Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/381

 punishment was not aimed so much against the individuals as against the cities. They were to give up all the privileges granted them by his predecessors, all their firearms and other munitions of war, all the wealth recently bequeathed them by the wealthy citizen Arnold, and to agree to pay into the royal treasury duty upon every barrel of beer that was brewed. In addition to this, Ferdinand decided to inflict special punishment upon all those whom he deemed the most guilty. Some were held as hostages until the towns of Prague should fulfill the demands of the king; some were shut up in filthy dungeons, some tortured so cruelly that they died from the effects of their injuries, and some so maltreated that they lost their reason. Other cities that had joined the union were similarly treated; and further to strike terror into the hearts of all, two knights and two citizens were condemned to death.

After the court closed, Ferdinand called a Diet to meet on the 20th of August. This Diet was opened by the execution of the four prisoners, and hence is known in history as the “Bloody Diet.” Some of the prisoners being heavily fined, while others were publicly whipped, the king then proceeded to business. He renounced some of the privileges that he had before deprived the cities of, but only such as were not at all prejudicial to his own power.

To rivet further his chains upon the unfortunate cities, he appointed two classes of police officers—the lower called richters, or squires; the higher, lieutenants. No public meeting could be held without their permission; and, this being secured, all proceedings were to be carried on in their presence. They also had