THE DUTCH KNIGHTS a.d. 



1525. 



with war, and oppressed all Prussia with such extreme 

 rigour, that the Prince of the countrey was constrained 

 to make a league of foure yeeres with him, and to 

 yeeld unto such conditions, as turned to the utter over- 

 throwe of the whole Order. And amongst other 

 conditions are these which follow. Sithence that the 

 originall of all discorde betweene Polonia and the 

 order doeth from hence arise, for that hitherto in 

 Prussia, no lawfull heyre and successor hath borne 

 rule and authority, but divers and sundry have had the 

 government therof, by whose meanes the nations have 

 bene provoked one against another, much Christian 

 blood hath bin shed, the lands and inhabitants 

 grievously spoiled, and many widowes and Orphans 

 made : the Popes, Emperors, and Princes being often 

 sollicited for the establishing of that perpetual league, 

 which Casimir hath heretofore concluded &c. Sithence 

 also that the truce which hath bene agreed upon of 

 both parties is in short time to be expired, and that it 

 is to bee feared, that bloody warres will then be 

 renewed, and that all things will prove worse and 

 worse, unlesse some lawfull composition be made, and 

 some good and wholesome devise be put in practise, 

 as well for the benefit of the King and of his posteritie, 

 as for the commoditie of the whole common weale of 

 Prussia, especially considering that Albertus the Marques 

 refuseth not to submitte himselfe to the Councell of 

 the King, &c. 



[The Oration 



11 



