Drebbel in Prague

Rudolf II

🕮 zie ook Huberts boek (p. 247 e.v.)

=== 1610-1613 Prague​ ===
Quoting from Dr. G. Tierie:

When his fame as an inventor began to spread through the whole of Europe the Emperor of Germany, Emperor Rudolph II (1552—1612), invited him to the royal residence in Prague in 1607. It took some time before Drebbel was able to take advantage of this invitation, but on October 3rd, 1610, he received a free pass from Rudolf, permitting him to travel to Prague with his family.

On the 18th of that month, we already find him in that city and on that date the ambassador of Tuscany, Guglio de Medici, wrote a letter to Galilei, in which he informs him, that a Fleming has come to Prague, who is able to construct a perpetuum mobile. According to a petition, which Drebbel addressed to the English King, James I, a few years later, he had received permission from Prince Henry to make this journey to Prague only a short time previously: ‘Some years ago, most exalted and mighty King, I left for Prague to make for your Majesty a work of art after that which your Majesty has seen. With your Majesty’s approval and by the permission of the most exalted Prince Henry, of saintly memory, I vowed (laying it to heart very earnestly myself) that I would return within six months. But as his Imperial Majesty took unusually great pleasure in my inventions, one of which he had seen, I was not able to free myself again within so short a time and he has kept me with him till his death.’

Praha Hrad 1607

Here, too, Drebbel began by demonstrating his perpetuum mobile to Rudolf II, so that he might make a good impression with that, before displaying his other inventions. Although a man of very different character, Rudolf II shared with James I a very great interest in matters of this sort, devoting himself to them completely with his many ever-changing co-workers in his famous castle, Hradschin, near Prague and troubling himself as little as possible with affairs of state. According to de Peiresc, Drebbel devoted himself chiefly at Prague to the constructing of the perpetual motion machine, to alchemy and to the making of gold alloys for the German mint.

Emperor Matthias

In February, 1611, Matthew, Rudolf’s brother, conquered a part of Prague, by which act this Matthew, who had some years previously received the crown of Austria-Hungary at the hands of the not very energetic Emperor, came into possession of Bohemia also. He even tried to divest Rudolf of the Imperial honours but before he was able to achieve his end, Rudolf died. In 1612 his wish to wear the Imperial Crown was fulfilled.

It is possible that Drebbel was taken prisoner by Matthew in 1611. In his connection his future sons-in-law, the Kuffler brothers, later told de Peiresc the following: ‘When the Archduke Matthew surprised Vienna (this should be Prague. Transl.) and took his brother prisoner, he threw into prison all who belonged to the council of the Emperor, amongst others, Drebbel. The latter’s house was plundered, all his ovens and instruments were destroyed, and the house was given back to Cardinal Klesl, to whom it really belonged. The above-mentioned Archduke ordered all the privy Councillors to be put to death and erected the scaffold on which they were to be beheaded in the square in front of the palace of the Emperor. When the latter saw these preparations from his window and asked his guards what they were for and was told it was to kill Drebbel, he was much troubled and when the Archduke came to see him and saw that he was so sad, he asked him whence this unusual attachment arose, and the Emperor answered, that it was because he was about to kill the greatest man in the world, who had invented that glass bulb (perpetuum mobile), which he showed him, and had designed the fountain below. The Archduke ordered Drebbel to be set free and granted an amnesty; and when this had been done, he proffered apologies for the bad treatment he had received because he was not known, but said that if he would be willing to render to him the service he had rendered to the Emperor and to complete what he had begun, he would doublé the reward the Emperor had promised him. Drebbel answered that he very much appreciated his offer to take him into service but that he was in the service of the king of England, without whose order he could undertake nothing, and who had asked him, when he left him, to let him know whether he agreed to remain in his service. The Archduke Matthew then sent an express messenger to England; but meanwhile Drebble sent a request to the king, begging him not to give permission for him to stay longer, but to say that on the contrary, he was commanded to return, for he was too badly treated here to allow himself to be longer detained. When all this had been done by the king of England, this king promised the Archduke to send him back within one or two years to finish for him that which he had begun. This little trick caused the Archduke to send him back to England in a fine carriage with a gift of two thousand thalers. Official records show that the above-mentioned sum was in reality six hundred thalers.

Other sources also confirm that Drebbel was imprisoned in Prague. They tell us, however, that this was after the death of Rudolf II on the 20th of January, 1612, which, taking the few authentic data into consideration, seems more likely. From the fact that Drebbel, together with an Englishman named Rogerus Cock, soon after Rudolph's death asked for a pass, it may be inferred that he was now making an effort to leave Prague. He did not however achieve this end but was prevented. As regards the cause of this opinions differ. Drebbel himself says in a a letter to King James I-VI: ‘Meanwhile the emperor’s death had reached the ears of Prince Henry (whose memory can never be sufficiently lauded); therefore he insisted earnestly by letter that I should return to him. Consequently, I begged the Emperor Matthew urgently to permit me to go to Great Britain. But he would not grant my request, saying that he needed my help so much in other things and on no account would permit me to leave his court until, in due course, I should have received a command from Prince Henry of blessed memory. At last I received the letter and I showed the letter to His Imperial Majesty, who after reading it, gave me permission to return here, while favouring me by the gift of a plentiful sum of money with which to accomplish my journey.’

Prince Henry

Drebbel actually received three hundred crowns for the journey. He continues: ‘While this was happening, I heard to my unspeakable sorrow and misfortune of the death of Crown Prince Henry Frederick Stuart.’ Prince Henry had died (from typhoid fever, 18 years old) in November 1612, so that Drebbel had been bereft of two of his chief protectors within one year. As evinced by a petition to be allowed to hold a lottery presented by Drebbel to Prince Henry in 1612, in which these words occur ‘has no other means of subsistence’, Drebbel’s financial condition after the death of Emperor Rudolf II was very precarious. According to Svatek and Gindley, two Bohemian historians, Drebbel was mixed up in a case of embezzlement of money and jewels belonging to the Museum and Treasury of Prague. This crime was perpetrated by a gentleman in waiting named Rucky. Soon after the death of Rudolf II this Rucky was imprisoned and with him a number of others, among whom was Cornelis Drebbel. Rucky committed suicide. Svatek and Gindley do not know what became of the others. We know that Drebbel received three hundred crowns to pay for his journey; from which we may conclude that he was not guilty of any very serious misdemeanour. The biography by Cornelis van der Woude too indicates that something of the sort happened to Drebbel in Prague.