“This is meant to be a serious gathering,” said the Bishop of Krakow with a frown, “and we’re wasting time gossiping like students in a brothel.”

“You will not deny that Sophia is cuckolding Jogaila and bringing shame on him,” Bishop Konrad said.

“I shall, because it is vana rumoris. Rumours spread and fuelled by Malbork.”

The Teutonic Knight got up from the table, red-faced and ready to make a rejoinder, but Kaspar Schlick restrained him with a rapid gesture.

“Pax!”he said firmly. “Let us drop this subject, for we have graver ones to discuss. As I understand it, for the time being we cannot count on Polish armed support in the crusade, which is regrettable. But, by the shells of Saint James, see to it, Bishop Oleśnicki, that the points of the Treaty of Kežmarok and Jogaila’s edicts from Trembowla and Wieluń are indeed respected. Those edicts are meant to close the borders and threaten to punish anyone who trades with the Hussites, yet goods and arms, as the Lord Starosta of Świdnica rightly observed, continue flowing into Bohemia from Poland—”

“I gave my word,” Oleśnicki interrupted impatiently, “that I would do my utmost. And my promises are not hollow. Fraternising with Czech heretics will be punished in Poland; there are royal edicts, iura sunt clara. I shall, however, remind the Starosta and Hetman of Świdnica and the Right Reverend Bishop of Wrocław of the words of the Bible: ‘And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?’ Half of Silesia trades with the Hussites and no one opposes it!”

“Honourable Father Oleśnicki, you are mistaken,” said Bishop Konrad, leaning across the table. “I assure you; harsh measures have already been taken, not in the form of edicts and declarations, but some defensores haereticorum will experience first-hand what it means to consort with heretics. And the others will be quaking in their boots, I can assure you. Then the world will learn the difference between genuine and feigned action. Between a real fight for faith and pulling the wool over people’s eyes.”