Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/293

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INNOCENCE OF ZAWIS PROVED
289

the Bohemian dominions. Wenzel well understood the meaning of this phraseology. He was born heir of a kingdom that extended from the Baltic to the coast and islands of Dalmatia.

The production of these archives required the assembling of the royal council. Many of the most perplexed questions of administration obtained full solution. Respecting the documents affecting the Duke Nicolas as duke of Troppau, and Lord Zawis, the king authorized Jaroslav to present them in such manner as he thought best.

Impelled by a sense of wounded honor, and by a just resentment, Jaroslav first read the official entry in his own handwriting, recording che royal grant.

“But,” said Duke Nicolas sharply, “that entry is unsupported by any royal decree. Without such document the council must decide that your entry is a forgery.”

“His highness the king, and the lords present,” replied Jaroslav, impressively, “can at once recall the sentence of imprisonment inflicted on myself in connection with this subject. Events equally startling and opportune have furnished me with the necessary vindication. During the recent struggle, although brief, before Hluboka, two women, one of them closely veiled, were observed to watch with evident anxiety the movements of Duke Nicolas here present. They briefly addressed and encouraged the wounded, and were permitted to move as they chose. The person of the duke attracted missiles, and two of these aimed together struck and slew with a dreadful dis-