions of the Emperor.—Power of the Protestants of Bohemia.—General Spirit of Insurrection.—Anxiety of Ferdinand.—Insurrection led by Count Thurn.—Unpopularity of the Emperor.—Affecting Declaration of the Emperor.—Insurrection in Vienna.—The Arrival of Succor.—Ferdinand Seeks the Imperial Throne.—Repudiated by Bohemia.—The Palatinate.—Frederic Offered the Crown of Bohemia.—Frederic Crowned.—Revolt in Hungary.—Desperate Condition of the Emperor.—Catholic League.—The Calvinists and the Puritans.—Duplicity of the Emperor.—Foreign Combinations.—Truce between the Catholics and the Protestants.—The Attack upon Bohemia.—Battle of the White Mountain. Page 245
[CHAPTER XVII.]
FERDINAND II.
From 1621 to 1629.