258 ANARCHIA
problems of the day. Speaking in strict order of seniority, each senator presented
his votum or 'opinion'. When it came to the turn of the Chancellor, he spoke in
detail both about the troubles in Muscovy and the troubles at home. He
explained why Samuel Zborowski had been pursued and executed, and insisted
on his own good faith. 'I obey the law', he declared, 'and I uphold it.' In subse-
quent days, it appeared that his ground was well prepared. He had intercepted
the correspondence of Krzysztof Zborowski. Letters were produced in which the
King was described as 'Baal', 'a graven image', 'a tyrant', and 'a Hungarian
hound'. They hinted at a conspiracy to kill him while hunting. A demand was
made to charge the culprit with lese-majeste, and to examine him before the
Sejm. On 26 January Jan Zborowski, castellan of Gniezno, explained cum
lacrimis that his brother was quick of tongue and would easily exonerate himself
if given a safe-conduct. Following the recess on 2 and 3 February, Zamoyski
treated the senators to a discourse on the virtues of the Roman Republic as con-
trasted with the envy and demagoguery of the present. On the 7th and 8th, the
King judged criminal matters, and the Sejm moved on to Muscovite affairs, and
interviewed prisoners recently released by the Tsar. By the 18th, when Krzysztof
Zborowski had still not appeared, Kazimierski arrived to tell the Senate that his
master was not aware of the Sejm's demand, and in any case he was ill, abroad,
and unable to attend. At this the King flew into a rage, shouting 'Tace Nebulo',
'Be Silent, you lout.' Kazimierski held his ground. T am not a slave,' he replied,
'but a Polish gentleman.' None the less Zborowski was called in contempt, and
the state prosecutor was ordered to prepare a charge against him in the Crown
Tribunal. The next day, the Muscovite ambassadors were received 'with extrav-
agant bows to His Loving Majesty', bringing the news of Ivan the Terrible's
death. With this, the Sejm moved into its Second Phase, with both chambers sit-
ting together. Each chamber presented a list of proposals, or 'bills', for their joint
consideration, and votes were taken as to whether or not these 'bills' should be
passed and be written into the register as 'constitutions' or laws. On 22-23
February, a number of such constitutions were passed, including the charge
against Zborowski and several others relating to tolls, the arrears of the Army,
and religious intolerance. At the same time, a number of exorbitancja or 'injust-
ices' were recorded for the King's attention. These consisted of a list of protests
under the standard headings of incompatibili (pluralities); impossessionati
(office-holders without land); absurda (nonsensical decisions); exclusia (illegal
appointments); and alia (miscellaneous). They were decidedly sharp in tone,
pointing out, for example that Zamoyski's concurrent tenure of the
Chancellorship and the Hetmanship was illegal, and that the appointment of
the King's brother Andrew Bathory, to a Cardinalcy threatened the Republic
with foreign interference. On 28 February, the Sejm was closed. (It was the first
Leap-Day in the Republic's history, since the Julian Calendar had just been
adopted.) In the closing debate, Kazimierski launched a virulent tirade against
Zamoyski, who brought it to an end by snatching away his script. As the mem-
bers filed out, all except Kazimierski kissed the King's hand. Proceedings were