De malicia Pruthenorum sciencium linguam Theutonicam.
The Treachery of Henry of the Mountain
Henry of the Mountain, raised among the Teutonic brothers, used his knowledge of their language and trust to lure hiding Christians from forests and marshes with false promises of safety, then ambushed and killed or captured them all.
Henry of the Mountain, captain of the Nattangians, and many other Prussians who'd been raised among the brothers from boyhood, committed many evils during this persecution of the Christian people—because this happened all too often: when the army of the unbelievers passed through the brothers' territory, the Christian people, unable to flee to the camp, hid themselves in forests, thickets, and marshes. The aforesaid Henry, realizing this, took several men-at-arms and went to the places where he supposed such people were hiding. Speaking peaceful words in deceit, he called out in a German voice: 'If anyone is hiding here, come out without fear—the army of the unbelievers has already withdrawn.' When they came out, putting faith in his words, he rushed upon them with his men and had them all captured or killed.
Read the original Latin
Henricus Monte capitaneus Nattangorum, et multi alii Prutheni, qui a puericia nutriti fuerant circa fratres, multa mala fecerunt tempore persecucionis hujus populo cristiano, quia sepissime hoc accidit,* quod quando exercitus infidelium pertransiit terminos fratrum, populus cristianus, qui ad castra confugere non poterat, in silvis, rubetis et paludibus se occultavit. Quod senciens Henricus predictus, assumptis sibi pluribus armigeris, accessit ad ea loca, ubi talia presumebat, et habens verba pacifica in dolo ait voce Theutonica: si quis latitat hic, exeat sine timore, quia exercitus infidelium jam recessit. Cujus verbis dum fidem adhibendo exirent, ipse cum suis irruens in ipsos omnes ceperat vel occidit.
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