Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/114

 a well was improvised by St. Havel’s Church where wine instead of water flowed free for all.

King Václav had a great deal of trouble with his brother-in-law Albert. In 1291, Rudolph died, and Albert immediately began to take measures to be elected king of the Romans, the title Emperor of Germany being for some time discontinued. Having behaved toward Václav in a very domineering manner, the latter opposed the election, and thus Adolph of Nassau became the successful candidate. This brought on a war between the rival kings; and finally, through the mediation of Guita, Václav’s wife, the brothers-in-law were reconciled, and Albert secured the crown. But the young queen dying in 1298, the old state of things soon returned. Notwithstanding all of Václav’s partiality to the Church, he did not escape having a quarrel with the Pope, that prelate taking the part of Albert against Václav. Albert ordered Václav to give up the crowns of Hungary and Poland, since he had accepted them without his consent. He further demanded that he transfer to him for the term of six years the silver-mines of Kuttenberg, or, if not, pay him the sum of 80,000 pounds silver, since, as vassal of the emperor, he was in duty bound to pay tithes from the mines, which for so many years he had neglected to do.

As Václav refused to comply with these demands, war was declared. The king hastily collected an army, marched into Hungary, and took his son Václav, together with all the crown jewels, back to Bohemia with him. Albert, in the meantime, had invaded Bohemia, marching directly to Kuttenberg, where the silver, doubtless, tempted his cupidity. The city was,