LETTER OF DR. THEODORE PLÖNNIES TO BOGISLAFF THE FOURTEENTH, THE LAST DUKE OF POMERANIA. MOST EMINENT PRINCE AND GRACIOUS LORD,-Serene Prince, your Highness gave me a commission in past years to travel through all Pomerania, and if I met with any persons who could give me certain "information" respecting the notorious and accursed witch Sidonia von Bork, to set down carefully all they stated, and bring it afterwards into connexum for your Highness. It is well known that Duke Francis, of blessed memory, never would permit the accursed deeds of this woman to be made public, or her confession upon the rack, fearing to bring scandal upon the princely house. But your Serene Highness viewed the subject differently, and said that it was good for every one, but especially princes, to look into the clear mirror of history, and behold there the faults and follies of their race. For this reason may no truth be omitted here. To such princely commands I have proved myself obedient, collecting all information, whether good or evil, and concealing nothing. But the greater number who related these things to me could scarcely speak for tears, for wherever I travelled throughout Pomerania, as the faithful servant of your Highness, nothing was heard but lamentations from old and young, rich and poor, that this execrable Sorceress, out of satanic wickedness, had destroyed this illustrious race, who XV had held their lands from no emperor, in feudal tenure, like other German princes, but in their own right, as absolute lords, since five hundred years, and though for twenty years it seemed to rest upon five goodly princes, yet by permission of the incomprehensible God, it has now melted away until your Highness stands the last of his race, and no prospect is before us that it will ever be restored, but with your Highness (God have mercy upon us!) will be utterly extinguished, and for ever. "Woe to us, how have we sinned! (Lament. v. 16).* I pray therefore the all-merciful God, that He will remove me before your Highness from this vale of tears, that I may not behold the last hour of your Highness or of my poor fatherland. Rather than witness these things, I would a thousand times sooner lie quiet in my grave. * Marginal note of Duke Bogislaff XIV.-" In tuas manus commendo spiritum meum, quia tu me redemisti fide deus." CONTENTS How Otto von Bork received the homage of his son-in-law, Vidante von Meseritz-And how the bride and bridegroom How the young Prince prepared a petition to his mother, the How Sidonia makes the young Prince break his word-Item, how Clara von Dewitz in vain tries to turn her from her evil Of Appelmann's knavery-Item, how the birthday of her High- How the ghost continued to haunt the castle, and of its daring behaviour-Item, how the young lord regained his strength, |