Zawis and Kunigunde/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII.
DRDA IMPRISONED. PROKOP’S PROPHECY.
Drda, being left to his own discretion, slowly journeyed to Prague. He had not seen the city since the summer of 1278; and although it had grown depressed in enterprise since 1276, yet its aspect presented a scene of gayety then compared with the somber melancholy of the present. The crowd of merchants, especially from Hungary and the Adriatic, had disappeared. Not a single foreign costume presented itself. Inertness, silence everywhere. During two years not a bell had been tolled in the sorrowing city. Eberhard, bishop of Brandenburg, held control as the representative of Otto. The state treasures had disappeared; even the archives had fallen a prey to the ravage of the spoiler.
Not despair but sulleness, not discouragement but reserve marked the look and tone of the people. Through the country desolation extended, except where a strong castle, a walled town, or a hasty rampart of earth protected a cultivated area. A remnant of the estates sat during the summer to concert measures for the expulsion of German and Cumanian bands of freebooters and robbers, and the recovery of some of the royal property both in lands and _ personalty that had been seized by daring aggressors. Armed by these conditions, Drda proceeded to Rudolph’s camp in Moravia. The emperor felt compelled to adopt some energetic measures to expel the plunderers, who still devastated wherever anything remained to seize. Drda experienced some difficulty in obtaining an audience. Not until after the arrival of an expected cavalcade from Hungary did Rudolph choose to receive the envoy. On entering, Drda found the emperor seated in company with Nicolas of Troppau, son of Otakar, and Bishop Bruno.
The three personages regarded Drda with hostility mingled with disdain.
“State your errand briefly,“exclaimed the emperor.
“I come to solicit imperial protection against enemies both within and without the dominions of Bohemia,” replied Drda. “The country necessarily appeals to imperial power now that other strength has failed.”
“I am credibly informed that certain robbers have fortified their castles to a dangerous degree recently,” added the emperor, “and that combinations by marriage and otherwise have been formed in opposition to our interests, and without our permission.”
“As the imperial troops afforded not sufficient protection,” answered Drda, “some have taken the precaution of rendering their defenses equal to their danger.”
“Our representative would surely have furnished sufficient aid,” added the emperor.
“The Bishop Eberhard is inaccessible,” replied Drda. “His methods are harsh; and during his government the last mark from our treasury has disappeared. Even the public acconnts and archives have been ransacked. Public creditors and state debtors are alike liable to wrong through the destruction of our records.”
“I am compelled to regard you as an emissary in the direct interest of an insubordinate and dangerous intriguer,” sternly said Rudolph. “I have commissioned Duke Nicolas to ascertain the present condition of all the fortresses in Bohemia. You will explain to him in full the resources, strength, garrison, and munitions of every strong place, especially Fürstenberg, Hluboka, and your own; although the last I believe is of little account.”
“I am not sufficiently informed as to the strength of Hluboka and Fürstenberg,” answered Drda; “and therefore I must refer your highness to the best authority. No doubt the Duke Nicolas would receive a welcome from Lord Zawis.”
“I shall never seek hospitality in that quarter,” suddenly exclaimed Nicolas. “If I go at all it will be to overthrow the presumptuous usurper who hides there.”
“Such language would properly be addressed to the nobleman in person. In such case it would receive such reply as becomes the unmerited and sinister,”—this word with special emphasis,—“accusation it contains,” firmly exclaimed Drda, looking Nicolas in the face. “Only a mind irregular in its sense of honor as well as in its antecedents would thus shelter itself by the absence of its intended object.
“This in my presence!” exclaimed Rudolph.
“Your highness failed to interpose in behall of a nobleman who knows how to bear himself bravely both in battle and the tournament,” answered Drda, “and therefore you impliedly cast on me the duty of upholding the cause of my friend.”
“What further would you?” asked Rudolph.
“I would inquire if your highness proposes to demand reparation for the murder of Bohemian subjects recently slain in Hungary.”
“King Ladislaus is master in his own dominions. His alliance is important; and all persons must beware how they expose themselves to the penalties enacted against offenses.”
“Those persons suffered the death due to their odious character and pernicious practices,” observed Bruno.
“You will fully inform Duke Nicolas of the condition of the fortresses I have named,” said Rudolph.
“And I must refer your highness to the lord of those castles,” quietly answered Drda.
“Then I remit you to prison until my further pleasure,” decided the emperor; and Drda found the sentence promptly executed by his removal and incarceration at Olmütz. Here he continued, his position utterly unknown, cheered only by the hope that the force of events, culminating in the restoration of young Wenzel to the throne, might decide his fate.
Slowly Bohemia emerged into life. Communications between Hungary and Moravia grew less frequent, and more interrupted. A son born to Zawis and Kunigunde occasioned congratulations in the castle, and renewed attention to the inmates. Imperalists and Bohemians awaited the slow course of time that should renew in weakness the regular forms of Bohemian monarchy under conditions humiliating to one political party, a cause of subdued acceptance to another,and an occasion of unbounded gratification to the greatly increased numbers of religious fraternities that now cccupied the fairest and richest portions of the land. During this dreary period no communication whatever is known to have passed between young King Wenzel in his exile, loneliness, and neglect, and his young and girlish queen.
The imperial household accepted in full the religlous forms, spirit, tendencies, policies and tone of thought, inculcated without hinderance by the teachers commissioned from Rome. Such as they were, the Roman clergy could point to them as the result of their system; such sentimnents as they held they derived from Roman sources exclusively. No movement in Bohemia attracted imperial attention; and no pretense could be invented for depriving Wenzel of his inheritance. The electors jealously watched the imperial policy in that respect. The emperor well knew that any attempted suppression of an electoral vote, or the autocratic transfer of it to a scion of the imperial family would inevitably provoke dangerous alarm. He also knew that the present course of events tended very strongly to incorporate the kingdom of Bohemia more closely than ever with the empire; and he found a less expensive and perilous policy in allowing events to shape themselves than in attempting forcibly to hasten the work to which his aims, and the ambition of his family prompted him.
Nicolas received a commission to traverse the kingdom and make observations. Not being allowed an escort, he selected, or was induced to accept Brother Tertius as traveling comrade. Slowly penetrating the desolated inlands, the companions at length approached the hill of Sadowa, where signs of habitations presented themselves. Here a numerous camp of refugees had created a rough palisade defense. A few wagons also and oxen were observed, the former with wheels composed of solid blocks, or consisting of two half circles of wood joined by strong wooden pins. Here the travelers respectfully craved shelter and some food. “We are famishing in truth,” said Nicolas, “and we suffer.” The outpost replied by bidding his visitors wait. He soon returned with a peasant named Kralek, who recognized the duke, having formerly been attached to Otakar’s own cavalry legion at Kressenbrunn, and Yedensdorf. “Personally you are welcome, Lord Duke,” exclaimed Kralek, “but your companion is of those we like not. He bears the cross of those now well known to have been concerned at Gran. He must remain without; and as for food, he must be content if you share with him your own ration. Our supply is extremely scanty.” Nicolas must needs accept the terms. Brother Tertius accommodated himself as best he could; and a small piece of black, coarse bread constituted his sole entertainment.
As Nicolas advanced he displayed the insignia of the lion of Habsburg, wrought on his mantle as indication of his service. The company consisted of about seventy persons, evidently in sore need. Their only shelter consisted of rude huts thatched with grass; poor and ragged clothing supplemented by grass matting shielded women and children from the chilly air; but all seemed cheerful. They were just then closing their religious exercise under the guidance of Prokop. Lady Ludmila and Milada stood among the mixed congregation; and as Nicolas advanced slowly he heard Prokop close his exhortation saying:—“But in these sad times, brethren, the evil prevails over the good; and the reproach of men is directed against the poor of Christ.
“Si n’i alcun bon que ame et tene Yeshu Xrist
Que non volha maudir, ni jurar, ni mentir,
Ni avoutrar, ni aucir; ni penre de l’autruy
Ni venger se de li seo enemis,
Ilh dion qu ’esVaudes e degne de murir.”
Then observing Nicolas and the lion insignia on his vesture, the old man, raising his hands and looking upwards, declared with much fervor, “There shall come an eagle by whose flight the lion shall be destroyed. There shall come a young eagle, and it shall build its nest in the lion’s den. From the stock of this eagle shall arise another eagle whose name shall be Frederic, who shall reign and rule, and spread his wings even to the ends of the earth. In whose time the chief Pontiff and his clergy shall be broken and dispersed.”
Kralek conducted Nicolas to a very rude shelter of branches, procured for him some muddy water, and at early dawn the duke and his companion silently departed.