The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck Volume 1

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This ardour, this vanity, or, if you please, this emulation, has,
however, taught me to vanquish a thousand difficulties, under which
others of cooler passions and more temperate desires would have
sunk. May my example remain a warning; and thus may my sufferings
become somewhat profitable to the world, cruel as they have been to
myself! Cruel they were, and cruel they must continue; for the
wounds I have received are not, will not, cannot be healed.

Feb. 23.--From Schmiegel to Rakonitz, and from thence to Karger
Holland, four miles and a half. Here we sold, to prevent dying of
hunger, a shirt and Schell's waistcoat for eighteen grosch, or nine
schostacks. I had shot a pullet the day before, which necessity
obliged us to eat raw. I also killed a crow, which I devoured
alone, Schell refusing to taste. Youth and hard travelling created
a voracious appetite, and our eighteen grosch were soon expended.

Feb. 24.--We came through Benzen to Lettel, four miles. Here we
halted a day, to learn the road to Hammer, in Brandenburg, where my
sister lived. I happened luckily to meet with the wife of a
Prussian soldier who lived at Lettel, and belonged to Kolschen,
where she was born a vassal of my sister's husband. I told her who
I was, and she became our guide.

Feb. 26.--To Kurschen and Falkenwalde.

Feb. 27.--Through Neuendorf and Oost, and afterwards through a
pathless wood, five miles and a half to Hammer, and here I knocked
at my sister's door at nine o'clock in the evening.

CHAPTER VIII.

A maidservant came to the door, whom I knew; her name was Mary, and
she had been born and brought up in my father's house. She was
terrified at seeing a sturdy fellow in a beggar's dress; which
perceiving, I asked, "Molly, do not you know me?" She answered,
"No;" and I then discovered myself to her. I asked whether my
brother-in-law was at home. Mary replied, "Yes; but he is sick in
bed." "Tell my sister, then," said I, "that I am here." She showed
me into a room, and my sister presently came.

She was alarmed at seeing me, not knowing that I had escaped from
Glatz, and ran to inform her husband, but did not return.

A quarter of an hour after the good Mary came weeping, and told us
her master commanded us to quit the premises instantly, or he should
be obliged to have us arrested, and delivered up as prisoners. My
sister's husband forcibly detained her, and I saw her no more.

What my feelings must be, at such a moment, let the reader imagine.
I was too proud, too enraged, to ask money; I furiously left the
house, uttering a thousand menaces against its inhabitants, while
the kind-hearted Mary, still weeping, slipped three ducats into my
hand, which I accepted.

And, now behold us once more in the wood, which was not above a
hundred paces from the house, half dead with hunger and fatigue, not
daring to enter any habitation, while in the states of Brandenburg,
and dragging our weary steps all night through snow and rain, until
our guide at length brought us back, at daybreak, once again to the
town of Lettel.

She herself wept in pity at our fate, and I could only give her two
ducats for the danger she had run; but I bade her hope more in
future; and I afterwards sent for her to Vienna, in 1751, where I
took great care of her. She was about fifty years of age, and died
my servant in Hungary, some weeks before my unfortunate journey to
Dantzic, where I fell into my enemies' hands, and remained ten years
a prisoner at Magdeburg.

We had scarcely reached the wood, before, in the anguish of my
heart, I exclaimed to Schell, "Does not such a sister, my friend,
deserve I should fire her house over her head?" The wisdom of
moderation, and calm forbearance, was in Schell a virtue of the
highest order; he was my continual mentor; my guide, whenever my
choleric temperament was disposed to violence. I therefore honour
his ashes; he deserved a better fate.

"Friend," said he, on this occasion, "reflect that your sister may
be innocent, may be withheld by her husband; besides, should the
King discover we had entered her doors, and she had not delivered us
again into his power, she might become as miserable as we were. Be
more noble minded, and think that even should your sister be wrong,
the time may come when her children may stand in need of your
assistance, and you may have the indescribable pleasure of returning
good for evil."

I never shall forget this excellent advice, which in reality was a
prophecy. My rich brother-in-law died, and, during the Russian war,
his lands and houses were laid desolate and in ruins; and, nineteen
years afterwards, when released from my imprisonment at Magdeburg, I
had an opportunity of serving the children of my sister. Such are
the turns of fate; and thus do improbabilities become facts.

My sister justified her conduct; Schell had conjectured the truth;
for ten years after I was thus expelled her house, she showed,
during my imprisonment, she was really a sister. She was shamefully
betrayed by Weingarten, secretary to the Austrian ambassador at
Berlin; lost a part of her property, and at length her life fell an
innocent sacrifice to her brother.

This event, which is interwoven with my tragical history, will be
related hereafter: my heart bleeds, my very soul shudders, when I
recollect this dreadful scene.

I have not the means fully to recompense her children; and
Weingarten, the just object of vengeance, is long since in the
grave; for did he exist, the earth should not hide him from my
sword.

I shall now continue my journal: deceived in the aid I expected, I
was obliged to change my plan, and go to my mother, who lived in
Prussia, nine miles beyond Konigsberg.

Feb. 28.--We continued, tired, anxious, and distressed, at Lettel.

March 1.--We went three miles to Pleese, and on the 2nd, a mile and
a half farther to Meseritz.

March 3.--Through Wersebaum to Birnbaum, three miles.

March 4.--Through Zircke, Wruneck, Obestchow, to Stubnitz, seven
miles, in one day, three of which we had the good fortune to ride.

March 5.--Three miles to Rogosen, where we arrived without so much
as a heller to pay our lodgings. The Jew innkeeper drove us out of
his house; we were obliged to wander all night, and at break of day
found we had strayed two miles out of the road.

We entered a peasant's cottage, where an old woman was drawing bread
hot out of the oven. We had no money to offer, and I felt, at this
moment, the possibility even of committing murder, for a morsel of
bread, to satisfy the intolerable cravings of hunger. Shuddering,
with torment inexpressible, at the thought, I hastened out of the
door, and we walked on two miles more to Wongrofze.

Here I sold my musket for a ducat, which had procured us many a
meal: such was the extremity of our distress. We then satiated our
appetites, after having been forty hours without food or sleep, and
having travelled ten miles in sleet and snow.

March 6.--We rested, and came, on the 7th, through Genin, to a
village in the forest, four miles.

Here we fell in with a gang of gipsies (or rather banditti)
amounting to four hundred men, who dragged me to their camp. They
were mostly French and Prussian deserters, and thinking me their
equal, would force me to become one of their hand. But, venturing
to tell my story to their leader, he presented me with a crown, gave
us a small provision of bread and meat, and suffered us to depart in
peace, after having been four and twenty hours in their company.

March 9.--We proceeded to Lapuschin, three miles and a half; and the
10th to Thorn, four miles.

A new incident here happened, which showed I was destined, by
fortune, to a variety of adventures, and continually to struggle
with new difficulties.

There was a fair held at Thorn on the day of our arrival.
Suspicions might well arise, among the crowd, on seeing a strong
tall young man, wretchedly clothed, with a large sabre by his side,
and a pair of pistols in his girdle, accompanied by another as
poorly apparelled as himself, with his hand and neck bound up, and
armed likewise with pistols, so that altogether he more resembled a
spectre than a man.

We went to an inn, but were refused entertainment: I then asked for
the Jesuits' college, where I inquired for the father rector. They
supposed at first I was a thief, come to seek an asylum. After long
waiting and much entreaty his jesuitical highness at length made his
appearance, and received me as the Grand Mogul would his slave. My
case certainly was pitiable: I related all the events of my life,
and the purport of my journey; conjured him to save Schell, who was
unable to proceed further, and whose wounds grew daily worse; and
prayed him to entertain him at the convent till I should have been
to my mother, have obtained money, and returned to Thorn, when I
would certainly repay him whatever expense he might have been at,
with thanks and gratitude.

Never shall I forget the haughty insolence of this priest. Scarcely
would he listen to my humble request; thou'd and interrupted me
continually, to tell me, "Be brief, I have more pressing affairs
than thine." In fine, I was turned away without obtaining the least
aid; and here I was first taught jesuitical pride; God help the poor
and honest man who shall need the assistance of Jesuits! They, like
all other monks, are seared to every sentiment of human pity, and
commiserate the distressed by taunts and irony.

Four times in my life I have sought assistance and advice from
convents, and am convinced it is the duty of every honest man to aid
in erasing them from the face of the earth.

They succour rascals and murderers, that their power may be idolised
by the ignorant, and ostentatiously exert itself to impede the
course of law and justice; but in vain do the poor and needy
virtuous apply to them for help.

The reader will pardon my native hatred of hypocrisy and falsehood,
especially when he hears I have to thank the Jesuits for the loss of
all my great Hungarian estates. Father Kampmuller, the bosom friend
of the Count Grashalkowitz, was confessor to the court of Vienna,
and there was no possible kind of persecution I did not suffer from
priestcraft. Far from being useful members of society, they take
advantage of the prejudices of superstition, exist for themselves
alone, and sacrifice every duty to the support of their own
hierarchy, and found a power, on error and ignorance, which is
destructive of all moral virtue.

Let us proceed. Mournful and angry, I left the college, and went to
my lodging-house, where I found a Prussian recruiting-officer
waiting for me, who used all his arts to engage me to enlist;
offering me five hundred dollars, and to make me a corporal, if I
could write. I pretended I was a Livonian, who had deserted from
the Austrians, to return home, and claim an inheritance left me by
my father. After much persuasion, he at length told me in
confidence, it was very well known in the town that I was a robber;
that I should soon be taken before a magistrate, but that if I would
enlist he would ensure my safety.

This language was new to me; my passion rose instantaneously; I
remembered my name was Trenck, I struck him, and drew my sword; but,
instead of defending himself, he sprang out of the chamber, charging
the host not to let me quit the house. I knew the town of Thorn had
agreed with the King of Prussia, secretly, to deliver up deserters,
and began to fear the consequences. Looking through the window, I
presently saw two under Prussian officers enter the house. Schell
and I instantly flew to our arms, and met the Prussians at the
chamber door. "Make way," cried I, presenting my pistols. The
Prussian soldiers drew their swords, but retired with fear. Going
out of the house, I saw a Prussian lieutenant, in the street, with
the town-guard. These I overawed, likewise, by the same means, and
no one durst oppose me, though every one cried, "Stop thief!" I
came safely, however, to the Jesuits' convent; but poor Schell was
taken, and dragged to prison like a malefactor.

Half mad at not being able to rescue him, I imagined he must soon be
delivered up to the Prussians. My reception was much better at the
convent than it had been before, for they no longer doubted but I
was really a thief, who sought an asylum. I addressed myself to one
of the fathers, who appeared to be a good kind of a man, relating
briefly what had happened, and entreated he would endeavour to
discover why they sought to molest us.

He went out, and returning in an hour after, told me, "Nobody knows
you: a considerable theft was yesterday committed at the fair: all
suspicious persons are seized; you entered the town accoutred like
banditti. The man where you put up is employed as a Prussian
enlister, and has announced you as suspicious people. The Prussian
lieutenant therefore laid complaint against you, and it was thought
necessary to secure your persons."

My joy, at hearing this, was great. Our Moravian passport, and the
journal of our route, which I had in my pocket, were full proofs of
our innocence. I requested they would send and inquire at the town
where we lay the night before. I soon convinced the Jesuit I spoke
truth; he went, and presently returned with one of the syndics, to
whom I gave a more full account of myself. The syndic examined
Schell, and found his story and mine agreed; besides which, our
papers that they had seized, declared who we were. I passed the
night in the convent without closing my eyes, revolving in my mind
all the rigours of my fate. I was still more disturbed for Schell,
who knew not where I was, but remained firmly persuaded we should be
conducted to Berlin; and, if so, determined to put a period to his
life.

My doubts were all ended at ten in the morning when my good Jesuit
arrived, and was followed by my friend Schell. The judges, he said,
had found us innocent, and declared us free to go where we pleased;
adding, however, that he advised us to be upon our guard, we being
watched by the Prussian enlisters; that the lieutenant had hoped, by
having us committed as thieves, to oblige me to enter, and that he
would account for all that had happened.

I gave Schell a most affectionate welcome, who had been very ill-
used when led to prison, because he endeavoured to defend himself
with his left hand, and follow me. The people had thrown mud at
him, and called him a rascal that would soon be hanged. Schell was
little able to travel farther. The father-rector sent us a ducat,
but did not see us; and the chief magistrate gave each of us a
crown, by way of indemnification for false imprisonment. Thus sent
away, we returned to our lodging, took our bundles, and immediately
prepared to leave Thorn.

As we went, I reflected that, on the road to Elbing, we must pass
through several Prussian villages, and inquired for a shop where we
might purchase a map. We were directed to an old woman who sat at
the door across the way, and were told she had a good assortment,
for that her son was a scholar. I addressed myself to her, and my
question pleased her, I having added we were unfortunate travellers,
who wished to find, by the map, the road to Russia. She showed us
into a chamber, laid an atlas on the table, and placed herself
opposite me, while I examined the map, and endeavoured to hide a bit
of a ragged ruffle that had made its appearance. After steadfastly
looking at me, she at length exclaimed, with a sad and mournful
tone--"Good God! who knows what is now become of my poor son! I can
see, sir, you too are of a good family. My son would go and seek
his fortune, and for these eight years have I had no tidings of him.
He must now be in the Austrian cavalry." I asked in what regiment.
"The regiment of Hohenhem; you are his very picture." "Is he not of
my height?" "Yes, nearly." "Has he not light hair?" "Yes, like
yours, sir." "What is his name?" "His name is William." "No, my
dear mother," cried I, "William is not dead; he was my best friend
when I was with the regiment." Here the poor woman could not
contain her joy. She threw herself round my neck, called me her
good angel who brought her happy tidings: asked me a thousand
questions which I easily contrived to make her answer herself, and
thus, forced by imperious necessity, bereft of all other means, did
I act the deceiver.

The story I made was nearly as follows: --I told her I was a soldier
in the regiment of Hohenhem, that I had a furlough to go and see my
father, and that I should return in a month, would then take her
letters, and undertake that, if she wished it, her son should
purchase his discharge, and once more come and live with his mother.
I added that I should be for ever and infinitely obliged to her, if
she would suffer my comrade, meantime, to live at her house, he
being wounded by the Prussian recruiters, and unable to pursue his
journey; that I would send him money to come to me, or would myself
come back and fetch him, thankfully paying every expense. She
joyfully consented, told me her second husband, father-in-law to her
dear William, had driven him from home, that he might give what
substance they had to the younger son; and that the eldest had gone
to Magdeburg. She determined Schell should live at the house of a
friend, that her husband might know nothing of the matter; and, not
satisfied with this kindness, she made me eat with her, gave me a
new shirt, stockings, sufficient provisions for three days, and six
Lunenburg florins. I left Thorn, and my faithful Schell, the same
night, with the consolation that he was well taken care of; and
having parted from him with regret, went on the 13th two miles
further to Burglow.

I cannot describe what my sensations were, or the despondence of my
mind, when I thus saw myself wandering alone, and leaving,
forsaking, as it were, the dearest of friends. These may certainly
be numbered among the bitterest moments of my life. Often was I
ready to return, and drag him along with me, though at last reason
conquered sensibility. I drew near the end of my journey, and was
impelled forward by hope.

March 14.--I went to Schwetz, and

March 15.--To Neuburg and Mowe. In these two days I travelled
thirteen miles. I lay at Mowe, on some straw, among a number of
carters, and, when I awoke, perceived they had taken my pistols, and
what little money I had left, even to my last penny. The gentlemen,
however, were all gone.

What could I do? The innkeeper perhaps was privy to the theft. My
reckoning amounted to eighteen Polish grosch. The surly landlord
pretended to believe I had no money when I entered his house, and I
was obliged to give him the only spare shirt I had, with a silk
handkerchief, which the good woman of Thorn had made me a present
of, and to depart without a single holler.

March 16.--I set off for Marienburg, but it was impossible I should
reach this place, and not fall into the hands of the Prussians, if I
did not cross the Vistula, and, unfortunately, I had no money to pay
the ferry, which would cost two Polish schellings.

Full of anxiety, not knowing how to act, I saw two fishermen in a
boat, went to them, drew my sabre, and obliged them to land me on
the other side; when there, I took the oars from these timid people,
jumped out of the boat, pushed it off the shore, and left it to
drive with the stream.

To what dangers does not poverty expose man! These two Polish
schellings were not worth more than half a kreutzer, or some
halfpenny, yet was I driven by necessity to commit violence on two
poor men, who, had they been as desperate in their defence as I was
obliged to be in my attack, blood must have been spilled and lives
lost; hence it is evident that the degrees of guilt ought to be
strictly and minutely inquired into, and the degree of punishment
proportioned. Had I hewn them down with my sabre, I should surely
have been a murderer; but I should likewise surely have been one of
the most innocent of murderers. Thus we see the value of money is
not to be estimated by any specific sum, small or great, but
according to its necessity and use. How little did I imagine when
at Berlin, and money was treated by me with luxurious neglect, I may
say, with contempt, I should be driven to the hard necessity, for a
sum so apparently despicable, of committing a violence which might
have had consequences so dreadful, and have led to the commission of
an act so atrocious!

I found Saxon and Prussian recruiters at Marion-burgh, with whom,
having no money, I ate, drank, listened to their proposals, gave
them hopes for the morrow, and departed by daybreak.

March 17.--To Elbing, four miles.

Here I met with my former worthy tutor, Brodowsky, who was become a
captain and auditor in the Polish regiment of Golz. He met me just
as I entered the town. I followed triumphantly to his quarters; and
here at length ended the painful, long, and adventurous journey I
had been obliged to perform.

This good and kind gentleman, after providing me with immediate
necessaries, wrote so affectionately to my mother, that she came to
Elbing in a week, and gave me every aid of which I stood in need.

The pleasure I had in meeting once more this tender mother, whose
qualities of heart and mind were equally excellent, was
inexpressible. She found a certain mode of conveying a letter to my
dear mistress at Berlin, who a short time after sent me a bill of
exchange for four hundred ducats upon Dantzic. To this my mother
added a thousand rix-dollars, and a diamond cross worth nearly half
as much, remained a fortnight with me, and persisted, in spite of
all remonstrance, in advising me to go to Vienna. My determination
had been fixed for Petersburg; all my fears and apprehensions being
awakened at the thought of Vienna, and which indeed afterwards
became the source of all my cruel sufferings and sorrows. She would
not yield in opinion, and promised her future assistance only in
case of my obedience; it was my duty not to continue obstinate.
Here she left me, and I have never seen her since. She died in
1751, and I have ever held her memory in veneration. It was a
happiness for this affectionate mother that she did not hive to be a
witness of my afflictions in the year 1754.

An adventure, resembling that of Joseph in Egypt, happened to me in
Elbing. The wife of the worthy Brodowsky, a woman of infinite
personal attraction, grew partial to me; but I durst not act
ungratefully by my benefactor. Never to see me more was too painful
to her, and she even proposed to follow me, secretly, to Vienna. I
felt the danger of my situation, and doubted whether Potiphar's wife
offered temptations so strong as Madame Brodowsky. I owned I had an
affection for this lady, but my passions were overawed. She
preferred me to her husband, who was in years, and very ordinary in
person. Had I yielded to the slightest degree of guilt, that of the
present enjoyment, a few days of pleasure must have been followed by
years of bitter repentance.

Having once more assumed my proper name and character, and made
presents of acknowledgment to the worthy tutor of my youth, I became
eager to return to Thorn.

How great was my joy at again meeting my honest Schell! The kind
old woman had treated him like a mother. She was surprised, and
half terrified, at seeing me enter in an officer's uniform, and
accompanied by two servants. I gratefully and rapturously kissed
her hand, repaid, with thankfulness, every expense (for Schell had
been nurtured with truly maternal kindness), told her who I was,
acknowledged the deceit I had put upon her concerning her son, but
faithfully promised to give a true, and not fictitious account of
him, immediately on my arrival at Vienna. Schell was ready in three
days, and we left Thorn, came to Warsaw, and passed thence, through
Crakow, to Vienna.

I inquired for Captain Capi, at Bilitz, who had before given me so
kind a reception, and refused me satisfaction; but he was gone, and
I did not meet with him till some years after, when the cunning
Italian made me the most humble apologies for his conduct. So goes
the world.

My journey from Dantzic to Vienna would not furnish me with an
interesting page, though my travels on foot thither would have
afforded thrice as much as I have written, had I not been fearful of
trifling with the reader's patience.

In poverty one misfortune follows another. The foot-passenger sees
the world, becomes acquainted with it, converses with men of every
class. The lord luxuriously lolls and slumbers in his carriage,
while his servants pay innkeepers and postillions, and passes
rapidly over a kingdom, in which he sees some dozen houses, called
inns; and this he calls travelling. I met with more adventures in
this my journey of 169 miles, than afterwards in almost as many
thousand, when travelling at ease, in a carriage.

Here, then, ends my journal, in which, from the hardships therein
related, and numerous others omitted, I seem a kind of second
Robinson Crusoe, and to have been prepared, by a gradual increase
and repetition of sufferings, to endure the load of affliction which
I was afterwards destined to bear.

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