History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"In several Villages belonging to the Royal Electoral privy Councillor
von Bruhl [who is properly the fountain of all this and of much other
misery to us, if we knew it!] the plundering likewise had begun; and a
quantity of about a hundred swine [so ho!] had been cut in pieces:
but in the midst of their work, the Allies heard that these were Bruhl
estates, and ceased their havoc of them. These accordingly are the only
lands in all this region whose fate has been tolerable.
"The appellation, every moment renewed, of 'Heretic!' was the courteous
address from these people to our fellow-Christians; 'heretic dogs
(KETZERISCHE HUNDE)' was a PRADICAT always in their mouth.
"In Weischutz," a mile or two from us, up the Unstrut, "a French Colonel
who wanted to ride out upon the works, made the there Pastor, Magister
Schren, stoop down by way of horse-block, and mounted into the saddle
from his back. [Messieurs, you will kindle the wrath of mankind some
day, and get a terrible plucking, with those high ways of yours!]
"Churches are all smashed; obscene songs were sung, in form of litany,
from the pulpits and altars; what was done with the communion-vessels,
when they were not worth stealing,"--is hideous to the religious sense,
and shall not be mentioned in human speech.
3. THE BROGLIO REINFORCEMENT COMING ACROSS TO JOIN SOUBISE, AND PERFORM
AT ROSSBACH (Humble Petition from the Magistrates of Sangerhausen, To
the King of Poland's Majesty):--
SANGERHAUSEN, 23d OCTOBER, 1757.--"Scarcely had we, with profound
submission (ALLERUNTERTHANIGST), under date of the 13th current,
represented to your Royal Majesty and Electoral Translucency how heavily
we were pressed down by the forage requisitions and transits of troops,
and the consequent, expenditure in food, drinking, in oats and hay,
which no one pays,--when directly thereafter, on the 14th of October,
a new French party, of the Fischer Corps,"--Fischer is a mighty Hussar,
scarcely inferior to Turpin; and stands in astonishing authority
with Richelieu, and an Army whose object is plunder, [Ferdinand's
Correspondente, SOEPIUS (_Westphalen,_ i. 40-127); &c. &c.]--"new party
of the Fischer Corps, of some sixty men and horse, arrived in the Town;
demanded meat, drink, oats and hay, and all things necessary; which they
received from us;--and not only paid not one farthing for all this, but
furthermore some of them, instead of thanks to their Landlord, Rossold,
forcibly broke up his press, drank his brandy, and carried off a TOUTE
(gather-all) with money in it. From a Tanner, Lindauer by name, they
bargained for a buckskin; and having taken, would not pay it. In the
RATHSKELLER (Town Public-house) they drank much wine, and gave nothing
for it: nay on marching off,--because no mounted guide (REITENDER BOTE)
was at hand, and though they had before expressly said none such would
be needed,--they rushed about like distracted persons (WIE RASENDE
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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