De advenlu plurium fratrum domus Theulonice et de edificacione castr.
The Master Sends Reinforcements
After building a castle at Nessovie, Brother Conrad sends to Master Hermann of Salza for more brothers and men-at-arms, and the Master grants his request by sending Brother Hermann Balke.
Nessovie. Once this castle had been built, Brother Conrad, mentioned above, sent messengers to the reverend and religious Brother Hermann of Salza, Master General of the Teutonic Order, reporting to him everything that had been done regarding the task entrusted to him, humbly asking and begging that he send him more brothers and men-at-arms. He, yielding to his prayers, sent him a brother called Hermann.
A Charge Like Joshua's
Master Hermann Balke commissions Brother Hermann with a scriptural charge echoing Joshua 1:6–7, urging him to be strong and courageous as he leads his brothers into the promised land.
Balke, as master, saying to him, just as the Lord said to Joshua: 'Be strong and take courage, for you will lead the sons of Israel.'✦ e. '…your brothers into the land which the Lord has promised them,' and God will be with you.✦
Helpers for the Mission
The Master appoints named brothers and men-at-arms as companions, and together they journey to Vogelsanck where they build the castle Nessovia on the descent of Wisele.
Likewise he gave him Brother Theoderic of Bernheim as marshal, Brother Conrad of Tutele, formerly chamberlain of Blessed Elizabeth, Brother Henry of Berge the Thuringian, and Brother Henry of Ciczeb from the village of Wittekendorph, along with many men-at-arms and horses, as helpers. When they had come to the castle Vogelsanck, they built the castle Nessovia on the descent of Wisele.
The Prussians Encounter Strangers
While the brothers garrison their new castle, Prussians raid Poland and are astonished to see armed men they do not recognize; upon learning from a captured Pole that these are religious soldiers sent by the pope to subjugate them, the Prussians smile and withdraw.
While the brothers were living in that castle, the Prussians made a hostile incursion into Poland. When they saw the brothers in arms following them, they were utterly amazed — where had these men come from, and why had they come? They received an answer from a certain Pole who had been captured by them and was being led along: that these were religious men and valiant soldiers in arms, sent from Germany by the lord pope to wage war against them, until they might subjugate their hard and untamed neck to the most holy Roman Church. When they heard this, they smiled and withdrew.
Read the original Latin
Nessovie. Edificato hoc Castro, frater Conradus predictus misit nuncios ad reverendum virum et religiosum fratrem Hermannum de Salcza magistrum generalem domus Theutonice, nuncians ei omnia, que gesta fuerunt circa negocium sibi commissum, petens humiliter et supplicans, ut plures fratres et armigeros mitteret ei. Qui acquiescens precibus ipsius misit ei fratrem Hermannum dictum. Balke in magistrum, dicens ad eum, sicut dominus ad Josue: confortare et esto robustus, tu enim introduces filios Israel i. e. fratres tuos in terram, quam pollicitus est eis dominus", et deus erit tecum. Item fratrem Theodericum de Bern heim in marscalcum, fratrem Conradum de Tutele quondam camerarium beate Elizabeth, fratrem Henricum de Berge Thuringum, et fratrem Henricum de Ciczeb de villa Wittekendorph cum armigeris et equis pluribus in coadjutores dedit ei. Qui cum venissent ad castrum Vogelsanck, edificaverunt castrum Nessoviam in descensu Wisele *.
In quo Castro dum fratres habitarent, Prutheni intraverunt Poloniam hostiliter, et dum viderent fratres in armis sequentes eos ammirati sunta ultra modum, unde essent, et ad quodb venissent. Quibus responsum fuit a quodam Polono, qui captus ab eis ducebatur, quod essent viri religiosi et strenui milites in armis, de Alemania per dominum papam missi ad bellandum con tra eos, quousque duram eorum cervicem et indomitam sacrosancte Romane ecclesie subjugarent. Quo audito subridentes recesserunt.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Josh.1.6-Josh.1.7 — Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Josh.1.7 — Only be strong and very courageous, to keep and do according to all the Torah that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper in all that you do.
- ↩Josh.1.6 — Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
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