Late February, Kraków, Poland.
Władysław had been in an utterly foul mood lately. His requests to levy taxes had been rejected three times in succession, with the nobles citing poor finances.
"You penny-pinching misers! Do you intend to let Charles VII swallow up the Holy See's lands?"
Władysław paced alone through the cavernous hall, wholeheartedly approving of the measures Vitus and Charles VII had taken to weaken their nobles.
However, the nobility of the Kingdom of Poland was far too powerful. If relations broke down, Władysław did not believe he could defeat their combined armies.
He suppressed that dangerous thought and returned his attention to the immediate problem.
When the two countries had ceased hostilities the previous year, Hungary had paid part of the Polish army's wages, leaving a hundred thousand florins outstanding.
Before long, Władysław learned that the army was on the verge of mutiny. He could only give his word as king, promising to pay their wages within two months.
The court could not produce that money. Borrowing was the only solution.
Trade in the Baltic Sea and North Sea was dominated by the Hanseatic League, so Władysław naturally borrowed from Hanseatic merchants, offering royal estates as collateral.
After they had finally weathered that crisis, the treasurer advised the king to cut expenses, hold no more tournaments, and, above all, refrain from starting wars.
But Władysław had received repeated pleas for aid from the Holy See and, in a moment of hotheadedness, promised to declare war on France.
By now, he had mustered fifteen thousand soldiers and once again found himself in the dangerous position of having an army but no money to pay it.
At ten in the morning, the treasurer found the king and relayed the Hanseatic merchants' terms.
The crown's finest estates had already been