Royal Court of Bohemia

[Petrarca]

His Majesty, hesitantly at first, responds:

"Herr Baron, you are welcome here in Prague. I am happily surprised that His Lordship the Duke has finally decided to accord the kingdom with the respect that it deserves. I pray that the Duke Albrecht will perhaps even apologize for the dismemberment of Bohemia and flagrant violation of the Golden Bull, as a sign of good faith and precursor to serious relations. We must inform you, Herr Baron, that the Crown shall shortly depart on a state visit. You may remain here at the court or accompany us to Stettin."

 

[Auspend]

The baron is almost surprised by the affirmative answer from the king.

"Your Majesty, I would be pleased to accompany you to Stettin. As for His Grace's predicessor's crimes, well, they are not His Grace's to apologise for. But he does dissaprove of his cousin's acts, and were he Archduke then he would never have taken the same actions that Albert took. His Grace is most keen on the ideal of justness."

 

[cccino]

To His Majesty the King Ladislav of Bohemia,

I have been informed of your majesty's concerns regarding Bohemian trade in the Palatinate and indeed all states of the Danube Syndicate.

I am pleased to suggest that perhaps Bohemia could negotiate with the Syndicate for some kind of association, whereby Bohemian merchants would be exempt from extra ordinary tariffs; for it is not the aim of the Syndicate to inhibit trade through the use of heavy taxes on non-members.

Furthermore, perhaps some kind of arrangement could also be made to allow Bohemian traders access to Syndicate docks and warehouse facilities along the Danube?

If you are willing to discuss these matters, I welcome you to contact us at our council headquarters in Buda.


Antal Linczak, Chairman
Danube Syndicate.

 

[Petrarca]

It was night, but the fire burned brightly in Plzen. Kristina rose from her needlework and dismissed her servants. The captain of the guard had entered, and she stood.

“No reason to stand, milady. You are a noble woman, and I am in your father’s employ. It is a lesson you must learn,” ,” he said with a bemused tone.

She replied, “Herr Gruber, my father does not treat you as a common servant, and neither shall I.”

In return, he said, “So the daughter becomes more like her father, then?”

She paused, sighed, then said, “I could tell you how much I resemble, if I were to see him. For more than a year he has been in Heidelburg, and in that time all I have heard from him are a few inquiries into our estates. He sees me as a manager for his lands, or a chamberlain to recognize and welcome guests in his absence, rather than as his only child.”

Gruber quickly responded to Kristina’s lament, “This is not the case, milady. Your father, Herr Slavomir, does indeed love you. But he is pained to speak with you. No man can easily speak his intentions to his daughter, especially on who resembles her fair mother that he loved so much.”

She spoke, saying, “So I should blame my later mother, bless’t be her name, who gave her life to give mine, for the distance with which my father treats me?”

He could only say, “No, Katrina, for he cherished you, his daughter and heir, and only speaks platitudes for fear of reopening old wounds.” He paused, and drew a letter from his vestment. “Milady, your uncle sent this missive, from Rome, to you.”

She opened the seal, which bore the stamp of the Metropolitan’s ring, and read.


My dearest niece,

I write with mixed feelings today. His Holiness has not seen fit to aid a diocese of his own church, however he sends the Inquisitor to join his Deputy and perhaps this may lead to some good. I am pleased, though, to finally return home where I may shepherd my flock and once again look upon your bright face. Please notify Herr Captain Gruber that we return shortly. I apologize for my absence, especially when your father too is also away, but soon such a young girl as yourself will not have to run a noble household. Take caution, and trust in Christ,
Dietrich



Finishing, she held the letter over the fire. It glowed, and soon was consumed by the flames, its words written in black now still on black, but as ash at the bottom of the hearth.

He raised his eyebrows and said, “I would jest about your ladyship being in ill humor with your uncle as well after you incinerated his letter, but that would probably earn me your ill will.”

She turned to him and said, “The only other way to anger me at this moment would be to continue to address me as ‘your ladyship,’ Herr Guard Captain Gruber.”

He smiled and said, “Your father, in my years of service, has always called me by my Christian name. I will extend to you the same privilege.”

Rather than accepting his concession, she continued, “Well, Hans, between your decades of your service, if you really did fight in Italy you must have started at the age of six or you are considerably older than you look.”

He responded wryly, “I accept your gracious compliments on my spirit and the charming spirit they were offered in, Kristina, but I recall saying ‘years’ rather than ‘decades’, which leaves plenty of time to have fought for Francesco Sforza and his bloodthirsty lieutenants in my life.”

“Are you saying you weren’t one of Sforza’s chief aides? This admission of imperfection is astonishing from you!”

“His lieutenants were battle-hardened killers many times your age. But enough, why did you burn the letter? It was a harmless personal letter on the outside. What sort of code was there, and what did it say?”

“I’m not twelve years anymore, Hans. Do you open all the letters I receive?”

“The seal will detach, intact, when held over boiling water. I believe the vapors do it.”

She smiled and said, “You’ll need to bring your cauldron to the courtyard, then, so you can load it into one of the coaches. The fire revealed an ink, once unseen, written on the letter before it consumed the parchment. My uncle said for us to travel north with the king’s court. We are to see the Emperor in Stettin.”

“How should I now trust my confessor when his superior, the Cardinal Archbishop, sends invisible messages across the empire?”

She retorted, “You could relieve your doubts about the secrecy of your confession quite easily.”

He said, “And how would you suggest that? Find a Taborite?”

She laughed, and said, “No, no. You can be sure about whether or not your confession is reaching my uncle’s ears by the simple expedient of just confessing directly to my uncle. Then you will be sure that he knows.”

He shook his head in mock disapproval, and said, “I shall order the coaches prepared for the journey and send notice to the king’s chamberlain.”

 

[Petrarca]

In Prague, the royal court split. The high nobility, rulers of Bohemia through the device of the Regency Council, remained, bidding goodbye to the arrivistes and upstarts of the nobility, while the king, his household, and his supporters entered carriages, bound northward to Stettin, happy to be rid of the aristocrats they maligned as supporters of Jan Hus and bigoted against Germanism. Individuals outside these court cliques, such as Katrina Rokycana and Baron Johann von Villach, the Austrian envoy, were unrestrained by such societal pressures and chose what they wished. Regardless of the others, His Majesty Ladislav V, scion of half of the dynastic families of the Empire, left with the Grandmaster of the Knights of the Crosse of the Red Star. The pair were among the first to depart, on the king’s insistence, with Vaclav Holub ze Skorkova carrying personally a small wooden case that bore inside a gift.

 

[LordScod]

A short and young diplomat enters the Court of Bohemia

Your Majesty, I am Stefen Durnrich diplomat from the Ducal Court of Bavaria. With your permission I would like to be the official ambassador from Bavaria to Bohemia. Duke Albrecht III wishes for a good realtionship between our to nations.

He bows and waits for a reply

 

[Petrarca]

As Pommern celebrated the entrance of the ducal heirs into the Church, a irritated boy looked at the marshes and the coast of the Baltic. He had lived his life since his election well by his standards, learning the levers of power and feeling his way into the position as the only monarch within the Germanies save for the Emperor, knowing himself as the last of the glorious Luxemburg dynasty whose name was not even properly his own, supplanted by the Wittelsbach. Ladislav V, King of Bohemia, though, was still a boy whose fate was controlled by alien nobles who intended to preserve their own prerogatives at the expense of his.

He had come to change all that. Something changed him, though, as he saw in the distance a lady dashing from a coach to the ducal palace. Moved before only by contemplations of the powers of statecraft, he felt rapture within himself when he saw that distant creature that compared only to his coronation ceremony. Watching the woman and her attendants enter, he was distracted for once from political concerns. Only the striding man following behind the group, who caught his glance with a dispassionate stare, shook Ladislav from his reverie. No longer under the trance of the woman nor his dour mood, he re-entered the palace with new purpose in mind.

”Speak with the majordomo at once. We must have an audience with the Emperor before he or we leave Stettin. Arrange it as quickly as possible; I have no patience for delays.”

After dismissing the page, he turned to the Grandmaster and addressed him: ”We feel now is an appropriate time to award the Emperor the gift. Perhaps he may recognize it as a symbol of Bohemia’s piety at a time when the Pope calls for a Crusade. Perhaps-“ Ladislav stopped speaking as he tracked the same lady on the far side of the room, then he returned to his conversation: ”Perhaps he shall, as he should, take our audience quickly so that we may be done with this and return to the throne in Praha. We tire of being powerless when God has chosen us to rule Bohemia, not Jan Rohac.”

Katrina endured the journey to Stettin, and endured the intonations that the Pommeranian priest thought was Latin. Soon, perhaps, she would speak with Emperor. As she left the coach, she could hear the sounds of the guests inside the ducal palace. ”So, Herr Gruber, shall we meet with the man who turned Pommern into the Admiral of the Baltic and liberated the kingdom? Or shall we be left out in the cold with this wet humor?”

Gruber spoke after spotting a noble in the distance, one to whom he owed nominal allegiance as lord over his own lord, Vikomt Rokycana. Averting his eyes from the king, he only said, ”It remains to be seen.”

 

[Longinus]

In Stettin

The old audience chamber in the castle of Pommeranian dukes was filled with courtiers, Ducal and Imperial officials. Everybody wanted to witness official audience between The Greif of Pommern, and young King whose blood and fate led him onto the throne of St. Wenceslas.

Joachim was studying the young gentleman’s face carefully, he did it earlier of several occasions but the current situation was new for Ladislav. The results were inconclusive yet promising, Joachim always believed that eyes and face, even silhouette can tell a lot about a person and now this young king was yet another proof of his theory. He stood firmly before Joachim, looking directly into his eyes without hesitation, that was iron will in this boy and all reports seemed to be correct. Ladislav was filled with stories of his blood, filled with fervor, grace, determined to rule his heritage without much compromises. ”He could have been my boy, what a face, what a look, like a hawk… I hope my boys will grow up alike.”

However, Joachim did not express his thoughts aloud, his face was as usual flat with slight echo of feelings inside. He learned this face well during the years that passed, once he was impulsive but his position made him to change, and now a gentle smile appeared on this flat face.

“Your Majesty Ladislav V, King of Bohemia, Prince Elector of the Empire,

Truly we are pleased that you came to visit our humble home and made the baptizing ceremony of my children even more splendid, I thank thee for that.”

After saying that Joachim bowed slightly.

“We hope that you have enjoyed your stay here and will visit us even more with passing time for nothing would please us more then ever-growing friendship and bounds with the pearl of Empire, Crown of St. Wenceslas.

As Your Majesty know we have always fought in order to free the Kingdom from the yoke of Hapsburg and finally with God’s allowance we did achieve this aim. Bohemia was heavily experienced with heresy and ill will of the neighboring Houses, yet through this path we hope that a lesson was learn and that people of this very realm will become even more pious. The old sins were forgiven, as it is Christian obligation to forgive. Out of oppression and greed a new beginning was born. Almighty made it possible and we all should pray to him with our thanksgiving.

We pray that Your Majesty will be forgiving to your enemies and always cherish Holy Mother Church. The path of chivalric righteousness is the only one to be followed by a noble ruler, which will lead one to Heavenly Kingdom.”

After saying that he looks on the gathered people and says.

“Your Majesty, I have heard your requests yet I am weary to fulfill your plea for I was always against Emperor interfering to much with the internal policies of its subjects. Their sovereignty should be cherished as the laws of Empire are cherished, most importantly the Bull called Golden issued by your noble ancestor Charles the Fourth.

Yet it is within our power to legally declare Your Majesty ready to rule your lands without the need of regency council anymore. We are eager to do so as soon as possible for we already learn about your pious intentions and will.

With that to conclude we ask thee to accompany us to Nurnberg where the official ceremony shall be concluded before the Imperial Diet.”

*****​

The very same day an audience was granted to Katherine of Bohemia and herr Gruber.

 

[unmerged(8915)]

Event

Bohemian inquisition​

Archbishop Albert Arzt of Heidelburg, Chief Inquisitor for the Empire, continues his investigatory duties on behalf of Mother Church with the help of his inquisitorial staff of monks dedicated to the eradication of heresy. After stymied once with no conclusions as to the state of the faith in Bohemia, he continues doggedly. His monks search the province for followers of the rogue theologian Jan Hus, burned at the Council of Constance, and the one-eyed general Jan Ziska, killed in the last Hussite campaign. With the aid and direction of the priests of the archbishopric of Praha, Arzt and his staff complete another report on behalf of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, focusing on the prominent and powerful figures in the region.

Bohemia spends 1 eco on a modified outcome.

1. A significant minority of the population, largely Czechs, retains sympathies for the heretic cause (-1 morale for 1 year to Bohemia).

2. A minority of the population retains sympathies, Czech peasants most of all (no effect).

3. A minority of the population retains sympathies, but their numbers are dwindling (no effect).

4. A few nobles remain hussites for political reasons (no effect).

5. The hussites are all but abolished in Bohemia (no effect).

6. Heresy no longer calls Bohemia its abode (+1 morale for 1 year to Bohemia).

Roll: 1+1=2; A minority of the population retains sympathies, Czech peasants most of all (no effect).

 

[Petrarca]

Ladislav, with the Grandmaster in the audience, speaks to the Emperor. "We consider it a great honor and indeed a pleasure to be received by Your Majesty as a brother sovereign. For too long, we have been held in check by the heretic-sympathizing nobles who claim the regency. As Your Majesty has brought to our attention and to the attention of such noble witnesses as Herr Grandmaster Holub, our privileges as prince-elector are now valid as we have completed our eighteenth year not long past. This demonstrates the now-irrelevancy of men such as Jan Rohac who would attempt to rule as kings themselves when God Almighty has not selected them for the privilege of being a Christian king. The Grandmaster, I believe, has a token of Bohemia's goodwill to present to Your Majesty. With the receivement of this decoration, the greatest our humble kingdom has to offer, the Knight's Cross, the recipient becomes a Master of the Knights of the Cross of the Red Star...

"Your Majesty..." As she curtsies, Katrina blushes at the event of a private audience with the Emperor of Humanity. "Your Majesty, I, the daughter of an upright man, beg some special favor. Perhaps the intervention of Your Serene Majesty could sway the course of events to promote the well-being of the faith Bohemia. The Church still sees many remain outside its flock in the Kingdom, and my uncle, a pious priest who has obtained some high office within the apostolic ministry established by Christ, has asked his niece to prevail upon Your Majesty for a certain favor." Katrina continues while the Emperor listens to her case and Captain Gruber stands at attention before the world's temporal leader.

 

[Longinus]

In Stettin

During the audience with king Ladislav.

Joachim bowed before the young king and grandmaster Holub.

“Truly this is an honour to be awarded with such magnificent decoration, I will wear it with pride and always remember the realm of Bohemia. I swear you will be always close to my heart. Should the Kinghts of the Red Cross march I will march with them. Who knows perhaps they will have this opportunity soon for the Muslim hordes breached the line of the Eastern Bull.

Your Majesty, Your Grace, We will be leaving to Nurnbeg in two days, I believe you will accompany us there.”

*****​

Later during his private audience.

“Milady, please air your idea…”

 

[Petrarca]

In Nuremberg

Jan Rohac sat in the Diet, his face clutched in his hands. The Emperor was coming to Nurnberg- as well as the King. For years he had controlled Bohemia as regent, but his reign was apparently coming to an end as Ladislav came of age.

"Bring ink and parchment. NOW!" he shouted at a passing scribe. He began dictating quickly, and before the ink lost its moisture he had his work signed, sealed, and copied. One copy, among others, was sent to Praha.

It read:

• 
  By the decree of Jan Rohac, Vikomt z Dube, Regent of Bohemia, in the name of the Crown of St. Vaclav and the regency council, foremost of all nobles among the Empire, puts forth as unalterable law from the power given while the monarch remains in his minority, in the year of our Lord fourteen and thirty-eight, this statute:
  
  Henceforth, all monies taken from the treasuries of the nation and spent on fineries, goods, and salaries for laborers, clerks, scribes, men at arms, and others employed at the royal court of St. Vaclav, whether in Bohemia or at the Imperial Diet or held abroad or traveling, must be confirmed by the Estates of Bohemia or be in contravention and breach of the edicts and laws of the kingdom.
  
  The greater part of the Estates, assembled in Praha or wherever else inside the bounds of the kingdom, must vote without coercion or subornment to consent to the expension of the state coffers when the august members are called upon individually in order of precedence by the presider of the Estates. The Estates themselves shall not be denied fair purchase of goods, luxuries, or labor when they assemble or journey to Praha or wherever else inside the bounds of the kingdom to assemble by any party lest the denier be in defiance of the royal statutes.
  
  The Estates shall not be subject to disbandment by any authority save their own, including the Crown of St. Vaclav, nor shall any man be allowed to disrupt or enter without proper admission into the Estates the proceedings therein. Upon assembly, the Estates may not be deprived of shelter, food, nor drink of reasonable quality whether at reasonable cost or without charge. None shall block, hold captive, nor attack any member of the Estates bound for an assembly, on pain of trial and punishment.
  
  Dictated at Nuremberg in Anno Domini MCDXLVIII

 

[Petrarca]

The Cardinal stormed around Praga in a righteous fury.

”So Jan Rohac has finally seen fit to govern the kingdom?! And he gives us THIS!”

von Ehrlichman glanced at the proclamation in his hand again and looked up towards the ceiling and God above.

”This proclamation is an absurd travesty of the purpose of a regency. This is no statute- IT IS A DIKTAT FROM NÜRNBERG!”

After regaining his temper, he whispered:

”His Majesty shall soon be at the Diet himself. I shall speak to him personally there.”

 

[Petrarca]

In Nuremberg

An unknown man steps forth and addresses the Diet after eyeing the guards:

"Honorable Prince Electors and Lords of the Empire, on behalf of His Majesty the King Ladislav V, Rex Bohemiaroum, I speak on the present matter. The facts, as they appear to me, are clear. Every duchy, bishopric, county, margrave, princedom, and all other states including the two kingdoms, must answer the call to Imperial War whether with troops or economic support. This by itself is clear. It would appear that Genoa, being an Imperial state bound by the Lex Imperii, is obligated to contribute as ordered or forgoe and give monies in their steed. In addition, the four Field Marshals and Admirals, upon the direction of the Emperor, are to prosecute the said Imperial War to the best of their abilities. Genoa, as Admiral of the South or somesuch, is again obligated to join the Imperial War as directed or abdicate her post in this the time of her responsibility when the Empire depends upon her.

As for the matter of the Emperor ordering the arrest of persons, only the seven Prince Electors of the Empire are immmune to such powers, as their independence is guaranteed by the Golden Bull propagated by His Majesty Karl IV of Bohemia in 1356. In the past, most notably at the Council of Constance in 1415, the Emperor has retained the power to arrest heretics as he pleases. Though, judging from the reaction to the past event, cooler heads could prevail on both sides?

Nevertheless, the salient fact remains that the Emperor, a sovereign king, has power over his vassals unless codified otherwise in the Golden Bull. It would be a terrible day if any sovereign's vassals rebelled, ignored, or otherwise defied the wishes of their liege." During herr Gruber's last sentence he stared at Jan Rohac, still making his way out the Diet, while nearby Ladislav smiled

 

[cccino]

In Buda...

The last six months at the Syndicate headquarters had been far from satisfactory. True, trade was outstanding and Buda, as the hub of all eastern European trade and travel, was more prominent now (in trade and cultural circles) than Vienna, Krakow, and certainly anything in the south. However the council itself had rarely been complete, and little had been achieved. Various delegates, homesick or on missions had been travelling to and from their homelands. At present, despite the call for vote regarding Bohemia, only two-thirds were present and these men were distracted. There was trouble in the Imperial Diet, there was war in the East and the Heathens threatened the Balkans.

In fact, the muslim advances caused families rich enough to travel to retreat in anticipation of war towards the prominent cities on the Danube, and that meant more money for traders and for Hungary.

The council was at times quiet and others bustling, but usually ineffectual. Out of frustration more than anything, Chairman Linczak sponsored Bohemia for full membership and the motion was passed: one-nil. "The ayes have it," announced Linczak, and arranged to have word sent to the Bohemian ambassador that they were now welcome as an official member of the Danube Syndicate.

* * *​

Meanwhile, Ugo had the Bohemian shown into the King's chambers of state.

"Vikomt Rokycana, I welcome you.

Alas, His Majesty the King is terribly ill and cannot see you. However, with the King's grace and as Regent of this Kingdom you will find me empowered to deal with all matters of state. Let us eat, and then we shall discuss the state of our nations."

 

[Longinus]

An official Imperial decree has been delivered.

"Onto Our Most faithful and loyal subjects, Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, Swords and Shields of the Holy Roman Church,

Let it be known that a state of Imperial War was announced between heathens fromwho invaded Christian soil in numerous hordes. They claim our lifes and lands breaking all possible agreements and breaching the Eastern Bull. Jerusalem fell, Rhodes and its knights fell, Cyprus fell, Constantinople fell, Macedonia fell. Muslims are as united as they never been before. They coordinated their attack while Christendom is weak in their petty quarrels.

Thus we ask you to immediately fulfill the call of His Holiness and Imperial Laws. Start to raise your troops and sending them to Nurnberg where they will gather under the joint Imperial command. Declare the war against the forces of Timurid, Mameluke and Omani invaders in one month time (OOC: Friday evening – Saturday morning CET)

Let Christendom and Empire be united in this call.

Dictated in Nurnberg,

Joachim of the Greif, King of the Romans, King of Italy, King of Germany, Sword of Christ, Right Hand of the Church, Caesar Augustus, King of Sweden, Duke of Pommerania, Fürst of the House of the Greif. Duke of Poznan and Silesia, Margrave of Danzig, Prince-Protector of Sweden, Overlord of Ingermanland and Gotland, Master of the Imperial Hunt."

 

[Petrarca]

The situation at Nuremberg grew tense. A sovereign had attainted his throne, and his crown awaited him in Praha. Yet the nobles, led by Jan Rohac, had taken the power almost within his grasp.

Upon the proclamations of Ladislav’s majority and for Imperial War, His Majesty felt denied his greatest privilege. He attempted to speak before the Diet:

”Princes and representatives of the Empire, we, King of Bohemia and Prince-Elector of the Empire, have received the call for Imperial War. However-“ His composure failed him. This, the beginning of the pinnacle of his anointed power, had quickly become a failure while the nobles took the power of the purse. Without the royal treasury, the Crown, the royal “we,” was hamstrung.

Ladislav retreated, one of the few times he had yet done so in his life. ”Never shall we be embarrassed again on the noble’s behalf,” he swore to himself before putting his head in his hands.

Nothing came to mind to circumvent the treacherous nobles. Nothing came from the Diet, either, as in silence the delegates watched the foremost lay Elector crumble.

A shout came from the door as Cardinal von Ehrlichman entered the hall:

”Honored delegates, despite the rank perfidy of vassals of a sovereign, the Kingdom of Bohemia shall rise to aid the Empire in its time of need. His Majesty-“ as he gave a curt nod to the risen Ladislav ”has decided, in his sovereign wisdom, that the decree most recently passed by the regency council- the Nuremberg Diktat- applies to the expenses of maintaining the physical court in Praha, and not to the Crown’s revenues as a whole.”

As the cardinal steps down, Katrina moves closer to the King.

”Perhaps we could speak away from the crowd?”

He nodded and followed her away as Gruber trailed both.

She paused in an empty courtyard: ”Majesty, my uncle and my father have served the Crown tirelessly and loyally for some time now. In Rome, in Buda, my relatives have served the kingdom. Now, we ask for some reward.”

As she took a breath, Ladislav wondered about the nature of her request. By his judgment, she could sire several male heirs if that were her appeal.

”My uncle has helped save your reign from foundering on the rocks of Rohac. You could help avoid such incidents in the future if you appointed him as Minister to the Crown.”

After finishing her veiled suggestion, she left by some exit. Ladislav was left considering the possibility of giving up some of his power to preserve the rest for future use. As he decided glumly to proffer the post to the Cardinal, his mood disappeared as he again became intoxicated by the thought of Katrina's visage.

 

[Petrarca]

In Bohemia, prominent figures are called to Nurember in the Upper Palatinat to convoke before the King's presence. Under penalty of law, men of title and wealth assemble there near the Diet.

 

[Petrarca]

”Honorable delegates, both as the newly-appointed Minister to His Majesty the King Ladislav and servo servorum dei, I wish to speak briefly: Plainly, the matter of Imperial War, under the terms of the Lex Imperii, enjoins us all to defend God’s Empire from the heathen threat. Burgundy has proven stalwart example, for they have volunteered the requisite number to the Emperor’s service and await his decree on the form of such aid. Every Imperial state must contribute, varying upon size, at minimum one cohort or assortment of companies or the monies to assemble such a host, to the command of the Imperial machinery. I beg each delegate to hastily abide in good Christian sentiment the laws which bind us together in God’s chosen realm.”


Also in another hall, the Cardinal speaks:

”Honorable lords, burghers, merchants, and magistrates of Bohemia, on behalf of His Majesty you were all summoned here today. Let it be known that the perfidiousness of certain members of the former Regency Council is well known and despised as it should be by the entire Kingdom and our sovereign King. His Majesty has accepted the treacherous document known as the Nuremberg Diktat into the codes of the land, for the authority of the King, even if perverted, is supreme above any other.

However, in light of the duplicity intent in the document, His Majesty has intended to clarify its provisions due to a rather majestic vagueness. The expenses of the royal court, as the prime mark of the edict, consist of the maintenance and salaries paid in Praha at the royal palace for the entertainment of diplomats and nobles and other prominent men. Only the expenses of the physical court, rather than any metaphorical implicit and broad definition, is grounds for approval.

The body to conduct such approval is the Bohemian Estates- another term fraught with uncertainty and unclear meaning. Again, His Majesty was kind enough in his sovereign generosity to clarify once more the term at hand. The Bohemian Estates are composed of the titled, the magistrates and burghers, and the clergy. The individual member shall retain one vote in its proceedings not liable for purchase or nefarious schemes. The members shall be fixed in proportion- the clergy of the Kingdom, gathered from all parts such as the Archdiocese of Praha, minor dioceses, monasteries, and convents, and the like, shall retain a share of membership of one quarter the total. Half the remainder, or that is, three parts of eighths, shall be the demesne of the nobility, membered in order of precedence yet without other privileges ranked by precedence. The said members shall not compose more than one of the same noble line so as to avert a concentration of power in the untrustworthy. The final half of the remainder, three parts of eighths again, shall be given unto the burghers and magistrates, elected in the Tuscan fashion- by that, the ancient Athenian custom of mass decision described by Thucydides- to better serve the heretofore loyal cities and the surrounding lands.

May God bless this assembled body, brought here together in the peace of Christ to further Christian rule and obedience. I beseech each individual to pray for the guidance of God so that we may all follow closer to his path. Include in your prayers to the Virgin and the saints the intention for our sovereign Majesty, Ladislav, now betrothed to the fair daughter of the Vikomt Rokycana, Katherine.”

With that final comment, the nobles realized the power of the Cardinal. Minister to the Crown and future uncle to the King, von Ehrlichman reaped swift rewards for his legal ponderings and had moved to keep them by tying his own family to the King as tightly as possible.

 

[cccino]

A letter arrives bearing the logo of the Danube Trade Syndicate.


Noble lord,

The Danube Syndicate council has met and approved your application to join the Syndicate. As a state of the Holy Roman Empire, you are required by the Imperial Commerce Commission to seek approval with the Imperial High Treasurer to ensure your membership complies with the legal requirements of the Empire.

A permanent delegate to the Syndicate should be appointed to take his position as a councillor of the organisation.

I have included also a copy of the Syndicate Charter.

May this mark the beginning of a new era of prosperity for all our nations.

Antal Linczak,
Chairman, Danube Syndicate.

Beneath this letter lie further pages.