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But gracious God! they had none.... I waged war with them in the field, when sent on an embassy by our prince to Witold, but here I was like a neighbor to neighbors.... Bartosz Natecz captured, chained and imprisoned under ground in Kozmin forty knights who attacked him. The Teutons were compelled to pay half a wagonful of money for them.
"Zbyszko hoped," said Father Kaleb, "that Prince Witold would make an inroad into Prussia and take some of the castles there." "If time were given to him, he would not delay," replied Macko. "Praise God now, we know at least where to look for Zbyszko." "We must press on at once," said Jagienka. "Silence!" said Macko. "It is not becoming for a boy to interrupt the council."
"It is a hard thing, but not with the Knights of the Cross. And the children of Prince Witold?" "It is quite true, they have wolfish hearts. Nevertheless, it is true that they did not kill her at Szczytno, and Zygfried himself left for this part of the country; it is therefore possible that he had hid her in some castle." "Hey! If it turns out so, then I shall take this island and the castle."
We will redeem Bogdaniec from our pledge anyhow, because we must hold that which our forefathers held. But how can we get some peasants to work? The land is worth nothing without peasants. Therefore listen to what I am going to tell you: if you make vows or not to anyone you please, still you must go with the Pan of Mielsztyn to Prince Witold against the Tartars.
It seems that Prince Witold went to Krakow to interview the king and ask his permission and help." "But in the neighborhood are the fortresses of the Knights of the Cross. If only two could be taken, we might find there Jurandowna, or hear of her death." "Or nothing." "But Zygfried brought her to this part of the country.
"Witold himself," he said, "although they call him a grand duke, rules over Litwa by Jagiello's authority; he is only viceroy, therefore the renown will be the king's. What fame it will be for the newly baptized Lithuanians and for the might of Poland, when the united armies carry the cross to those countries where, if they mention the Saviour's name at all, it is only to blaspheme!
"I know it; but I am grieved that the queen did not prophesy a happy result for that expedition, and everything she predicts is always fulfilled." Macko smiled. "Ej, our lady is a prophetess, I cannot deny; but with Prince Witold, the might of our knighthood will go, splendid men, against whom nobody is able to contend." "Are you not going?"
"Zbyszko's armor-bearer has arrived from Szczytno," said the girl, "and has brought news from the priest. Macko will not return to this place. He went to Prince Witold." "Why will he not return here?" asked Father Kaleb. Then she told all she had heard from the Bohemian.
We wish to be baptized, but not with blood and the sword. We want religion, but only such as upright monarchs shall teach, Jagiello and Witold. "Listen to us and help us, for we perish! The Order does not wish to christen us for our enlightenment. They do not send us priests, but executioners. Our beehives, our flocks, and all the products of our land they have already carried away.
"Aha! we know each other well. I remember when you made us a visit with Macko about eight years ago, and my matula gave us some nuts with honey; you being the elder, struck me with your fist and then ate all the nuts yourself." "He will not act like that now!" said Macko. "He has been with Kniaz Witold, and with the court in Krakow, and he has learned courtly manners."
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