Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/530

 gj^^ THE HUSSITES. barons as remained loval ; civU war broke forth, until, on Novem- ber 13, the queen concluded with the cities of Prague a truce to last until April 23, 1420, the queen promising to maintain the law of God and communion in both elements, while the citizens pledged themselves to refrain from image-breaking and the destruction of convents Mutual exasperation, however, was too great to be restrained. Ziska came to Prague and destroyed churches and monasteries in the city and neighborhood; Queen Sophia laid siege to Pilsen ; a neighborhood war broke out in which shocking cruelties were perpetrated on both sides ; German miners of Caur- zim and Kuttenberg threw into abandoned mines all the CaUx- tins on whom they could lay their hands, and some Bavarians who were coming to the assistance of Eackzo of Ryzmberg tied to a tree and burned the priest Naakvasa, a zealous Cahxtin. Ziska was not behindhand in this, and in burning convents not mfre- quently allowed the monks to share the fate of their buildings. In the desultory war which raged everywhere both sides cut off the hands and feet of prisoners.* Si'nsmund was now the lawful King of Bohemia, and he came to clatm his inheritance. As a preliminary step he sent envoys to Prao-ue offering to leave the use of the cup as it had been under Wenceslas, to call a general assembly of the nation, and after con- sultation to refer any questions to the Holy See. A meeting of the barons and clergy was held which agreed to accept the terms. On Christmas Day, 1419, he came to Briinn, and thither flocked the magnates and representatives of the cities to tender their alle- giance The envoys of Prague, it is true, persisted in using the cup and there was an interdict in consequence placed on Brunn during their stay, but when he ordered them to remove the chains from the streets of Prague, and destroy the fortifications which they had raised against the castle, there was no refusal, and on their return, January 3, 1420, his commands were obeyed His natural faithlessness soon showed itself. He changed aU the cas- . tellans and officials who were favorable to the Hussites ; the Cath- ohcs who had fled or been expelled returned and commenced to triumph over their enemies; and a royal edict was issued, m obe- . Laur Byzyn. Diar. Bell. Hussit. (Ludewig VI. 145-52, 154-56).-Hist. Per- secut. Eccles. Bohem. pp. 37-8.-Camerarii Hist. Frat. Orthod. p. 49.