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 der, not believing that Václay would carry out so cruel a threat. Falkenstein also refusing to consent to give up the fortress, the king ordered him to be executed upon the meadow in the sight of his brother. The rebellious lords were overcome, and the estates in question were all restored to the crown.

For a long time, Václav’s mind was disturbed by the thought of this cruel deed; but, finally, he succeeded in quieting his conscience by giving a part of the wealth of his victim to build a beautiful monastery at Zbraslav, about a mile from Prague.

At the time of the murder of Falkenstein, King Václav was nineteen years of age. Owing to the hardships that he had endured during the guardianship of Otto of Brandenburg, whose aim seemed to have been either to kill the prince gradually, or at least leave him undeveloped in mind and body, Václav was of a timid disposition, small in stature, and delicate in health. Nevertheless, he proved to be a very good ruler. Being endowed by nature with many good qualities, as soon as he was at liberty he applied his mind to learning, especially to the study of such subjects as should enable him to restore his country to its former prosperity.

The good effects of the just administration of laws soon began to be felt, and the condition of the peasants was greatly improved. One of the main sources of wealth to the country were the silver-mines at Kuttenberg, which were greatly developed during the reign of Václav II. Having an abundance of silver, King Václav ordered good money of standard purity to be