Dalibor Learned the Fiddle in Prison

In the Litoměřice district in July 1496 the peasants rose against Václav Adam Ploškovský of Drahonice, because he was cruel to them. They took his stronghold and forced him to sign an undertaking that he would bring no suit against them. Then they asked the squire Dalibor of Kozojedy to take over that stronghold of Ploškovice, saying they wished to obey him as their lord. He did as they wished — according to others he had stirred up those subjects himself — but for this he was accused and seized on the charge of holding the property unlawfully. In prison, to pass the time, he began to learn the fiddle, until he played most beautifully, and the people of Prague used to come beneath the tower to listen to his playing and singing, until he died by the executioner's sword. Prisoners in the upper cell, moreover, used to lower little bags, satchels and vessels, and when merciful passers-by put a gift into them the prisoner drew it up with joy — and so, it is said, Dalibor too used to haul money and food up into his prison.