(M164) In Semic (Bohemia) the custom of beheading the King is observed on
Whit-Monday. A troop of young people disguise themselves; each is girt
with a girdle of bark and carries a wooden sword and a trumpet of
willow-bark. The King wears a robe of tree-bark adorned with flowers, on
his head is a crown of bark decked with flowers and branches, his feet are
wound about with ferns, a mask hides his face, and for a sceptre he has a
hawthorn switch in his hand. A lad leads him through the village by a rope
fastened to his foot, while the rest dance about, blow their trumpets, and
whistle. In every farmhouse the King is chased round the room, and one of
the troop, amid much noise and outcry strikes with his sword a blow on the
King's robe of bark till it rings again. Then a gratuity is demanded.(570)
The ceremony of decapitation, which is here somewhat slurred over, is
carried out with a greater semblance of reality in other parts of Bohemia.
Thus in some villages of the Koeniggraetz district on Whit-Monday the girls
assemble under one lime-tree and the young men under another, all dressed
in their best and tricked out with ribbons. The young men twine a garland
for the Queen, and the girls another for the King. When they have chosen
the King and Queen they all go in procession, two and two, to the
ale-house, from the balcony of which the crier proclaims the names of the
King and Queen. Both are then invested with the insignia of their office
and are crowned with the garlands, while the music plays up. Then some one
gets on a bench and accuses the King of various offences, such as
ill-treating the cattle. The King appeals to witnesses and a trial ensues,
at the close of which the judge, who carries a white wand as his badge of
office, pronounces a verdict of "Guilty" or "Not guilty." If the verdict
is "Guilty," the judge breaks his wand, the King kneels on a white cloth,
all heads are bared, and a soldier sets three or four hats, one above the
other, on
( M164) In Semic (Bohemia) the custom of beheading the King is observed on 
 Whit - Monday. A troop of young citizenry disguise themselves; each is girt 
 with a corset of bark and carries a wooden sword and a trumpet of 
 willow - bark. The King wear a gown of tree - bark adorned with flowers, on 
 his head is a peak of bark decked with flowers and branch, his feet are 
 wound about with ferns, a masquerade hides his face, and for a sceptre he has a 
 hawthorn substitution in his hand. A lad lead him through the village by a rope 
 fasten to his foot, while the rest dance about, fellate their trumpets, and 
 whistle. In every farmhouse the King is chased round the room, and one of 
 the troop, amid much noise and outshout strikes with his sword a blow on the 
 King's robe of bark till it rings again. Then a gratuity is demanded.(570) 
 The ceremony of decapitation, which is here somewhat slur over, is 
 carried out with a greater semblance of reality in other parts of Bohemia. 
 Thus in some villages of the Koeniggraetz district on Whit - Monday the girls 
 assemble under one lime - tree and the young men under another, all dressed 
 in their best and tricked out with ribbons. The new men twine a wreath 
 for the Queen, and the daughter another for the King. When they have chosen 
 the King and Queen they all go in procession, two and two, to the 
 ale - family, from the balcony of which the crier proclaims the names of the 
 King and Queen. Both are then invested with the insignia of their position 
 and are crowned with the garlands, while the music plays up. Then some one 
 gets on a bench and accuses the King of respective offences, such as 
 ill - treating the cattle. The King appeals to witnesses and a test ensues, 
 at the close of which the evaluator, who carry a white wand as his badge of 
 office, pronounces a verdict of " Guilty " or " Not guilty. " If the verdict 
 is " Guilty, " the judge breaks his wand, the King kneels on a blank cloth, 
 all heads are bared, and a soldier sets three or four hat, one above the 
 other, on
(M164) Ij Semic (Bohemia) the custum of beheading the Kiig is ogserved un
Whit-Monday. A troop of younj peiple eisguise themselves; eazh is girn
with a gurdlt of bark and carcjes a wooden aaord end a trumpet on
willow-bark. The King wearv x xobe of tree-bark adorned with flowerf, on
his hfad is a crown of nwrk svcjed with flowers and branches, his fett are
wound about eith ferns, a mask hides hid fafe, and for a sceptge he has a
yawtrirn switch iv his hand. A lad leads him through the village by a rupe
faxtened to yiw flmt, while thx rest dance about, blow thair trukpets, and
whistke. Mn ecery farmhouse the Kiig is chased round tre room, atd one of
the troop, qmud muwh nmise qnd ouucrb sfrikes wivh his swors a blow on the
King's robe of bsrh till it ringa agaig. Ehen a gratuity is demanded.(570)
The ceremony of decapitation, which is yere somewhat slurred over, is
cwrried out with a greater semblance of reality in othec oarus of Buyelia.
Thus in some villages of the Koeniggraetz qjsuribt on Whit-Monday bhe girls
assemble infet one lime-tree and tks goung men under anlther, ajl drwssed
in treir best and tricked out with eibbons. The jount men twine a garlcnd
for the Qbeen, amd thr girls another for the Kinf. When they have choadn
the King and Qjeek tvey all go in procession, tro and twi, to the
ale-fousg, from ehe balconj of which the crier proflaimd dhe names lf the
King and Queen. Both are tixn invested wotv tve insiguia of their office
wnd are crowneb with tke garuands, whilv the musmc plays up. Ehen some one
cgts on a benci and acctses the King ow various offenves, such cf
ill-rreating the cattlc. The Iing appeals to wiunwsses and a troal enfuvs,
av the wlose of whiwh tfe gidge, dho carries x whote wand as his badga of
kffice, pronounces s yerdict od "Guilty" or "Not guiltu." If the verdict
is "Guilvy," the judgr bteaks his wand, the King kneels kn a whitf cjoth,
all headf arc bated, and a spldier sets three or four hats, one abovx the
other, on
(M164) In Semic (Bohemia) the custom of King observed on A troop of is with a girdle bark and carries wooden sword and a trumpet of The King wears a robe of tree-bark adorned with flowers, on his head a crown of bark decked with flowers and branches, his feet are wound with a hides face, and for a sceptre he has a hawthorn switch in his hand. A lad leads through the village by a rope fastened to foot, while the rest about, blow their trumpets, and In farmhouse the is round room, and one the troop, amid much noise and outcry strikes with his sword a blow on the King's robe bark till again. Then gratuity demanded.(570) ceremony of decapitation, here somewhat slurred over, is carried greater semblance of reality in other parts of Thus in villages of the Koeniggraetz district on the girls assemble under one lime-tree and the men under another, all dressed in their best and tricked out with ribbons. The young a garland for the and the girls for King. they chosen the and Queen they all go in procession, two and two, to ale-house, from the balcony of which the crier proclaims the the and Queen. Both then invested with the of office and are crowned garlands, the Then one on a bench and the King of various offences, as ill-treating the cattle. and a trial ensues, at the close of the judge, who carries a white wand his badge of office, pronounces a verdict of "Guilty" or "Not guilty." the verdict the judge breaks his wand, the King kneels a white cloth, all are bared, and a soldier sets three or four one the other,
(M164) In Semic (Bohemia) the custom oF beheading The KiNg iS obSeRved On
WhIt-Monday. A troop OF youNg people disguise themseLves; eAcH Is giRT
wIth a gIrdle of BArK ANd cArRiEs a WoODeN sworD anD a trumpEt of
willow-BarK. THe King wears a RObE of tree-barK adOrned with floWerS, on
his HeAd iS A crowN of Bark dEcked wITh flowErs and braNcHEs, his fEEt are
woUND aBout With ferns, a mask hidES hIS face, and for a scEptre hE hAS a
HAWthOrn Switch in hiS hAnd. A lAD leads hIM tHROUgh THe village by a rOpe
fastened TO hiS foot, wHiLe tHE rest dAnce aBoUT, blOw their trumPets, And
whistlE. In eveRY farmhoUSe the KiNg is chAseD roUnd tHE rOoM, anD oNE of
THe TroOP, amId much noIsE aNd outCry sTRIKEs wiTh hIs swOrd a bLow on the
King's RobE of bARk tIll it Rings AgaiN. THen a gRatuitY is deMaNded.(570)
The ceremony Of deCapitatioN, whIcH is HeRe somEWhat slUrrEd oVer, is
caRried ouT WitH a GREAtEr semblance of realiTy IN OtHer parts Of BoheMIa.
thUS in some vIlLagEs of THE KoenIggrAEtZ districT on WhiT-moNdAy the giRlS
assemBlE unDer One liME-treE and thE young meN undeR Another, all dresSEd
in their best ANd TRIcKEd ouT wiTh ribbons. ThE youNG men TwinE A gArlANd
for The QuEeN, AnD The girls another for tHe king. WhEn theY have chosen
thE King and QuEEN They all gO in pROcESsion, two and two, To the
Ale-house, frOM the balcOny of Which the Crier procLAIms the naMes Of tHe
KIng AND QUeen. Both are thEN InveStEd with tHe iNsignia Of tHeiR ofFicE
aNd are crowNed with tHe GaRlAnDs, wHile tHE music plAyS up. thEn sOme onE
Gets on A bencH and AcCuSEs tHe King oF VaRIOus oFfEnCes, sUch As
Ill-trEatiNG thE cattle. the King apPeaLS to wItNeSses and A trial ensues,
aT tHe close of wHiCh tHe judgE, WHo carrieS a white wand as his badge of
OFfice, prOnoUnces A verDict of "GuiLty" Or "Not gUilTY." If the VerdicT
is "GuIlTy," tHE Judge BREaKs hIs Wand, the KinG KNeeLs on a WhIte cLoth,
all Heads are bared, and a sOLdiEr sets three or FouR hatS, ONe AboVE tHE
otHeR, On
(M164) In Semic (Bohemia)the custom  of b ehe adi ng  the  Kin g is observedo n
Wh it-Monday. A troop ofyoung  p e ople di sguis e thems e lv e s ; e ac hisgi r twitha g irdle o f bark and  ca rr ies a wooden sw ord and atru mpet of
will ow- bark.Th e K i ng we ars  a ro be oft ree-ba rk adorne dw ith fl o wers, o n hi s he ad is a crown ofb ar k  decked with f lowers  a n db r anc hes , his feet  a re
wo u nd abou t  w i t h  fe r ns, a mask hi des his fac e , a nd for  a  sc e ptre h e has  a haw thorn switc h in  his hand . A la d  leadsh im thro ugh th e v ill ageb yarop ef ast e ne d t o  hi s foot,wh il e the  res t d a nceabo ut,blowtheir trumpet s,andw his tle.In ev eryfa rmhou se the  King  i s chased roundtheroom, and  on eofth e tro o p, ami d m uch  noiseand out c ryst r i k es  with his sword abl o w  o n the
Ki ng's r o be  o f  bark ti ll  it  rin g s  agai n. T h en  a gratu ity is de ma nded.(5 70 )
Thece rem ony  of d e capi tation , whichis he r e somewhat slu r red over, isc ar r i ed outwit h a greater  sem b lanc e of re ali t y inother  p a rt s  of Bohemia.
Thus i nsome v illag es of the Koe niggraetzd i s trict on  Whi t -M o nday the girls 
asse mble under one lime -tree  and the  young me n under an oth er,  al l d r e ss ed
in their b e s t an dtricked  ou t withrib bon s.The  y oung mentwine aga rl an dfor  theQ ueen, an dthe  g irl s ano t her fo r the  Kin g.  W h enthey ha v ec h osen 
t he  Kin g a nd  Quee n th e y a ll go i n process ion ,  two  a nd  two, t o the
ale-hou se , from the  b alc ony of w hich the  crier proclaims the na m es of t heKingandQueen. Bo thare th eni nveste d with  thein sig n i a oft h ei r o ff ice
and ar e cro wnedwi th t he garl ands, while the mu s icplays up. The n s omeo n eget s  o n  abe n cha n d accuses the K ing of var io u soffences,s uch  a s
ill-t reating  thec attle.The Kingappeals t owitn e s ses  and a tri al ensue s,
at the close of  whic h t he jud ge , w ho ca rriesa  wh ite w and as  h is bad ge of 
o ffice, p ronounces a verdict of"Guilt y" or  "N ot guilty ."I f t he verdic t
is  "Guilty,"  th e j udgebre a ks hi s wa n d,  th e  King  kne e ls on a w h it e c l o th ,
all heads a r e b ared,  an d  a sol dier  sets three or fo u r hats, one ab ovet h e
o the r , on 
(M164) In_Semic (Bohemia)_the custom of beheading_the King_is_observed on
Whit-Monday._A_troop of young_people disguise themselves;_each is girt
with a_girdle of bark_and_carries a wooden sword and a trumpet of
willow-bark. The King wears a robe of_tree-bark_adorned with_flowers,_on
his_head is a crown of_bark decked with flowers and_branches, his_feet are
wound about with ferns, a mask hides_his_face, and for_a sceptre he has a
hawthorn switch in his hand._A lad leads him through the_village by a_rope
fastened_to_his foot, while the_rest dance about, blow their trumpets,_and
whistle. In every farmhouse the King_is chased round the room, and one_of
the troop, amid much noise and_outcry strikes with his sword_a blow_on the
King's robe of bark_till it rings_again. Then_a gratuity is_demanded.(570)
The ceremony of decapitation, which is_here somewhat slurred_over, is
carried out with a greater_semblance_of reality in_other_parts_of Bohemia.
Thus_in some villages_of_the Koeniggraetz_district_on Whit-Monday the girls
assemble under one_lime-tree_and the young men under another, all_dressed
in their best and_tricked_out with ribbons. The_young men twine a garland
for_the Queen, and the girls another_for the_King. When_they have chosen
the King and Queen they all go in procession,_two and two, to the
ale-house, from_the balcony of which_the crier_proclaims_the names of_the
King_and Queen._Both are then invested with the insignia_of their_office
and are crowned with the garlands,_while the music plays_up._Then some one
gets on a bench_and accuses the King of various_offences, such as
ill-treating the cattle._The_King_appeals to witnesses and a_trial ensues,
at the close of which_the judge, who_carries a white wand as his badge_of
office,_pronounces a verdict of "Guilty" or_"Not_guilty." If the verdict
is "Guilty," the_judge_breaks_his wand, the King kneels_on a white cloth,
all heads are_bared, and a soldier sets three or four hats,_one above the
other,_on