De morte quorundam infidelium.
The Ambush at Redino
Two brothers wander into Prussian territory, are captured through treachery, but Martinus seizes an opportunity to kill their captors and escape with his companion back to Redino.
From Redino, a certain brother and Martinus of Golin were riding out into the wasteland to see if by any chance something might present itself to them, and they began to wander off the road; and in that wandering, when three Prussian men came upon them, they killed two of them, keeping the third alive so that he might lead them back to the right path — and he led them into the land of their enemies. When they saw through his treachery, they killed him. Retreating in haste with five Prussian horsemen in pursuit, they were seized and bound and placed under the custody of two men. But three other Prussians followed the horse of that brother who had escaped. When this had been done, while those two wished to behead the bound Martinus with drawn sword, he persuaded them first to strip the garments from him, lest they be stained with blood. They agreed to this, and while they were loosening Martinus's arms, he snatched the sword and killed them both. With that brother freed from his bonds, the two of them advanced against the three others and killed them as well, then returned to the castle of Redino without any further detour.
Martinus of Golin Pursues the Raiders
The narrative transitions to a second episode involving Martinus of Golin, who with fifteen companions is dispatched by the brothers of Redino to follow twenty Prussians raiding Poland.
Likewise concerning Martinus of Gotin and his remarkable battle. At this time as well, twenty Prussians plundered Poland. By order of the brothers of Redino, the aforesaid Martinus of Golin followed with fifteen companions.
The Battle and Its Aftermath
The Prussians surprise Martinus's sleeping guards, a fierce battle ensues in which all are slain except the half-alive Martinus, who is rescued by the freed guard and brought back to Redino.
These Prussians, returning from Poland, found Martin's guards sleeping; and after one of them had been killed, the other—once he had revealed the number of Martin's companions and the place where they were—they bound to a tree. When this was done, they rushed upon them in hostile fashion. Martin and his companions defended themselves manfully from the opposite side, and many on both sides were seriously wounded. When a certain companion of Martin's saw this—a man who had swum naked across a nearby river to catch crabs—he came back, seized the sword and shield of one of the slain, and naked as he was, plunged into the fight. He was slashed and wounded so terribly by them that in many places large chunks of flesh were hanging from his body. So fierce was the battle between them that, worn out, they rested three times by mutual voluntary agreement on each side—and just as often, having regained their strength, they renewed the fight and charged again. At last, when all the Christians and Prussians were now dead, that guard who had been bound to the tree, freed from his bonds, came to the camp. He found only Martin, half-alive; and having placed him on a cart, he brought him along with the horses, arms, and other goods of the Prussians back to Redinum.
Read the original Latin
De Redino quidam fraterk et Martinus de Golin equitantes in solitudine ad videndum, si aliquid a casu occurreret eis, inceperunt in via errare, et in illo errore de tribus viris Pruthenis occurrentibus eis duos occiderunt, tercium, ut eos ad viam rectam duceret, conservantes, qui duxit eos in terram inimicorum. Cujus dolum dum viderent, occiderunt eum, et cum festinacione recedentes, a quinque Pruthenis equitibus ipsos sequentibus comprehensi sunt et ligati, commissique custodie duorum. Sed tres Prutheni alii equum illius fratris, qui effugerat, sunt secuti. Quo facto, dum isti duo Martinum ligatum vellent evaginato gladio decollare, ipse suasit eis, ut prius ei vestes exuerent, ne sanguine macularentur. Cui consencientes, dum brachia Martini solvissent, ipse ereptoa gladio ambos interfecit, et soluto fratre illo a vinculis, ambo processerunt contra tres alios et eos eciam peremerunt, et extunc ad castrum de Redino sine deviacione aliqua sunt reversi. Item de Martino de Gotin, et bello ipsius mirabili. 157 (152) Hoc eciam tempore xx Prutheni Poloniam depredati sunt. De mandato fra— trum de Redino Martinus de Golin predictus cumb xvn sociis sequebatur.
Qui Prutheni reversi de Polonia invenerunt custodes Martini dormientes, et occiso uno alium, postquam numerum sociorum ejus et locum, ubi essent, indicasset, ad arborem ligaverunt. Quo facto irruerunt in eosc hostiliter; Martino et sociis suis viriliter se defendentibus ex adverso, multi sunt ex utraque parte graviter vulnerati. Quod cum videret quidam socius Martini, qui nudus fluvium vicinum ad capiendum cancros transnatavit, reversus arripuit gladium et clipeum cujusdam interfecti, nudus intravit pugnam. Qui horribiliter sectus et vulneratus fuit ab eis, ita quod in pluribus locis magna frusta carnisd de suo corpore dependebant. Adeo durum fuit inter eos bellum, quod, fatigati utraquee parte voluntarie consenciente tribus vicibus quieverunt, et tociens novam pugnam resumptis viribus sunt aggressi. Tandem cum jam omnes Cristiani et Prutheni essent mortui, ille custos, qui ligatus fuit ad arborem, solutus a vinculis venit ad locum cerlaminis, et solum Martinum semivivum invenit, quem positum su per vehiculum, equos, arma, et res alias Pruthenorum secum duxit in Redinum.
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