Chapter 84 Chapter 50

In the morning the storm, instead of subsiding, intensified, and made it impossible for them to pitch their tent, in which the king, as had been customary since the beginning of his expedition, should observe the Holy Mass three times a day.Finally, Duke Witout came galloping on horseback, and begged with all his might that, because of the weather, he prayed that he should go to a sheltered place in the forest, so as not to delay the march.The king approved of his plan, because there was nothing else to do. When the sun rose, the troops moved forward in skirmish line, followed by endless carriages.After marching for an hour, the wind weakened, and the flag bearers could unfurl their flags.As far as the eye can see, the fields seem to be full of colorful flowers.No one can see the densely packed banners that guide the march of the various legions.The Cracow regiment marched under a red banner with a bald eagle.This is the main banner of the whole kingdom and the great emblem of the whole army.Bearing the banner was Marcin of Vrocimovici, a great and famous knight, whose coat of arms was "Porkoza" (half a goat).Behind the banners marched the two regiments of the King's Guards.The standard of one regiment was the Lithuanian double cross, the standard of the other was the "Bogonia".And marching under St. Jesse's banner was a formidable army of foreign mercenaries and volunteers, mostly Czechs and Moravians.

① Note to the English translation: A coat of arms of Lithuania, which depicts a fast horse, and the rider holds a sword in preparation for a strike. The volunteers were so numerous that the entire Forty-ninth Regiment consisted of them.These men were chiefly in the infantry, and therefore walked behind the Uhlans; though they were savage and unrestrained, they fought so skilfully and with such valor that the other infantry, when they fought against them, looked like The dog ran away like a porcupine. Their weapons are scythes, axes, and above all the iron flails, which they wield are nothing short of frightening.They fought for whoever hired them, for their only calling was to fight, plunder, and kill.

Near Masovia and the Czech detachment were sixteen regiments marching under their respective banners from the Polish provinces, one from Plsmysl, one from Lwów ( Remburg), one from Gallicre, and three from Portoria; immediately behind them came the infantry of these provinces.They are all fully equipped with lances and scythes.The two dukes of Masovia, Janusi and Ziemowit, commanded the 21st, 22nd and 23rd legions.A legion of bishops and nobles, twenty-two in number, walked behind them.They are Jasco of Ternov, Rendelek of Denzin, Spitko, Leridei, Kerrcon of Ostrova, Mykolai of Michalova, Burr Zbegnev of Sizia, Kerrcon of Kosigorov, Cuba of Connetspol, Yasco and Kermites and Zakrikas of Regenza.Then there were the Griffetts, the Popovskys, and the Kozry Rockys, and all sorts of others, who were all assembled for war, and their standard had a common coat of arms, and their battle-horn common.

The ground beneath them blossomed like a meadow in spring—a billowing sea of ​​men and horses, and on their heads a spear of spears pierced with multicolored sulfur sieves like many little flowers; behind them , In a large expanse of dust, marching infantry from towns and villages.They all knew they were heading toward a terrible war, but they also knew it was their calling, and they went into battle willingly. Marching on the right was Witout's legion, carrying colorful banners bearing the same Lithuanian coat of arms (a galloping knight with sword ready to strike).It was impossible for any one to see all the legions at a glance, for they marched across fields and woods in a procession as wide as five miles.

Before noon the army was near the villages of Rogetau and Tannenberg; they took up camp outside the forest.The place seemed fit for rest, and safe from all surprise.Because on the left, the army is protected by Lake Dombrovna, and on the right there is Lake Lupine as a barrier.Ahead was a clearing about five miles wide.In the middle of this clearing, the land rose gently to the west, and beyond it lay the green swamps and forests of Grunnwald; beyond that lay the lonely and desolate moors and gray straw roofs of Tannenberg.If the crusader knights approached the forest from the highlands, they would be aware of it at once.But the enemy did not appear to arrive until the next day.So the army just stops and takes a break.But Sentram of Mahikovich, who was well versed in the art of war, kept his fighting order even while on the march; the army was therefore placed ready to withstand any attack.He sent scouts on horses, and immediately went to Grunwald, Tannenberg and further places to scout the nearby enemy.At the same time they put up the tent of the chapel so that the king could perform the worship service as usual.They pitched the tent of the chapel on the high ground on the shore of Lake Lupine, so that the devout king could attend his mass as usual.

The dukes of Achael, Wittout, and Masovia, and members of the field military council all entered the tent.In front of the tent gathered some of the most eminent knights, and they gathered there for the dual purpose of committing themselves to God before the final battle, and of meeting the king.They saw him go in, wearing a gray battle robe, with a serious face, and his expression was obviously very worried.Years had not altered his appearance in any way, his face was neither wrinkled nor his hair gray; he brushed it behind his ears and moved as quickly as Zbyszko had done the first time in Krakow. The same as when Cove saw him.But now he walks a little stooped, as if he has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, which is extremely sad.Rumors abounded in the army that the king was often weeping at the sight of Catholics about to shed blood.This is true.Agail trembled at the thought of war, especially with men with crosses on their cloaks and banners; and in his soul he longed for peace.The Polish aristocrats, and even the two Hungarian mediators, Sibo and Kara, explained to him that Grand Master Ulrich, like all crusader knights, was very proud and arrogant, and was ready to challenge the world. These words were meaningless to him .His own ambassador to the Order, Piotr Kazbaugh, swears by the cross of the Lord and the coat of arms on his shield, that the Order does not even listen to peace, the only seal inclined to peace. Earl Wenda was ridiculed and reprimanded, and these words were in vain.For the king still hoped that his enemies would recognize his justification in his desire to avoid bloodshed and to end a terrible dispute by fair negotiation.

Even at this time, in the tent that served as a chapel, he prayed for peace, his simple and generous soul was disturbed by torture.Achael had once tested the territory of the Crusader Knights by force, but then he was a pagan Duke of Lithuania; now, king of Poland and a Catholic, he sees burning villages, Heaps of rubble, blood and tears, he was afraid of offending God, especially now that the war had just begun.How wonderful it would be if the war could be stopped now!It's a pity that if it's not today or tomorrow, people will kill each other, and the earth will soon be bathed in a pool of blood.It is true that this enemy is unjust, but his cloak is embroidered with a cross, and is protected by relics so great and holy that anyone who sees them will be terrified out of their wits.The whole Polish army feared neither the spear nor the sword and the axe, but only these sacred objects. "How dare we raise our hands against the Grand Master?" These were the words of the fearless knights. "What if he had a reliquary hanging on his armor, containing the bones of saints and the wood of our Savior's cross!"

Witout was indeed eager for war, and could not wait to prepare for it.But the king's pious heart shuddered at the thought that the Knights, in spite of all their crimes, had always been protected by divine power.