Zawis and Kunigunde/Chapter 14
CHAPTER XIV.
NEW POLICIES. DEATH OF KUNIGUNDE.
The dreary winter dragged itself slowly away, all the more noticeably dilatory as men’s hopes had confidently centered in the revival of national autonomy, at least nominally, at the close of Otto’s term of regency. In May, 1283, the emperor expressed himself satisfied that peace and obedience were assured in Bohemia. A numerous cavalcade, unexpectedly brilliant, conducted young Wenzel to Prague. Here a faded court in some degree restored, and also disappointed public expectation. The young queen came surrounded with attendants exclusively foreign. But the government administered by aliens created violent, albeit suppressed antagonism. The boy king yearned for the presence and sympathy of his mother, whom he had not seen during more than four years. Queen Kunigunde, Zawis and their son, with a few chosen attendants, assumed at Wenzel’s special command a permanent residence in the royal palace; and all parties yielded pre-eminence to the commanding mind, energy, and dignity of Lord Zawis, as the person best capable of directing state affairs in the present emergency. Zawis knew, counseled, directed, and soon controlled by the force of his personality, 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 from the presence and lawless activity of military depredators who had established themselves in various strong places, and rendered traffic perilous, and in many directions impossible. To the suppression of this brigandage Zawis directed his energetic efforts. His first selection of an officer to suppress these disorders rested on Duke Nicolas, partly as son of the late king, partly as an experienced captain, and partly as an avowed advocate of the imperial policy.
“To you, valiant duke, the king commits the suppression of these culprits,” declared Zawis, “well knowing your soldier fidelity, and your adherence to the royal house.”
“The commission does me honor,” replied Nicolas; “but I presume the selection is made in default of a more confidential person.”
“I know of none whom I more willingly confide in,” answered Zawis. “To whom does your valor allude?”
“Probaby the malefactors’ retreat at Olmütz can answer your question,” insolently replied the duke. “The fellow attempted to play the ambassador, and earned a dungeon for his presumption. He has left his lady love to mourn by his effrontery.”
“You will proceed to execute your commission,” replied Zawis; and the king expects full obedience and prompt report of your proceedings.”
Here unexpectedly flashed the intelligence of Drda’s imprisonment. The fact had been closely concealed; and Nicolas had been the instigator. “He bears about him the tokens of his illegitimate origin,” soliloquized Zawis; “he has the valor of his father spoiled by a vulgar malignity that never sullied the character of the Premysls. He will yet work us evil in revenge for his consciousness of his own exclusion.”
An order from the king to inspect the condition of all the prisons of the kingdom for the purpose of reviving the long neglected criminal jurisprudence previously administered with strict regularity, enabled Zawis to inform himself of the number, possibly considerable, of prisoners of malice he might discover. All these persons must certainly increase his partisans, and extend the reputation of his policy. The general order, issued in very indefinite terms, afforded Zawis wide latitude. With Drda received their liberty a number of persons imprisoned solely on the order of Bishop Bruno, and charged, when charged at all, only with neglect of attendance at divine ordinances.
Drda entered Prague with a cheerful air, determined to deprive his enemies of all reason for supposing him either depressed or out of humor. As none at court, except Lord Zawis, knew of his detention, he received and sought for no special recognition. Lady Ludmila welcomed him with her usual stately grace; but accorded no manifestation of especial interest. Her questions, however, were numerous; and a wish for information on the state ol the country detained Drda long by her side. She held him there, and yet restrained his earnest replies; until Kunigunde herself rallied him on his emaciated appearance.
“In truth,” replied Drda, “there is little to eat where I have been. The residents are surly; and yet their hospitality will not permit a stranger to depart so long as they can overcome his disposition to be gone.” Here a shade of care she struggled to conceal passed over Lady Ludmila’s face. A sentiment of sympathy did exhibit itself; and a slight tremor of the lip told of an emoticon she would not avow. Drda received scant opportunity for dalliance, however. As Rudolph had seized the entire revenues of Moravia for two years to indemnify himself for military expenses, and as these sources of income constituted in fact the chief dependence of Wenzel for household disbursements, the charges of the palace formed a subject of great anxiety to Zawis. Drda accordingly received commission to investigate the economic condition of Moravia, and endeavor to restore order to the finances of that dukedom, which, according to ancient custom, belonged to Wenzel until the birth of an heir to the crown.
During nearly two years Zawis held his place and his dignity; and Wenzel exhibited a boy’s preference for the counsels of his mother over the petty fractiousness and girlish whims of his queen. With difficulty Wenzel acquired some of the elements of education. He learned to read, and imbibed some ideas of state duties from persons around him; but all mingled with the fictions told to him by idle mercenaries who amused his imagination with tales of magic and of supernatural inventions. He grew suspicious, moody, perplexed by the contradictions between his kingly duties and the practical affairs of state, and the wild theories of ghostly influences instilled in his mind by the interested gossips about him. In such a condition of mind Wenzel lent a ready ear to accusations against his officers, and especially his step-father. To an ignorant mind success and power seem to spring only from abuse of opportunity. The thousand details, the myriad of special instances, and the infinite exercise of skill and judgment that lead to the combination known as success, are all overlooked. Ignorance always attributes the worst motives, and if this ignorance be associated with supposed supernatural or satanic influences, the result is an amalgam of fear and hatred that is ready to annihilate the success as the result of hostility to the dupe himself. The ignorant always believes himself to be the especial object of attack. This moody temper readily corresponded with the purposes of the young queen and her counselors. Judith frequently complained of the straitened circumstances of the royal finances. A peremptory order from the king required Zawis to disclose the condition of the kingdom, and especially of the revenues.
Wenzel had already acquired that disposition so frequently exhibited since by the rulers of Austria and Spain,—to require wealth to spring from the substance of the country’s property and not from the economic proceeds of it. Hence, at the urgent instigation of the queen, he required his minister to seize all that was needed directly from those who had something, utterly regardless of the instant ruin thereby created. In presence of full royal council Zawis exposed the condition of the country.
“According to my polyptic carefully compiled during the last two years,” explained Zawis, “instead of thirty-eight great towns there remain but nine.
“Instead of two hundred and nineteen towns of second class are to be found now but seventy-three; and our villages and hamlets have been reduced from fourteen hundred and eighteen to less than three hundred. On the happy return of the king not a mark remained in the treasury.
“Even the archives had been pillaged. We have not yet secured a full statement of the debts due to or from the crown.
“The crown lands have been alienated, some openly enclosed by greedy lords in order to extend their own domains, some seized under pretense of donation by old and new monastic orders. The revenues from the crown lands, hitherto the most regular and reliable source of income, have almost disappeared. The peasantry have wholly died out in many parts of Bohemia and Moravia and steps have been taken to transfer colonists into the vacant regions. Robbers long destroyed the hopes and the industry of merchants; but these banditti have felt the arm of power. The public accounts have been regularly submitted; and rarely have we succeeded in covering our expenses. Army there is none. Scarcely a nobleman can furnish the quota that his estate demands. The king’s interest compels the most careful suppression of all but the most needful expenses.”
“The church has not received its dues, in tenths, primates, offerings, or services,” exclaimed the queen’s confessor.
“The comforts of the ecclesiastics have been sufficiently provided for,” replied Zawis. “On this subject hear the report of the king’s commissioner: ‘Among other complaints and remonstrances must be mentioned that of the “Thorn Crown,” now by some named the “Golden Crown,” monastery. This house,established by King Otakar about twenty-four years since, and endowed munificently, has ceaselessly complained that its revenues are not paid. It is situated on the very field of Kressenbrünn, and has been the center of repeated conflict. On our visit we perceived a marked contrast between this establishment and the poverty of the surrounding region. Ten large, shaggy deer hounds reposed before the huge fire in the great hall where we gladly sheltered ourselves. Ample viands and wine stocked the larder and the cellar, and the brethren exhibited every proof of abundant good cheer. The stables furnished us with the best horses, and we departed with thankfulness for the best provison and most munificent hospitality we have as yet enjoyed.’ I would,” concluded Lord Zawis, “that all the king’s dominions exhibited the same picture of prosperity.”
During this period Kunigunde’s health gradually and mysteriously declined.
Her life formed the only bond between Lord Zawis and the power that he wielded.
Increasingly the king and queen exhibited impatience of his authority; but the presence of Kunigunde, still the natural guardian of her son, a youth of sixteen,and retaining much of his deference and attachment, supported the presence, and with the presence the undisputed authority of her husband. A cabal in the palace gradually coalesced into a distinct party, at first secretly, and soon openly hostile to Zawis.
Kunigunde’s attendants were suddenly changed; and Teresa, with quiet mystery, but incessant vigilance, directed the purchase and distribution of all provision for the palace.
“I experience a depressing change,” said the dowager queen to her husband, “since that woman was thrust upon me. I feel a burning, a thirst, and a lassitude that causes me apprehension.”
“I would we enjoyed the services of my former Hebrew friend,” answered Zawis, “but I fear he is at too great a distance. I will, however, dispatch a messenger. Perhaps he may arrive in time.”
Kunigunde languished, and ere many days drooped towards death. “Dear Zawis,” she said, “I have observed a change in my son. He is now wholly under the control of the queen. Even the selection of my own viands has been denied to me. I charge you to beware also; or we may both be the victims of ill practice. We must soon be separated, my dear lord; I feel it. To your wisdom I commend our son. To you I entrust for his benefit all the inconsiderable fortune appertaining to me. Farewell, dear, I know the end approaches. You have with you my whole love and honor; and I ask for you the best blessings from on high. You have deserved far better than you have received; and I fear your manly heart must encounter still more determined animosity when my poor presence is withdrawn. Farewell; kiss me, dear Zawis. It is the last time”—and with these gentle words Kunigunde suddenly breathed her last.