ThisMansfeldnowappearedinBohemia，and，bytheoccupationofPilsen，stronglyfortifiedandfavourabletotheEmperor，obtainedafirmfootinginthecountry。ThecourageoftherebelswasfartherincreasedbysuccourswhichtheSilesianStatesdespatchedtotheirassistance。
BetweentheseandtheImperialists，severalbattleswerefought，farindeedfromdecisive，butonlyonthataccountthemoredestructive，whichservedasthepreludetoamoreseriouswar。Tocheckthevigourofhismilitaryoperations，anegotiationwasenteredintowiththeEmperor，andadispositionwasshowntoaccepttheprofferedmediationofSaxony。
Butbeforetheeventcouldprovehowlittlesinceritytherewasintheseproposals，theEmperorwasremovedfromthescenebydeath。
WhatnowhadMatthiasdonetojustifytheexpectationswhichhehadexcitedbytheoverthrowofhispredecessor？Wasitworthwhiletoascendabrother’sthronethroughguilt，andthenmaintainitwithsolittledignity，andleaveitwithsolittlerenown？AslongasMatthiassatonthethrone，hehadtoatonefortheimprudencebywhichhehadgainedit。
Toenjoytheregaldignityafewyearssooner，hehadshackledthefreeexerciseofitsprerogatives。TheslenderportionofindependencelefthimbythegrowingpoweroftheEstates，wasstillfartherlessenedbytheencroachmentsofhisrelations。Sicklyandchildlesshesawtheattentionoftheworldturnedtoanambitiousheirwhowasimpatientlyanticipatinghisfate；andwho，byhisinterferencewiththeclosingadministration，wasalreadyopeninghisown。