De morte plurium civium de Colmense.
The Harvest Ambush at Vogelsanck
The Prussians concealed themselves near Vogelsanck during harvest, lured the citizens of Kolmense into the open by feigning withdrawal, and then fell upon them in a devastating ambush that ended in massacre and captivity.
At harvest time the army of the Prussians came, and for ten days hid themselves in the forest around the place called Vogelsanck, in such a way, however, that on individual days only a few appeared in the field, and the citizens put them to flight from the harvests. At last, when the crops were ripe and they could no longer stand by without loss, the citizens — believing the army had withdrawn — all went out to the harvest. When this was seen, the Prussians rushed upon them with a great and horrible attack, and killed men, women, and children, and led them away into perpetual captivity.
Read the original Latin
Tempore messium venit exercitus Pruthenorum, et xm diebus occultavit se in nemore circa locum, qui dicitur Vogelsanck, ita tarnen, quod singulis diebus pauci comparuerunt in campo, et cives de messibus fugaverunt. Tandem cum segetes essent mature, nec amplius sine damno possent Stare, cives credentes exercitum recessisse, exierunt omnes ad messem. Quo viso Prutheni cum magno et horribili insultu irruentes in eos, occiderunt viros, et mulieres et parvulos in captivitatem perpetuam deduxerunt.
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