character. Though in his manner Pašek appeared inclined to kindliness, yet the immense and inexorable malice of Cain ruled him, while on the contrary Hlavsa was guided by his peaceful and yielding nature.
"Pasěk was born at Old Knin, of poor parents; his mother had been a huckstress; as to his father, I have been unable to ascertain anything certain. Therefore, to avoid erring against truth, it is often fitter to give room in my book only to the statements of men who are trustworthy and sensible, rather than believe the assertions of certain people. Pasěk then was a poor school-servant, and later on a schoolmaster. Afterwards he proceeded to the University of Prague, where he became a bachelor and master of arts. Then, ever rising in the world, he was chosen by the citizens of the old town of Prague as their chief town-clerk. . . . He was afterwards chosen as alderman, and by his practice in the law courts also gained large possessions, and his general fortune in the world ever increased; for God is able to raise a needy school-servant to high rank, as is said in God's Scripture in the Psalms. And now, besides the coat-of-arms which he had already received, a title, as a further honour, was bestowed on him. He thus acquired the right of calling himself John Pasěk of Vrat, obtaining thus a name that well befitted his individuality, for it is true that he overturned and overthrew much.[1] He then became excessively cruel, immoderately severe, and tormented the people intolerably and unjustly. . . . Indeed, he once said openly to some people (for he was unable to conceal his revengefulness, in which few were
- ↑ It is impossible to translate this pun. Bartholomew plays on the similarity of the name "Vrat" to the words zvratiti and převratiti (to overturn and to overthrow).
