One day, two neighbours came to Vyšehrad. They were arguing over a piece of pasture land and wanted Libuše to settle their dispute. The princess listened to them, spoke with her advisers, and passed judgement. The winner thanked the princess for her fairness, but his opponent shouted angrily: “Can a woman really understand men’s affairs? It’s not for nothing that they say long hair means short thinking. It is a disgrace for all men that a woman rules over us!” Everyone present froze. The princess was silent for a moment, then said: “Tomorrow I will tell you the name of the man who will become my husband and prince of all Bohemians.” The news that the Czechs would have a prince spread across the country like wildfire. The next day, a large crowd gathered at Vyšehrad, eagerly awaiting what the princess would tell them. Libuše sat down on her throne and said: “Across the Bílina River lies a village belonging to the Stadic family. Your new prince Přemysl is ploughing the field with two oxen. Tell the messengers to take a prince’s robe and go to him. Tell him that I ask him to take me as his wife and assume the throne at Vyšehrad. My horse will lead you.” As the princess said, so it came to pass. They led Libuše’s white horse out of the stables, and the messengers set off in its footsteps. They travelled across mountains and streams until they reached the village of Stadice. When they saw the field where a young, strong man was ploughing with two oxen, Libuše’s horse stopped and neighed. The messengers bowed to Přemysl and delivered Libuše’s message to him. Přemysl was not surprised and did not ask any questions. It was as though he had expected them. He unhitched the oxen from the plough, slapped them on the back with his strong hand and called out: “Go back to where you came from!” The oxen ran towards the rock, which opened up before them, swallowed them up and closed again. Vyšehrad | Source: Prague City Tourism Then Přemysl took the hazel rod he used to drive the oxen and stuck it into the ground. As if by magic, the twig turned green, grew tall, and three thin branches sprouted from it, bearing leaves and nuts. Two branches of the miraculous hazel tree withered and dried up, but one branch sprouted upwards and bore new fruit. The messengers asked what the wonder meant. “My family will be like that hazel tree,” said Přemysl. “Many men will be born of it, but only one will rule.” Then Přemysl dressed himself in the princely robes and a cloak and put his old bast shoes into a bag, which he slung over his shoulder. The messengers asked what the prince would need an ordinary bag and old shoes for. “These are for my descendants, to remind them of their origins. So that they do not forget and do not oppress out of pride those who walk the world with only a bag and bast shoes,” smiled Přemysl. Rotunda of St. Martin at Vyšehrad | Source: Prague City Tourism The journey back passed quickly. Upon entering Bohemian territory, the people from the villages they passed through welcomed their prince joyfully and joined him on foot and on horseback. When the guards at Vyšehrad spotted the large procession, they sent word to the princess, who came out with her retinue to meet Přemysl. The wedding ceremonies lasted three days and three nights. Libuše placed her hand in Přemysl’s own, and when they made a joint sacrifice to the gods, they became husband and wife, prince and princess. Based on the book 77 pražských legend by Alena Ježková (77 Prague Legends).