Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/127

 Queen Elizabeth, however, was not blameless. She possessed an exceedingly proud and haughty disposition, was very jealous of honors and dignities that she thought rightfully belonged to her, and unrelenting in her vengeance against those who offended her in this respect. For many years there was trouble in the land on account of the rivalship between Queen Elizabeth and Elizabeth of Poland, widow of Václav Il. Elizabeth of Poland held her court at Hradec (Königgratz), and was spoken of as the Queen of Hradec, in distinction from the Queen of Bohemia. Lord Henry of Lipa was a favorite of the Queen of Hradec, and both he and that queen were guilty of many a slight against the unfortunate Queen of Bohemia. An example of this was the marriage of Agnes, the daughter of the Queen of Hradec and Václav II, hence half-sister to Elizabeth. This marriage was contracted without the knowledge and consent of the King and Queen of Bohemia, and consequently, to say the least, was a lack of courtesy equal to an insult. Both the king and queen regarded it as such, and the Lord of Lipa, at whose advice the marriage had been contracted, was degraded from his high offices. Several powerful lords taking his part, the country was plunged into civil war. This, however, was not the only war caused by the rivalry between the two queens. On one occasion, when the atrocities committed were too frightful to behold, Queen Elizabeth, instead of relenting and showing some pity for her subjects, who really were not at all to blame, took her children and went to her fortress of Loketsky, where she remained until peace was restored.