The Quarrel at the Cash Box

Under Melichar Miling this small domestic scene took place here at the cash box in 1639, as a witness described it in court. On Saturday 18 June, after work at the Royal Baths, the money left in the box was being shared out among the servants as was the custom; Master Melichar had ordered that tips and washing money be put into the box as well, so that no one should be wronged. And when he was to divide it he called the servant Lidmila Běhounková, who kept the key, to open the box. She was opening it and, being heavily the worse for drink, said that whoever had thought up that box could go to the devil, since the money really belonged to the servants for their work. Master Melichar told her to hold her tongue; she said she would not, and cursed roundly. And when she would not be silent, he struck her across the mouth. At that her husband Jan Běhounek ran up to him and said: “Why do you strike my wife?” Master Melichar took him by the arm and led him out of the bathhouse, saying he had no business there and should go. And when he would not go, he struck him across the mouth too — and Běhounek defended himself and tore his shirt.