The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 01Hakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 01
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
[Sidenote: An. Dom. 1390.] Dominus Henricus Comes de Derbie per idem tempos
profectus est in le Pruys, vbi cum adjutorio marescalli dictæ patriæ &
cujusdam Regis vocati Wytot deuicit exercitum Regis de Lettowe, captis
quatuor ducibus, & tribus peremptis & amplius quam trecentis, de
valentioribus exercitus sapradicti pariter interemptis. Ciuitas quoque
vocatur [Marginal note: Alias Vilna] Will in cujus castellum Rex de Lettowe
nomine Skirgalle confugerat, potenti virtute dicti Comitis maximè atque
suorum capta est. Namque qui fuerunt de familia sua primi murum ascenderant
& vexillum ejus super muros, cæteris vel torpentibus vel ignorantibus,
posuerunt. Captaque sunt ibi vel occisa quatuor millia plebanorum, fratre
Regis de Poleyn inter cæteros ibi perempto, qui aduersarius nostri fuit
Obsessumque fuit castrum dictæ Ciuitatis per quinque hebdomadas: Sed
propter infirmitates, quibus vexabatur exercitus magistri de Pruys & de
Lifland noluerunt diutiùs expectare. Facti sunt Christiani de gente de
Lettowe octo. Et magister de Lifland duxit secum in suam patriam tria
millia captiuorum.
The same in English.
About the same time L. Henry the Earle of Derbie trauailed into Prussia,
where, with the helpe of the Marshall of the same Prouince, and of a
certaine king called Wytot, hee vanquished the armie of the king of
Lettowe, with the captiuitie of foure Lithuanian Dukes, and the slaughter
of three, besides more then three hundred of the principall common
souldiers of the sayd armie which were slaine. The Citie also which is
called Wil or Vilna, into the castle whereof the king of Lettow named
Skirgalle fled for his sauegard, was, by the valour of the sayd Earle
especially and of his followers, surprised and taken. For certaine of the
chiefe men of his familie, while others were slouthfull or at least
ignorant of their intent, skaling the walles, aduanced his colours
thereupon. And there were taken and slaine foure thousand of the common
souldiers, and amongst others was slaine the king of Poland his brother,
who was our professed enemie. And the castle of the foresaid Citie was
besieged for the space of fiue weekes: but by reason of the infirmities and
inconueniences wherewith the whole armie was annoyed, the great masters of
Prussia and of Lifland would not stay any longer. There were conuerted of
the nation of Lettowe eight persons vnto the Christian faith. And the
master of Lifland carried home with him into his countrey three thousand
captiues.
* * * * *
The voyage of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester into Prussia, in the
yeere 1391. written by Thomas Walsingham.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account