De reformacione pacis inter Swantepolcum et fratres.
The Duke's Humble Return
Swantepolcus, once obstinate in treachery, is humbled by trial and comes to the legate and brothers in confession, acknowledging his wrongdoing and offering restitution.
With these matters thus arranged and mercifully ordered by God, Swantepolcus — the duke who the day before had been so stiff-necked and obstinate in his treachery that he could not be moved by entreaty, by payment, or by threats to return to the bosom of holy Mother Church — now gained understanding through this trial, and seeing that he could no longer resist the brothers, he came to the legate and the brothers, humbling himself before them and acknowledging his wrongdoing.✦ He acknowledged that he had acted wrongly against the faith and the faithful, begging them to have mercy on him and deal graciously with him, and offering himself and his possessions to the brothers as restitution.
The Legate's Counsel of Mercy
The legate weighs the difficulty of trusting a repeat peace-breaker against the duty of mercy, and ultimately advises receiving the duke back into the Church's grace.
The legate, having heard these things, held various discussions with the brothers on the matter, saying that it would be difficult to trust a man who had so often broken the bonds of peace. On the other hand, he considered that the door of mercy should not be closed to one who asks for pardon, and he chose the better course — which he knew well — namely peace, since it is only in times of peace that the author of peace is truly honored.✦ And so, on the advice of the brothers, he received him back into the grace of the church under these terms.
The Sealed Covenant of Peace
Swantepolcus pledges his castle, hostages, and sworn oath to the brothers, who in turn release captives and faithfully observe the peace.
So that the agreement between him and the brothers would be firm, Swantepolcus gave his castle of Sardewicz to the brothers as a pledge, and his firstborn son Mestowinum, Wimarums the Burgrave, and Woyac the commander of his army, as hostages. He swore on the holy Gospels of God, touched by his own hand, that he would aid the brothers against the unbelievers whenever necessity demanded it, and that he would never again attempt such detestable acts against the faith and the faithful as he had committed before. He also gave the brothers his own letters, sealed with his seal, as testimony to these promises. This done, the brothers returned to him all the captives they could find, among whom were seventy noble and honorable matrons, besides other women, men, and children. And the brothers observed the said peace so firmly that, beyond other things necessary for keeping the peace, they refused to wage any further war against the unbelievers without the counsel of the said duke. .
Read the original Latin
Hiis itaque sic dispositis et a deo misericorditer ordinatis, Swantepolco duci, qui pridie tarn dure cervicis fuit et obstinatus in perfidia, quod nec prece nec precio nec minis flecti potuit, quod vellet redire ad sancte matris ecclesie gremium, modo hec vexacio deditc intellectum, et videns, quod fratribus a modo non posset resistere, venit ad legatum et fratres, et humiliatus coram eis recognovi. t se perperam egisse contra fidem et fideles, supplieans, ut sui misererentur, et cum eo agerent graciose, exhibens se et sua fratribus in emendam. Legatus hiis auditis diversos habuit tractatus cum fratribus super hac re, dicens, quod difficile esset eid credere, qui sepee pacis federa rupit. Ex adverso consideravit, quod petenti veniam sinus misericordie non est precludendus, ex bis eligens, quod melius novit, scilicet pacem, quia nonnisi in tempore pacis colitur autor pacis. Ende de consilio fratrum recepit ipsum ad graciam ecclesie sub hiis pactisf. Swantepolcus, ut firma esset inter eum et fratres composicio, castrum suum Sardewicz dedit fratribus in pignus et filium suum primogenitum Mestowinum, Wimarums Burgravium et Woyac ducem exercitus sui in obsides, juravitque ad sancta dei evangelia per eum corporaliter tacta, quod deberet fratres juvare contra infideles, quociens necessitas hoc exposceret, et quod non deberet a modo contra fidem et fideles tarn detestabilia facta, qualia prius fecerat, attemptare, et dedit literas suas fratribus sigillo suo sigillatas in testi— monium premissorum. Hoc facto, fratres ei omnes captivos, qui poterant reperiri, inter quos fuerunt lxx matrone nobiles et honeste preter alias mulieres, viros et parvulos redcliderunt, dictamque pacem fratres tama firmiter observabant, quod preter alia, que ad pacis observanciam sunt necessaria, nullum bel lum contra infideles ulterius movere sine dicti ducis consilio voluerunt? .
Scripture echoes
- ↩Exod.32.9;Acts.7.51 — And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people." Acts.7.51 — You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do.
- ↩Isa.9.6 — For the increase of his government and for peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
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