[ (2) “But foreign houses of his fame were full.” ]
Houses—so were called the convents, or rather castles, scattered through various parts of Europe.
[ (3) “The strife of keen-edged swords” = combattre à outrance. ]
The Grosskomthur was the chief officer after the Grand-Master.
[ (5) “Some unknown pious woman from afar.” ]
The chronicles of that time speak of a country girl, who, having come to Marienbourg, asked to be walled up in a solitary cell, and there ended her life. Her grave was famous for miracles.
In time of election, if opinions were divided or uncertain, similar occurrences were often taken as omens, and influenced the decisions of the chapter. Thus Winrych Kniprode gained all the voices, because some of the brothers heard, as though from the tombs of the Grand-Masters, a three-fold calling: “Vinrice, ordo laborat.”