This terror, which pursued him every hour, palsied his energies; and while the Turks were drawing nearer to his capital, and Hungary had broken from his sway, and insurrection was breaking out in all parts of his dominions, he secluded himself in the most retired apartments of his palace at Prague, haunted by visions of terror, as miserable himself as he had already made millions of his subjects.  He devoted himself to the study of the mystic sciences of astrology and alchymy.  He became irritable, morose, and melancholy even to madness.  Foreign ambassadors could not get admission to his presence.  His religion, consisting entirely in ecclesiastical rituals and papal dogmas, not in Christian morals, could not dissuade him from the most degrading sensual vice.  Low-born mistresses, whom he was continually changing, became his only companions, and thus sunk in sin, shame and misery, he virtually abandoned his ruined realms to their fate.

Rhodolph had received the empire from the hands of his noble father in a state of the very highest prosperity.  In thirty years, by shameful misgovernment, he had carried it to the brink of ruin.  Rhodolph’s third brother, Matthias, was now forty-nine years of age.  He had been educated by the illustrious Busbequias, whose mind had been liberalized by study in the most celebrated universities of Flanders, France and Italy.  His teacher had passed many years as an ambassador in the court of the sultan, and thus had been able to give his pupil a very intimate acquaintance with the resources, the military tactics, the manners and customs of the Turks.  He excelled in military exercises, and was passionately devoted to the art of war.  In all respects he was the reverse of his brother—­energetic, frank, impulsive.  The two brothers, so dissimilar, had no ideas in common, and were always involved in bickerings.

The Netherlands had risen in revolt against the infamous Philip II. of Spain.  They chose the intrepid and warlike Matthias as their leader.  With alacrity he assumed the perilous post.  The rivalry of the chiefs thwarted his plans, and he resigned his post and returned to Austria, where his brother, the emperor, refused even to see him, probably fearing assassination.  Matthias took up his residence at Lintz, where he lived for some time in obscurity and penury.  His imperial brother would neither give him help nor employment.  The restless prince fretted like a tiger in his cage.

In 1595 Rhodolph’s second brother, Ernest, died childless, and thus Matthias became heir presumptive to the crown of Austria.  From that time Rhodolph made a change, and intrusted him with high offices.  Still the brothers were no nearer to each other in affection.  Rhodolph dreaded the ambition and was jealous of the rising power of his brother.  He no longer dared to treat him ignominiously, lest his brother should be provoked to some desperate act of retaliation.  On the other hand, Matthias despised the weakness and superstition of Rhodolph.  The increasing troubles in the realm and the utter inefficiency of Rhodolph, convinced Matthias that the day was near when he must thrust Rhodolph from the throne he disgraced, and take his seat upon it, or the splendid hereditary domains which had descended to them from their ancestors would pass from their hands forever.