Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/403

 he had no more independence of character than Rudolph; and was, moreover, under the same Jesuit-Spanish influence. The energy he had displayed in usurping his brother’s throne was not so much the result of his own will, but was due to the ability of his advisers, who hoped by a change in the government to serve their own ends. It was true that some of the Protestant lords obtained positions in the government; for example, Count Thurn was appointed to fill the office of Burggrave of Carlstein; but their united power was no match for that of their more numerous, crafty, and unscrupulous enemies, at whose head was the chief chancellor, Zdenek Popel of Lobkovic. As soon as Matthias found that he no longer needed the Protestant lords, he was easily convinced that they were the main obstacle to his carrying on the government in his own way. Thus, in a short time after his accession to the throne, matters glided into the old channels, and the anti-Protestant party managed matters as they had done before.

The Catholic prelates and authorities constantly aimed to provoke the Protestants to some open act of violence, so as to give the king a pretext for depriving them of the Letter of Majesty. This was not only the case in Bohemia, but in other countries as well. As might be expected, having common grievances, the more prominent men of Bohemia, Austria, and Hungary sought to come to some understanding as to the remedy. There was also much secret correspondence between the lords of Bohemia and the Protestant princes of Germany. The hopes of the Protestants that some change would be made received consider-