Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/183

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NEW POLICIES. DEATH OF KUNIGUNDE
179

sonality, his experience, and the glad deference of his step-son.

This condition of the government at Prague, where Lord Zawis of necessity administered the chief authority without hinderance, created displeasure and disquietude at the imperial court. A strong patriot, the chief of the Wtkowici, the embodiment of Bohemian distinctive nationality ill suited the jealousy and the ambition of the now consolidated Habsburg interest.

By a singular oversight, no precaution had been adopted against such an eventuality.

Wenzel succeeded to the formal and legitimate jurisdiction of his hereditary estates. His crown represented an independent internal jurisdiction. His vote in the empire could not be impugned so soon as he grew old enough to exercise it; and Albert apprehended disastrous results to his own prospects should he now provoke the hostility of the Bohemian crown. Accordingly court favor was carefully cultivated. Rudolph and Albert exhibited both respect and deference to the King of Bohemia; but the emperor claimed greater compliance with his wishes on the part of his son-in-law than he had hitherto received. As Wenzel advanced in age, the influence of Queen Judith and her confessor and counselors acquired still greater influence. The young king exhibited impatience of the authority of his step-father; and the effect of imperial suggestions on that side became apparent.

The first care of the new administrator had arisen