“Psoglavtsy” Jirasek in brief summary

In the preface to the novel, a famous Czech writer briefly tells the story of the moves – the border guards. “From ancient times, the natural and reliable protection of the Czech kingdom was served by dense forests.” Then they began to cut down, but along the edges of the royal forests, in the valleys, between the ridge of the hills lived in their villages passages, “a strong people, tempered, built of the heroic, the nature of a swagger.” They carried their service honestly, bravely fought with plowers, and with poachers. Their faithful friends were big and strong dogs. On the flag of the moves there was a coat of arms with the image of a fox head, so the moves were called “psoglavtsy.” Czech kings appreciated the difficult, dangerous service of moves and gave them letters, which spoke about the special rights and privileges of moves. They were not serfs until the fateful Battle of Bohemia near the White Mountain in 1620, when the country lost

its independence. The Imperial Viceroy sold the moves to Baron Lamminger. He, of course, did not want to recognize the proprietorship and privilege. Freedom-loving people steadfastly defended their rights from violence and lawlessness. More than sixty years this struggle lasted, but in 1668 the courses were canceled for ever their privileges, and they were obliged under the fear of strict punishment to keep perpetuum silentium – “eternal silence”.

But the proud moves could not reconcile themselves to their position. They continued to naively believe that the diplomas issued to them once by the Czech kings could not lose their power, which is necessary and it is possible to achieve justice under the law. How the moves tried to defend their rights, about the faith of simple gullible people in a “just” emperor, in the honesty of lawyers and the court, and narrated in the novel.

The moves kept their letters in the cherished oak chest, which they hid in one or another cache. Baron Maximilian Lamminger, who received the inheritance moves, knew that to achieve their “eternal

silence” is impossible, as long as the moves in the hands of this casket. He forced his loyal servants to find the casket. Dragozhevsky elders Krshitov Gruby learned from his faithful people about these searches and hid the casket from his sister, the old Kozinikhi, who, he believed and county headman Jiri Sik, no one would look for. The Baron knew that only by provoking his disobedient serfs to an open revolt could he summon an army that would help find the casket. He ordered to cut down the landmark of a rich peasant Jan Sladky, after the name of his estate, nicknamed Kozina. Young, hot Kozina and his best friend the merry piper Iskra Rzhegurzek rushed to save the age-old lime tree. A strong, brave Matei Prishibek came to their rescue. The Pansky households scattered, but they managed not only to beat Iskra, but also to pierce Yan’s head. Kozina, seeing the blood on his palm, bitterly remarked: “it means that the blood has already spilled.” Ian remembered his father’s warning that the Baron was very cruel and small blood would cause more and nothing but troubles and ruin would bring any moves. But my father was also sure that the moves would not keep “eternal silence”, that someday this struggle will begin.

After a skirmish on the boundary, Lamminger called out an army that rummaged, robbed and ruined all the yards. They found the treasured casket, but the old Kozinikha, which the son managed to warn, managed to hide under the clothes two letters. Lamminger with great joy burned before his eyes the beaten, exhausted soldiers of the passage of their letters. Now, at last, he thought, the peasants will be his obedient serfs.

The discerning Baron, noticing how young Kozin looked at him, realized that he was facing a clumsy, cowardly servant, and a proud, free man with a great sense of dignity. And the aim of the Baron’s life was the desire to break, humiliate, and it is better to destroy this proud person.

Kozina led the struggle for his rights. He, a loving husband and the father of two children, understood that this struggle could end tragically for him, but he also understood that nothing could be achieved by force, it was necessary to act by law, through court, and it is best to turn to the emperor himself. This was persuaded by turner Matej Just, who told the moves how the Pani took his land from him and he could not achieve justice anywhere until he got to the emperor in Vienna. When he met, he told Justa: “Come back home with God, you will be given justice.” In addition, when Just left, the emperor, having learned that he was from Domazlice, asked: “So you probably know the moves.” So he remembers them. Of course, getting to the emperor is difficult, it costs a lot of money, but Eust will help them, he has a very good lawyer. The moves again had the hope of upholding the rights, of becoming free, and not obeying the evil Tragan mans. Peasants chose walkers to Vienna, with them willingly went Just. In the castle, they had no idea of ​​anything until the court counselor, the Baron’s invariable benefactor, informed him of the steps the peasants had taken. The Baron had great connections at court. And although the walkers managed to get into the luxurious imperial palace, and the emperor himself appointed a commission to deal with the charters, everything ended tragically for the peasants.

Learning that a commission was set up, and believing that the truth was on their side, the peasants ceased to go to the corvee, pay taxes, and in the carnival before the eyes of the Trganovo Pan burned a whip – a symbol of their serfdom. Kozin warned his fellow villagers that they should not allow any liberties until the commission’s decision was notified. But the peasants did not obey Kozin, they believed that he was vainly cautious, because the truth is on their side. But power and authority were on the side of Lumminger, and he achieved his: the commission did not recognize the rights of moves. The provincial hetman read to the assembled at the house of the baron “on behalf of his Imperial Majesty” the decision of the commission in which it was said that they had violated the eternal silence prescribed for them and deserved strict punishment and punishment for this willful and defiant act. But the emperor can forgive them, with an indispensable condition that they will no longer hold secret gatherings, rebel and submit petitions, complaints, petitions “over their alleged rights.” In the presence of the hetman, the moves must pledge “obedience to their gracious sir” under oath. The moves were stunned. There was an ominous silence in which Kozina’s voice was threatening: “It’s not true.” The emperor would have told them right away that they had no rights, and he appointed a commission, and she made an unjust decision. The crowd greeted Cozina’s words with a roar of approval. Outraged moves refused to swear allegiance to the baron. And when the bold Matei Prishibek, who never believed that he could achieve freedom under the law, shouted: “On Lomikar!”, The forest of coins rose menacingly above the crowd. Matej Přibek and other moves with raised coins rushed to the door of the castle, but Kozina was ahead of them. He and his uncle, Kschitov the Rough, blocked their way and thereby saved the life of the baron. Matej Prishibek, indignant at the peace of his fellow countrymen, with a wry smile, uttered the prophetic words: “Well, I’ll see how Lomikar will thank you for it.” He really “thanked them in a lordly manner.”

The old Prishibek, the last standard-bearer of the moves, anticipated that the whole thing would end tragically. A large comet, lighting up the sky for many nights, he said, portends a great misfortune. In his lifetime he saw more than one comet, and “always after it was either war, or famine and the sea.” But the moves were full of hope. And Kozina, and his uncle, and the headman Syka, and others went to seek the truth, now to Prague. They found a new “good” lawyer, paid him a lot of money collected by the whole world, and again sued. The Czech judges made fun of the walkers, before their eyes they cut with two difficulty the old royal letters preserved by old woman Kozinikh and made a decision: the moves must be sworn in “loyalty and obedience to your lawful lord.” The court refused, the President of the court said that the peasants had raised a riot, with the weapon in hands have grasped the managing baron, therefore the court can not release moves home. They were put in jail.

Indeed, the entire province of the province has risen, but the baron pushed the people up to this uprising. Lumminger, taking advantage of the fact that the moves resisted his people, called the army. Upon learning of the approach of the troops, the inhabitants were very much afraid at first. Do not be confused only Matej Pribik. He skillfully organized the departure of the villagers into the forest, ordered the men to gather with coins and rifles. In the captivity of the moves was a burgrave. He was told that if at least one house was set on fire, they would hang him.

When the moves saw Matei’s shaft of his old banner, they joyfully greeted their recognized leader. The moves from different villages went to the forest. During the night they built huts, made shelters for women and children. They prepared to wait patiently for the just decision of the emperor. The army, of course, reasoned the moves, the baron summoned the villain, and when the emperor finds out, he will not allow his soldiers to shoot at peaceful peasants. They are not bandits, they are not bandits.

The eldest of Syk, returning from Prague, informed the courts that they had been ransacked at the trial and they now have no rights, and Kozin and the old Grubo were imprisoned, so you have to submit and obey the authorities. The irreconcilable Matei said: “It is better that they let me kill than be a slave, a beast of cattle.” And he, and another hundred courageous moves entered into an unequal battle. In this battle Matei and many other moves died. And those peasants who went to confession, were put in prison. The soldiers looted, burned the houses and manors of the passages.

In Prague, in the appellate court, the representatives of the movement were asked to invalidate the old freedoms and swear allegiance to Panam Lamminger. Many moves, exhausted by prison, homesickness, have subscribed to this demand. Only Rude and Kozina refused to do this. They were convicted for a year. Lamminger was dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal and eventually made sure that the three instigators of the riot were recognized as criminals and sentenced to the gallows. And the elder Syke and the move Brykht had to stand for two hours every day at the pillory, and then they were to be expelled from the country. Other unruly moves were sentenced to different terms of imprisonment. Until the last minute, the moves believed that the emperor would not allow such an injustice. Indeed, the merciful emperor replaced the three gallows for one – for Cosina. The Baron was triumphant. He even allowed his wife and children to meet before the execution with her husband. Lumminger ordered the moves to come to the execution. The moves went to Pilsen to say goodbye to their “sufferer”. Baron, seeing a long string of carts, thought that he had finally obtained obedience from his subjects. Carefully followed always by a calm, cold baron after the behavior of Cosina before the execution. Yes, his will was not broken. He held fast, proudly, and boldly. Standing on the dais, Kozina straightened up and, looking at the face of the baron sitting on a black horse, exclaimed: “Lomikar, it will not be a year or a day, and we will stand together before the throne of the supreme judge, and then we will see who among us…” not allowed. Forever remember the moves this day. The moves went to Pilsen to say goodbye to their “sufferer”. Baron, seeing a long string of carts, thought that he had finally obtained obedience from his subjects. Carefully followed always by a calm, cold baron after the behavior of Cosina before the execution. Yes, his will was not broken. He held fast, proudly, and boldly. Standing on the dais, Kozina straightened up and, looking at the face of the baron sitting on a black horse, exclaimed: “Lomikar, it will not be a year or a day, and we will stand together before the throne of the supreme judge, and then we will see who among us…” not allowed. Forever remember the moves this day. The moves went to Pilsen to say goodbye to their “sufferer”. Baron, seeing a long string of carts, thought that he had finally obtained obedience from his subjects. Carefully followed always by a calm, cold baron after the behavior of Cosina before the execution. Yes, his will was not broken. He held fast, proudly, and boldly. Standing on the dais, Kozina straightened up and, looking at the face of the baron sitting on a black horse, exclaimed: “Lomikar, it will not be a year or a day, and we will stand together before the throne of the supreme judge, and then we will see who among us…” not allowed. Forever remember the moves this day. He held fast, proudly, and boldly. Standing on the dais, Kozina straightened up and, looking at the face of the baron sitting on a black horse, exclaimed: “Lomikar, it will not be a year or a day, and we will stand together before the throne of the supreme judge, and then we will see who among us…” not allowed. Forever remember the moves this day. He held fast, proudly, and boldly. Standing on the dais, Kozina straightened up and, looking at the face of the baron sitting on a black horse, exclaimed: “Lomikar, it will not be a year or a day, and we will stand together before the throne of the supreme judge, and then we will see who among us…” not allowed. Forever remember the moves this day.

At first the Baron did not dare to come to his castle. Old Příbeck often went out on a hillock and looked towards the castle. The old man waited for God’s punishment to fall upon the head of the cruel pan.

Only the next year the baron came to the castle. All the year long, nightmares tormented him, he complained about his health, became even more irritable and angry. He always remembered how this rebel with a loop around his neck dared to call him to the judgment of God. Exactly one year later and one day the baron died of a blow. Old Prishibek, upon learning of the death of the hated baron, exclaimed: “There is still justice! There is still God!” Hody believed that eventually won them Kozina, not the Baron. From generation to generation, ends its narration Iraasek, transmitted and will be transmitted stories about Cosine and the glorious past of “psoglavtsev.”