Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/520

82

of Mazovia and the princess had gone with a part of their court to the fishing of the spring season in Chersk, for they loved the sight greatly and considered it their foremost pleasure. Hlava learned from Mikolai of Dlugolyas many important things touching private affairs as well as questions of war. He learned, first of all, that the knight Matsko had evidently given up his intention of going to Jmud directly across the "Prussian hindrance," for he had been in Warsaw some days before, where he had found Prince Yanush and the princess. Concerning war, old Mikolai confirmed the reports which Hlava had heard in Schytno. All Jmud had risen as one man against the Germans, and Prince Vitold not only did not assist the Knights of the Cross, but, without declaring war yet, and while deluding them with discussions, he strengthened Jmud with money, with men, with horses and wheat. Meanwhile both he and the Order were sending envoys to the Pope, to the Emperor, to all Christian rulers. They accused each other of faith-breaking, deceit, and treachery. From Prince Vitold went, with letters declaring these things, the wise Mikolai of Reniev, who understood how to unravel the threads twisted into each other by German cunning. He did this by showing accurately the measureless wrongs inflicted on the lands of Jmud and Lithuania.

At the same time, since at the Diet of Vilno the bonds between Lithuania and Poland had been strengthened, the hearts of the Knights of the Cross were growing timid, because it was easy to foresee that Yagello, as the overlord of all lands which were under the ruling of Vitold, would stand during war on his side. Count Yan Sayn, the comtur of Grudziansk, and Count Schwartzberg, of Dantzig, went at command of the Grand Master to Yagello to inquire what they were to expect of him. The king gave no answer, though they brought gifts to him,—precious vessels and hunting-hawks. Therefore they threatened war, but insincerely, since they knew well that the Grand Master and the Chapter were in their souls afraid of the terrible