Isabella rifled through her wardrobe, searching for suitable clothes for the journey. She listened impatiently while her maid chided her. “Be sure to take your hunting clothes, Isabella. You will be in the woods often while you are at Niepolomice.”
Outside her apartment, Isabella could hear the angry shouting of her younger sister Anna, who was pitching another of her temper tantrums.
She turned to the servant hovering behind her. “Maria, why is Anna always grouchy?”
Maria, a comely girl of eighteen, shrugged her shoulders. “You are your mother’s favorite. She does not care for your three sisters. I do not understand why. You go with Queen Bona on her trips, and she leaves the others behind.”
“But why me, Maria?”
“You are the oldest child. Despite what your father wants, your mother has always hoped that someday you will be the ruler of Milan, and her family will return to power. So she is looking for a suitable match for you. When you were only five years old, she went behind your father’s back and promised you to Henry, the son of King Francis of France. Your father was furious when he found out and canceled those plans in no uncertain terms.”
“I don’t want to be a queen of anything. My mother may dwell on our high station in life, but I wish my life were simpler.”
“Isabella, you should not talk that way. Maybe you prefer to be a peasant, eking out a living on an impoverished farm with an ignorant sweaty husband and a passel of children who are always hungry. No, Isabella, life destines you for greatness. You will be a queen. Now, hurry and finish choosing your clothes. You will be late for your lessons. Now I must see to your trunks.”
Maria finished folding clothes Isabella had already chosen and then hurried from the room.
Isabella sighed and went to the window. Maria makes it sound so terrible, but I don’t see what is wrong with a simple life, to marry a farmer or a tradesman. Then I’d never have to learn Latin.
Across the busy courtyard stood the finished chapel, her father’s most significant contribution to the castle’s renovation. The golden dome gleamed in the sunlight.
A knock on the door was followed by, “Isabella, are you there?”
“Yes, Tata.”
Sigismund entered the room, and Isabella ran to embrace him. Isabella loved her father. He was a kind man. “What is it, Tata?”
Sigismund stepped back and looked at his ten-year-old daughter. “I want to talk to you before you leave for Niepolomice.”
“Why must I go? We returned from Lithuania only two days ago. I want to be home with you.”
“Your mother…” Sigismund shook his head. “She has too much fire. Bona should have been a man so she could fight duels and command armies. I can never make her sit still.”
Isabella tilted her head. “Are you here to discuss my eventual marriage, Tata?”
Sigismund’s eyes twinkled as he nodded. “Ah, my wise little córka. Yes, your marriage.”
“But why must I marry? I want to learn more and discover things, well… some things. I hate Latin.”
Sigismund laughed and motioned for her to sit on the couch, and then he sat beside her. “It is difficult to be a king in these times, Isabella. To the west is the powerful Hapsburg family; to the east are Suleiman and his Ottoman Turks. They both wish to rule Hungary and Poland. In the meantime, I have your mother to deal with. She tried to marry you to the king of France’s son when you were only five years old. She saw the folly of her ways when the Italians captured King Francis of France in war.”
Isabella moved closer to her father. “Are you sure you did not have a hand in keeping me from marrying the French prince, Tata?”
Sigismund laughed out loud. “Well, maybe just a little. Your mother sometimes thinks she is my king. I desired a Hapsburg marriage for you to guarantee our security in the changing Europe that is coming. I felt it best to align with those who will someday rule Europe. But I now see they only wish to supplant me, to put a Hapsburg on the throne of Poland.”
“So then who am I to marry, Tata? And what about my sisters? They can marry someone too.”
Sigismund’s face grew serious. “I am negotiating with John Zápolya, the king of Hungary. You would make him a good wife, and it would unite our two countries.”
“Wouldn’t it also keep the Hapsburgs away?”
Sigismund shook his head. “For someone so young…”
“Mother talks about these things to her servants, and I listen.”
“It would not be for a while Isabella, but I wanted to let you know what I am thinking. As for your sisters, well, I have plans for them.” He rubbed his forehead. “All these negotiations sometimes make my head hurt. The twists and turns are hard for me to follow.”
Isabella snuggled under her father’s arm. “That’s not true, Tata. You see everything that goes on around you.”
“That may be true, little one, but so do you. When I tell you of these things, you always understand. Now run along to your classes.”
Isabella wiggled closer. “Oh, Tata, must I? All Janos talks about is Latin, and Pieter discusses nothing but the end of the world day after day. Can’t I stay here? I learn so much more when I am with you.”
Isabella gave her father a petulant look. Sigismund stood and shook his head. “You received your blue eyes from me, but you inherited your stubborn nature from your mother. Now, do as I say. You will need your education one day.”
“Isabella! Pay attention!”
Isabella pulled her thoughts back to the classroom. “I am sorry, Master Pieter.” She felt a flush rising in her face.
“What did I say?”
“When, Master Pieter?”
Pieter shook his head and sighed. “You must remember what I teach, child. As a Christian in a world soon at an end, your responsibility will be to aid God when He ushers in a new era of history.”
“Please describe this new era, Master Pieter.”
“Now I must give you extra work, Princess. You did not listen today.”
“But what do you say about the new era, Master? Will it be good?”
“God will restore the world with the help of true Christians. A new age of mankind will emerge.”
“Please, tell me more.”
Isabella watched as Pieter placed the Bible that he was holding on the desk. He was frowning. “In this kingdom, people hold everything in common and distribute everything according to need. The common people hold power, and no lords will rule over them.”
“You are fortunate that you are my favorite tutor, Master Pieter. For if my father heard you are teaching these things, you might lose your head.”
Her tutor turned white and then red. “Ah… I misspoke myself, Princess. Shall we return to our study of mathematics?”
Isabella tried to smile, but his words troubled her heart.
I’d sooner be a commoner. A strong husband, several stout children…
“Isabella! Mathematics book, please.”
On another day, Isabella was lost in thought when she heard Pieter approaching. She flushed with impatience and quickly opened her reader.
“Too much religion today, Princess, my recalcitrant protégé?” Master Pieter looked over his nose at her.
“No, it’s not that.” Isabella shook her head. “I am deciding what I will be.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, am I a Catholic, a Protestant, a Unitarian, or a Muslim? Or should I enter Yeshiva and become a Jew?”
Isabella saw the shocked look on her teacher’s face and chuckled.
“But you are a Catholic,” he insisted. “You were born a Catholic, you will die a Catholic.”
“Isn’t that something I should decide?”
“Your parents baptized you into the Catholic Church when you were a baby. Just as the tiger, you can’t change your stripes now.”
“But that’s the problem, Master Pieter. I didn’t get to choose. My mother dressed me up in fancy baby clothes and took me to the priest and, voilá, I’m a Catholic. They should have waited for baptism until I could decide for myself.”
“Ah! Maybe you will be an Anabaptist.”
“What’s an Anabaptist?”
“The Anabaptists are a sect that believes infant baptism is wrong. Also, Anabaptists teach that the way back to the church after they excommunicate someone is repentance and rejection of sin.”
“You mean just be repentant instead of paying the priest and crawling around the church on your hands and knees in sackcloth and ashes?”
“Correct.”
“I am intrigued by these Anabaptists, Master Pieter. What else do they teach?”
“They say the church, although made of many individuals, is the bride of Christ and that she should prepare herself for the Lord’s return as a bride prepares herself for her bridegroom.”
“Oh, I love that. Tell me, Master Pieter—how is it you understand these Anabaptists so well?”
He waved aside her question. “Forget the Anabaptists. If you want to change your religion, become a Christian humanist.”
“What’s a Christian humanist?”
“They teach the human side of Jesus and that we can be good speakers and teachers like he was. They want to create people who will engage in the civic life of their communities and guide others in a virtuous and prudent life.”
“But Jesus was more than human.”
“Isabella,” Pieter said, “we are far off the track. I want you to study Christian Humanism, a philosophy that entails the best of human living. The Anabaptists are far outside the teachings of the church and the humanists.”
“But doesn’t religion include spiritual living? From what you say, it seems the Anabaptists are looking to discover both the practical and the spiritual side.”
A flush mounted from the teacher’s neck to his face.
“Never mind, Master Pieter.” Isabella lowered her head. “I will study what you ask.”
But I want to study the Anabaptists.