De desolacione castri Barthenstein.
The Siege and the First Deception
Besieged and starving, the brothers deceive the Prussians by feigning abandonment, then sally forth to inflict heavy casualties.
Once the bulwarks had been rebuilt, in the fourth year — that is, in the year of our Lord 1260-something — the brothers, with their provisions running out, could no longer hold out against the Prussians, and so they deceived them three times over in the following way. The brothers, along with their entire household, hid themselves behind the castle walls in silence from morning until the ninth hour; and when the Prussians saw that no one appeared in the castle, they assumed the besieged had escaped, and boldly moved in to attack the fortress. But the brothers, sallying out from their hiding places, drove them back — killing many with arrows and blows, and mortally wounding others.
A Voice from Heaven
A devout brother prays for guidance and receives a divine promise of deliverance echoing 2 Chronicles 20:17.
At last, after countless dangers and battles, a certain devout brother asked God to show him what could more safely be done in this time of need. To him a voice sent from heaven responded: 'O Judea and Jerusalem, do not fear; tomorrow you will go out, and the Lord will be with you. Stand firm; you will see the Lord's help come upon you.'✦
The Evacuation and the Blind Brother's Vigil
The brothers evacuate in two columns toward Königsberg and Elbing, leaving behind an old blind brother who faithfully rings the canonical hours on a bell.
When this message had been heard, the following day the brothers divided themselves and their household into two groups — one of which made for the castle at Königsberg, the other for Elbing — and having taken up the relics of the saints, they left behind in the castle a certain brother, old, decrepit, and blind, who could not follow them, and withdrew. Nevertheless, the same brother who remained in the castle gave the signal at each of the canonical hours, as was the custom, with a bell.
The Fall of Barthenstein
The Prussians discover the ruse, storm the castle, kill the blind brother, and seize Barthenstein, waging many battles thereafter.
At length, since he could no longer remain hidden, the brutes advanced one after another toward the castle; and when they saw that no one was resisting them, they entered, and after killing the brother, they held the castle for their own purposes, waging many battles against the brothers over it.
Read the original Latin
Reedificatis denuo propugnaculis, dum in quarto anno scilicet domini MCCLxnn fratres deficientibus victualibus non possent a modo resistere Pruthe-nei nis, deceperunt eos tribus vicibus in hunc rnodum. Fratres cum tota familia suaa se in meniis castri sub silencio a mane usque ad horam nonam occultaverunt, et dum Prutheni viderent, quod nullus in Castro compareret, putabant obsessos effugisse et viriliter accedentes impugnaverunt castrum. Sed fratres exeuntes de insidiis ipsos represserunt, multos sagittis et ictibus occidentes et letaliter vulnerantes. Tandem post infinita pericula et bella quidam frater devotus rogavit deum, ut ostenderet ei, quid in hac necessitate tucius esset agendumb. Cui vox celitus missa respondit: Judea et Jerusalem, nolite timere; cras egrediemini et dominus erit vobiscum; constantes estote; videbitis auxilium domini super vos. Qua audita sequenti die fratres dividentes se et suam familiam in duas partes, (quarum una venit ad castrum Kunigsbergk, altera in Elbingum), assumptisque reliquiis sanctorum, relictoque in Castro quodam fratre sene decrepito et ceco, qui ipsos sequi non poterat, recesserunt. Idem tarnen frater, qui mansit in Castro ad singulas horas canonicas signum dedit more solito cum campana. Tandem cum diucius occultari non posset, accesserunt successive bestes ad castrum, et dum viderent eis neminem resistere, intraverunt, et occiso fratre castrum ad usus suos conservantes, multa de ipso contra fratres prelia exercebant.
Scripture echoes
- ↩2Chr.20.17 — It is not for you to fight in this battle. Take your stand, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.
Chronicon Terrae Prussiae (Chronicle of the Prussian Land) companion
Keep reading the sources for yourself
The full 428-chapter chronicle — and 78+ other historic works — readable daily in the free Chosen Portion iOS app
The knights kept fixed daily hours of prayer alongside their campaigns; Chosen Portion keeps the fixed daily reading and drops the campaigning.
- The complete chronicle in modern English, in portions under 5 minutes
- Pericope headings that let you navigate 428 chapters by theme
- A daily reading habit that outlasts the 5-week course