United States or Isle of Man ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"What then are we to say and do?" inquired Rotgier. Zygfried meditated, and finally said: "You, noble Count von Bergow go to Malborg to the master. You were groaning in Jurand's slavery, and are now a guest of the Order; therefore as such, and because you need not necessarily speak in favor of the monks, they will rather believe you.
Shortly before, just when Mikolaj of Dlugolas was starting for Malborg with the prince's letter, in which he bitterly complained of the capture of Danusia by turbulent border counts and almost threateningly demanded her instant restoration, a letter had arrived from the owner of Spychow stating that his daughter was not captured by the Teutons, but by ordinary border bandits, and that she would be soon released for a ransom.
This letter was sent instantly to the border by one of the knight's footmen, to be sent thence to Malborg by mail, which the Teutons, some years before others, invented and introduced into their possessions. Meanwhile the snow in the courtyard was leveled and strewn with ashes, so that the feet of the fighters should neither clog nor slip upon the smooth surface.
The travelers did not find the count at home, because he was at the head of the garrison which was drafted of the neighboring noblemen, at Malborg. That information Macko got from a blind old Knight of the Cross, who was formerly the count of Brodnic, but later on he attached himself to the place and castle, and he was the last of his line.
"They attacked me; but half a day later he attacked them and hardly half of them escaped. He took me with him to the grodek and then to Spychow. I fought with death for three weeks. God did not let me die and although I am not well yet, I have returned." "Then you have not been in Malborg?" "On what would I ride? They robbed me of everything and they took the letter with the other things.
"Reason is only to be found in the head." "But Plock is out of the way." "The Bohemian said that it is not out of the way, but it is nearer to Malborg." "Then you have already consulted the Bohemian?"
It is not long since the princess, his wife, went to Prussia to visit Malborg. They received her with great pomp, as though she were the queen of Poland. That happened quite recently! They showered gifts upon her, and gave numerous tourneys, feasts, and all kinds of fetes wherever she went.
"It resulted in the vigorous order of the grand master to the comthur of Szczytno, to send at once to Malborg all the prisoners who were confined in Szczytno, including even Jurand. Concerning Jurand, the comthur replied that he had died from his wounds and was buried there in the church-yard. He sent the other prisoners, including a milkmaid, but our Danusia was not among them."
"When it is agreeable to us," replied Wolfgang, "but we go to Malborg, where, sir, you must first appear before the Master." "Hey! I shall yet have to forfeit my head there, for the help I have given to the Zmudzians," said Macko to himself.
Give us some wine and may love blossom among the Christians!" "Among true Christians!" added Kuno von Lichtenstein, emphatically. "What?" exclaimed the Krakowian bishop Wysz, raising his head; "are you not in an old Christian kingdom? Are not our churches older than yours in Malborg?" "I don't know," answered the Krzyzak.
Word Of The Day