Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/393

 From that time Matthias began to work openly to induce the king to resign the government into his hands. With this end in view, he spared no pains to win the favor of both Bohemian and Moravian lords and prelates. He was the more successful in this on account of the increased illness of the king, whose insanity at this time (1608) had reached its worst form, tendering him a raving maniac, who tried not only to take his his own life, but laid violent hands upon any one who happened to be near him when the fit seized him. As the king’s condition seemed hopeless, both Protestants and Catholics looked to Matthias as the one who alone could bring safety and stability to the government. Thus it was that he had among his adherents Charles of Lichtenstein, the most fanatical of all the Catholics, and Charles of Zerotin, of Moravia, one of the most zealous members of the Church of the Moravian Brethren.

The favorable moment having arrived, Matthias called a Diet at Pressburg, to be composed of delegates both from Upper and Lower Austria, and from Hungary. At this Diet it was decided to guard the peace that had been made with the Turks. On his own responsibility, Matthias appointed a Diet to meet at Ivancic, Moravia, hoping that thus both the Bohemians and the Moravians would join the confederation. These proceedings alarmed Rudolph, and he consented to ratify the Turkish peace. But it was too late. Matthias proceeded with the Diet, and there the States promised to stand by each other, not only for the peace with the Turks, but for every other measure that was just and proper. Matthias then organized a temporary government, placing Charles of Lichtenstein at its