Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/147

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MARRIAGE OF ZAWIS AND KUNIGUNDE
143

Lord Drda said, “A ceremony of deep import to Bohemia is now to be performed. As interests of the most weighty character depend not only on the accredited regularity, legal formalities, and recorded testimony of these solemnities, all present will expect precision and due form in the preliminary contract. I will therefore request our legal functionary and notarius, Nikolas Jaroslav, to read the formal document that has been prepared, and is to attest the presence of the witnesses now assembled.” Hereupon Jaroslav read from an engrossed parchment the following:—

“Before the Nobles’ Court of Kœnigin-gratz.

“In the Schloss of Kœnigin-gratz.

“During the minority of our Lord, King Wenzel, and in the month of March, 1280, on the 18th day thereof.

“In the presence of the exalted Kunigunde, Queen of Bohemia, the Lord Zawis of Falkenstein, the Lady Ludmila of Falkenstein, the Lord Drda, the Lord Ogev of Lomnic, the Lord Sezima of Straz, Witek of Krumau, and the Lady Agaphia Brzava, and notary Nikolas Jaroslav:—

“Contract of marriage between the Lady Kunigunde, and the Lord Zawis, witnesseth:

“That by this contract each of the said contracting parties retains all the private property appertaining to them severally in right of rank, dignity, dower, inheritance and purchase. Especially the Lady Kunigunde retains the ownership in full of the sum of fifty thousand marks bestowed upon her by the late King Otakar, for her maintenance, and to be em-