Gentlemenofthenoblesthousescontendedforthehonourofservinghim，andevenimperialchamberlainsresignedthegoldenkeytotheEmperor，tofillasimilarofficeunderWallenstein。Hemaintainedsixtypages，whowereinstructedbytheablestmasters。Hisantichamberwasprotectedbyfiftylifeguards。Histableneverconsistedoflessthan100covers，andhisseneschalwasapersonofdistinction。Whenhetravelled，hisbaggageandsuiteaccompaniedhiminahundredwagons，drawnbysixorfourhorses；hiscourtfollowedinsixtycarriages，attendedbyfiftyledhorses。Thepompofhisliveries，thesplendourofhisequipages，andthedecorationsofhisapartments，wereinkeepingwithalltherest。Sixbaronsandasmanyknights，wereinconstantattendanceabouthisperson，andreadytoexecutehisslightestorder。Twelvepatrolswenttheirroundsabouthispalace，topreventanydisturbance。Hisbusygeniusrequiredsilence。
Thenoiseofcoacheswastobekeptawayfromhisresidence，andthestreetsleadingtoitwerefrequentlyblockedupwithchains。
Hisowncirclewasassilentastheapproachestohispalace；
dark，reserved，andimpenetrable，hewasmoresparingofhiswordsthanofhisgifts；whilethelittlethathespokewasharshandimperious。
Heneversmiled，andthecoldnessofhistemperamentwasproofagainstsensualseductions。Everoccupiedwithgrandschemes，hedespisedallthoseidleamusementsinwhichsomanywastetheirlives。