THE DUTCH KNIGHTS 



Brandeburg, the Duke of Austria, the Marques of 

 Moravia, the Bishops of Colen and of Olmutz came 

 marching on with great strength of their Nobles and 

 common souldiers, and invading the lande of Prussia in 

 the Winter season, they constrained the inhabitants 

 thereof to receive the Christian faith, and to become 

 obedient unto the knights. After which exploite, by the 

 advice and assistance of king Odoacer, there was a castle 

 built upon a certaine hill of Samogitia, which immedi- 

 ately after grewe to be a great citie, being at this day the 

 seate of the Prince of Prussia : and it was called by 

 Odoacer Kunigsberg, that is to say, Kings Mount, or 

 Mount royall, being finished in the yeere 1255. Out 

 of this fort the knights did bridle and restraine the furie 

 of the Infidels on all sides, and compelled them to 

 obedience. The sixt Master was called Boppo ab 

 Osterna, under whom the citie of Kunigsberg was 

 built. At the very same instant the knights beeing 

 occupied about the warre of Curland, the Prussians 

 conspiring together, and abandoning the Christian faith, 

 in furious maner armed themselves against ye Christians, 

 defaced and burnt down Churches, slew Priests, and to 

 the utmost of their abilitie, banished all faithfull people. 

 The report of which misdemeanour being published 

 throughout all Germanie, an huge armie was levied and 

 sent for the defence and succour of the knights, which 

 marching into the land of Natan, made many slaughters, 

 & through the inconstancie of fortune sometimes 

 woonne, and sometimes lost the victorie. Also the 

 Infidels besieged these three castles, namely, Barsten- 

 stein, Crutzberg and Kunigsberg, and brought extreame 

 famine upon the Christians contained within the saide 

 fortes. Againe, in the yeere of our Lord 1262. the 

 Earle of Juliers, with other Princes and great chivalrie 

 came downe, and giving charge upon the Prussians, put 

 three thousand of them to the edge of the sworde. 

 Afterward the Prussians banding themselves together, 

 were determined to spoile the castle of Kunigsberg, but 



3 



A.D. 

 1262. 



The Prussians 



abandon 



Christianitie. 



