Thus the great conflict, to be afterwards known as the Thirty Years’ War, had in reality begun already, and the Netherlands, in spite of the truce, were half unconsciously taking a leading part in it.  The odds at that moment in Germany seemed desperately against the House of Austria, so deep and wide was the abyss between throne and subjects which religious difference had created.  But the reserved power in Spain, Italy, and Southern Germany was sure enough to make itself felt sooner or later on the Catholic side.

Meantime the Estates of Bohemia knew well enough that the Imperial house was bent on destroying the elective principle of the Empire, and on keeping the crown of Bohemia in perpetuity.  They had also discovered that Bishop-Archduke Leopold had been selected by Rudolph as chief of the reactionary movement against Protestantism.  They could not know at that moment whether his plans were likely to prove fantastic or dangerous.

So Matthias came to Prague at the invitation of the Estates, entering the city with all the airs of a conqueror.  Rudolph received his brother with enforced politeness, and invited him to reside in the Hradschin.  This proposal was declined by Matthias, who sent a colonel however, with six pieces of artillery, to guard and occupy that palace.  The Passau prisoners were pardoned and released, and there was a general reconciliation.  A month later, Matthias went in pomp to the chapel of the holy Wenceslaus, that beautiful and barbarous piece of mediaeval, Sclavonic architecture, with its sombre arches, and its walls encrusted with huge precious stones.  The Estates of Bohemia, arrayed in splendid Zchech costume, and kneeling on the pavement, were asked whether they accepted Matthias, King of Hungary, as their lawful king.  Thrice they answered Aye.  Cardinal Dietrichstein then put the historic crown of St. Wenceslaus on the King’s head, and Matthias swore to maintain the laws and privileges of Bohemia, including the recent charters granting liberty of religion to Protestants.  Thus there was temporary, if hollow, truce between the religious parties, and a sham reconciliation between the Emperor and his brethren.  The forlorn Rudolph moped away the few months of life left to him in the Hradschin, and died 1612 soon after the new year.  The House of Austria had not been divided, Matthias succeeded his brother, Leopold’s visions melted into air, and it was for the future to reveal whether the Majesty-Letter and the Compromise had been written on very durable material.

And while such was the condition of affairs in Germany immediately following the Cleve and Julich campaign, the relations of the Republic both to England and France were become rapidly more dangerous than they ever had been.  It was a severe task for Barneveld, and enough to overtax the energies of any statesman, to maintain his hold on two such slippery governments as both had become since the death of their great monarchs.