perial court; some by flattery and skill in catering to the 

 taste of his Majesty became dignitaries of the palace as well 

 as trusted advisors on all matters pertaining to science and 

 art. Courtier-like these arrant knaves addressed the Emperor 

 as the "Solomon of Bohemia," and as the "Hermes Trisme- 

 gistus of Germany." 



A zealous attachment to the pseudo-sciences was not re- 

 garded as inconsistent with learning, true piety and exalted 

 rank, and Rudolph had many precedents among the crowned 

 heads of earlier and contemporary times. Even as early as 

 1150 the Sultan Kalid, of Egypt, gathered a number of al- 

 chemists at his court, and he himself composed hermetic 

 treatises still extant. Alphonso X, King of Castile, Robert 

 Bruce of Scotland, and Henry VI, of England, are credited 

 with belief in and practice of the mystic art ; the latter being 

 greatly in need of money issued four successive decrees com- 

 manding all nobles, doctors, professors and priests to conduct 

 experiments in transmutation with a view to discharging the 

 nation's debt. In a patent dated 15th September, 1449, King 

 Henry states that he includes priests in his decree because 

 their experience in the miracle of transubstantiation well 

 qualified them for success in transmutation. Edward VI of 

 England, and more than one Pope delighted in alchemical 

 investigations, and Frederick III of Germany, who preceded 

 Rudolph by two centuries, anticipated him in the neglect 

 of affairs of state for love of the pseudo-science ; he surrendered 

 his throne to his son Maximilian and retired to Linz, where 

 he devoted himself to astrology, alchemy and botany until 

 his death in 1493. Of Augustus, Elector of Saxony, more 

 will be told in another place. 



As became the wearer of the crown of Germany, 

 Rudolph maintained a royal retinue of knights, noblemen, 

 officers of the guard, gentlemen of the privy chamber, stewards, 



14 



