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Chronicon Terrae Prussiae (Chronicle of the Prussian Land)/Book 4 · Tercia pars: De bellis fratrum domus Theutonice contra Pruthenos
Chapter 73ChrP.4.73

De combustione castri Lencenbergk£ et plurium Pruthenorum.

The Assassination Attempt in the Dark

Brother Volradus narrowly survives a treacherous attack in the darkened council chamber of Lencenbergk.

At the time when the Prussians were suspected of apostasy, Brother Volradus, advocate of Nattangia and Warmia, who was called Volradus the Admirable (and truly he was), sat in council with the nobles of that land in the castle of Lencenbergk; and after a short time someone put out the light and attacked Brother Volradus, and would certainly have killed him, had he not been armed.

The Demand for Justice

Volradus displays his torn garments and the nobles unanimously condemn the murderer to be burned.

When the light was brought back, he showed his torn garments and asked the nobles what such a murderer deserved. They all answered that he deserved to be burned.

The Burning of Lencenbergk

Volradus lures the nobles back to the castle, locks them inside, and burns them all along with the fortress.

On another occasion, the same Brother Volradus invited more nobles than before to the same castle, and while they, drunk, began to murmur about killing him, he went out; and having locked the door, he reduced the aforesaid nobles and the whole castle to ashes.

Read the original Latin

Eo tempore, quo Prutheni suspecti fuerunt de apostasia, frater Volradus advocatus Nattangie et Warmie, qui dicebatur Volradus Mirabilis, (et vere ita erat) sedit in collacione cum nobilibus dicte terre in Castro Lencenbergk * *, et post modicum tempus quidam extinxit lumen et invasit fratrem Volradum, et utique occidisset eum, si non fuisset armatus. Reverse posthoc lumine, ostendit vestes laceratas, et quesivit a nobilibus, quid talis homicida meruisset. Responderunt omnes, quod dignus esset comburi. Alia vice idem frater Volradus plures prioribus ad idem castrum invitavit, et dum inebriati murmurare inciperent de morte ipsius, exiit, et clauso hostio dictos nobiles et totum castrum redegita in favillam.

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