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152
The Story of Bohemia.

ing him in confinement until the wronged man could obtain restitution from the archbishop’s own estates. On another occasion two theological students, having been arrested and put to death by the orders of the king’s chamberlain, although the king approved of the act, the archbishop, nevertheless, excommunicated the chamberlain.

King Václav had obtained, as a mark of special favor, the proclamation of the Year of Jubilee by Pope Boniface IX. He attached the greatest importance to this, intending to make it a time of great rejoicing in Prague. But all his plans were thwarted by the churly archbishop, who positively refused to do anything in preparation for that season of grace.

The ill-feeling between the king and the archbishop reached its climax in the quarrel about the Abbey of Kladrau.John of Nepomuk. Václav had determined to establish another bishopric in Bohemia, intending to use for this purpose the Benedictine convent of Kladrau, and was only waiting till the abbot, who was quite old, should die. Here again his plans were thwarted by the archbishop. Learning of the death of the abbot, the archbishop, through his vicargeneral, John of Nepomuk, immediately appointed a successor. When Václav heard of this, his rage knew no bounds, and he swore a fearful vengeance upon the proud priest. His courtiers, fearing that serious evils might result from such an open rupture with one of the dignitaries of the Church, did all in their power to quiet him, and finally he consented to have an interview with the offending prelate. But no sooner did Václav set his eyes upon his enemy than his wrath burst out afresh, and he ordered his immediate arrest,