Přepis regestovaného dokumentu

Překlad regestovaného dokumentu (angličtina)

We the mayors, councilmen and communities of the Old and New Towns of Prague, Konrad of Vechta, by the grace of God archbishop of the church in Prague and legate of the papal see, Oldřich Rožmberk, Čeněk of Vartenberk, and Veselá, Jindřich Berka of Dubá residing in Húska, Oldřich of Jindřichův Hradec, Hynek Krušina of Lichtenburk, Aleš Škopek of Dubá also of Dražice, Jan of Ralsko, Mikeš of Žampach, Jindřich of Vartenberk, Viktorín and Jindřich of Kunštát, Heřman and Jan of Landštejn, also of Borotín, Jan of Lichtenburk called Krušina, Jindřich Lacembok of Chlum, Václav of Zvířetice, Ernst of Richemburk, Jan of Chlum residing on Pihle, Vaněk of Jenštejn, Mikuláš Šlechta of Valdštejn, Mikuláš of Mochov, Zdeněk Medek of Týnec, Jan Žižka of Trocnov, Zbyněk of Buchov, Chval of Machovice, Jan Roháč of Dubá, administrators of the people and towns of Tábor, Petr of Svojšín, mint master of Kutná Hora, Janek of Smilkov, Mikuláš of Barchov, Oneš of Mechovice, Milota of Chřenovice, Jindřich of Boharyně, Jan Košík of Lomnice, Markvart of Soběšín, Vlachen of Slatina, Prokop of Talmberk, Jan Kyjata of Zásada, Zdeněk of Lipka, Markvart of Chvalonice, Jan of Markvatice, Diváček of Kladruby, Jan of Roudnice, Dobran of Kochovice, Zdeněk of Levín, Mikšík of Ulibice, Uzík of Bašnice, Jan Lemberk, Straník of Kopidlno, Jan Ohnieštko of Smidary, Jan Biskupec of Třebovětice, Pavlík of Hoříněves, Procek of Třebnúševes, together with other barons, knights, squires, towns and villages, faithful to us and which adhere to the law of God. We profess by this letter in general to all who will see this or hear it read that we have in mind the several and significant difficulties, tumults and destructions, burnings, violence, and other problems which have arisen in our kingdom of Bohemia on account of a disunity in the desire, comprehension and a striving after the truth as is clearly evident in Holy Scripture. Because of this our duty urgently requires us to sec that these disorders are transformed into order and that these dissensions give way to peace and harmony and that here we establish again and enforce this for the common good of the kingdom. Therefore we have made arrangements and convened this public diet of the Czech country and we have, each of us gathered together, made a single resolution at this meeting to agree to and maintain the following contract which we confirm by the direction of this letter.

We intend to be united in mind and with all purpose to protect and defend the truth of God as laid down regardless of who might wish to prevent this or harm us with respect to any or all of these truths in whatever fashion and the same applies to those who intend to take us away from this by force. Furthermore, we shall faithfully uphold these articles together with our subjects until we are better instructed by the Holy Scriptures, in such a way which does not contradict those Scriptures, by the Prague masters and our priests. These truths are as follows:

First, the word of God is to be proclaimed and freely preached by Christian priests throughout the kingdom of Bohemia without opposition.

Second, the venerable sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be administered, in both kinds of bread and wine, to all faithful Christians, both young and old, in accordance with this constitution.

Third, inasmuch as many priests and monks rule over temporal property with secular power, against the commandment of Christ and in defiance of their priestly office and to the detriment of the secular state, we insist that such improper domination be taken away from the priests and the practice stopped. They are to live exemplary lives in accordance with the example of Christ and his apostles in keeping with the Scriptures.

Fourth, all manifest deadly sins and other transgressions which are repulsive to the Law of God must be stopped and properly punished by those who have authority in every state so that the wicked reputation of the Czech land might be purified for the common good of the Czech language and the kingdom.

Fifth, the Hungarian king Sigismund, and his supporters have done the most damage and through whose injustice and cruelty the entire kingdom of Bohemia has suffered very serious harm. We have never accepted him as our king and not as hereditary lord of the Czech Crown. By his own worthlessness he has demonstrated that he is unfit to bear this responsibility. As long as we live and as long as he does, we will not accept him unless it is God's will and ratified by the will and vote of the glorious city of Prague, the barons of Bohemia, the community of Tábor, the knights and squires, towns and communities of Bohemia that accept or will accept the truth of the articles noted above. This king is an infamous despiser of these holy truths which are clearly shown in Holy Scripture. He is the murderer of the honour and the people of the Czech nation. Should any lords or squires, towns or communities, separate from those lords and squires adhering to the truths of God and thus offer assistance and relief to that king either through advice or deed without the permission of the Prague community, its lords and squires and the aforementioned communities, and should it be proven in good conscience that this activity does not cease upon being warned by a messenger or through letters, then they shall be subject to penalties noted hereafter.

Sixth, together we have with one accord consented to the election of twenty wise, steadfast and faithful men among us for the administration, establishment and due process of the Crown and Kingdom of Bohemia: Oldřich Rožmberk, Čeněk of Vartenberk, and Veselá, Oldřich of Jindřichův Hradec, Hynek Krušina of Lichtenburk, and Jindřich Berka of Dubá from among the barons. Jan of Kněževes, Lideř of Radkovice, Pavlík, Jan Charvát of the lords of Prague and the community. Jan Žižka of Trocnov, Zbyněk of Buchov, Janek of Smilkov, Mikuláš of Barchov, Milota of Chřenovice, Oneš of Mechovice, Jindřich of Boharyně, Franca of Rosental, Vacek of Žatec, Matěj Praguer of Hradec on the Labe, and Petr Hostic of Kouřim. To these officers, administrators and governors we have given, and we confirm by virtue of this letter, full power and authority to establish peace and to cause the Czech land to be at rest putting an end to all disunity and separation and for bringing to an end any problem existing between communities and individuals within the kingdom of Bohemia. In good faith we promise without deceit that we shall faithfully and without delay not only execute but be obedient to everything arranged by the aforementioned governors and administrators and we shall, with one accord, proclaim, taking into account both sides whatever they command us or anyone else, particularly if admonished by these officers and administrators to assist in the defence of this land or another country. We promise to do this personally to the best of our ability and to continue to obey these instructions whenever we are so commanded. It is the duty of every one of us, unless there is some worthy reason, to accept these governors. This power, constituted by us, is to be observed. There has also been a significant decision that should someone not wish to unite with this agreement and the previously noted articles, they are to be compelled to do so and we are therefore to regard such persons or communities as our enemies and this is the judgement of the aforementioned governors.

Further, it has been jointly asserted that should God not preserve any of these governors, or the community did not approve of them at any time, then a new governor could be elected from the community of the former. With respect to the aforementioned officers in terms of their more difficult task which cannot be resolved except according to the law of God they have appointed two priests, Jan Příbram and Jan the preacher, in order to assist them and to effect order and justice for everyone. Further, it has also been decided that these governors and administrators are to have supreme power given to them by us all together until the following St Václav's Day 28 September but not beyond this. If we have a king during this time through our Lord God, then every provision made above shall remain insofar as the liberty of the four articles for our salvation shall be preserved at every level until there is unanimous assent by all of the aforementioned lords and communities.

It has been agreed together to call a common assembly of the senior priests within the Kingdom of Bohemia who administer the law of God among the people. This is to be constituted by the entire church upon order of the archbishop, masters and priests for the purpose of defeating and eliminating excesses and problems. Such an ecclesiastical order is to be adhered to by the entire priesthood and clergy in the kingdom of Bohemia unanimously and in unity. Should any priest be in violation of this order and wishes to preach in some other fashion, his excesses must not be tolerated by the lords or the communities in any way. He must rather be sent to the officials of the archbishop at once.

Similarly, it has been agreed, assented to, and constituted, that all lords, knights, squires and communities which are not named and written in this letter, but who would like to be part of us and the truths of God at a later time, shall be required to submit themselves to every aspect of this letter and to pledge themselves by letters, with their seals, in order to be acknowledged. They shall affirm their intention to teach, uphold and preserve each of the points set down in this agreement wholly and entirely under a penalty of loss of faith and honour. This letter condemns without an objection so that their goods and estates would then come to the common collection, as though such were inscribed on the Land Tables. There shall be perpetual banishment from the kingdom of Bohemia should there be any violation, God forbid, of any article written here, and an unwillingness to correct that according to the judgement of the aforementioned governors and clearly substantiated by witness. To confirm all of this we have attached our seals to this letter in good conscience. Given in Caslav by the common assembly in the year of the Lord 1421, on Saturday after the feast of St Marcellinus 7 June.