Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/401

 zens, had the privilege of attending the Diet; but the number that embraced this privilege generally did not exceed 200. The voting was done by the States. A measure, to become a law, needed the signature of the king and the agreement of the three States. To them also belonged the exclusive right of raising troops and voting taxes. The king’s income consisted of revenue derived from the royal cities, which, at their foundation, agreed to pay certain duties and taxes for the special privileges that they enjoyed. Whenever the king needed more money to carry on war, or for some other purpose, he asked the States to vote a subsidy, which was generally done, unless he himself refused to grant requests which they made. These special requests were generally made at the Diet, which was called whenever it seemed necessary. The usual time of the sittings of the Diet was two weeks; but in times of war or during civil troubles it lasted much longer, and sometimes was called three times a year. During the reign of the rulers of the house of Hapsburg there was a continual struggle between the rulers and the Diets as to which should be supreme, and gradually the royal power increased in strength, to the great detriment of the States.

The condition of the peasantry at this time was better than two centuries later. The amount of service due their lords was not excessive, so that they had time to till their own fields and attend to other tasks. That their condition was not so wretched as during the reign of Vladislav can be judged from the fact that in all the villages there were public baths, and on Saturdays the hours of labor were shortened, so that the people could avail themselves of these privileges against the coming Sunday.