[Footnote 8]: König's 'Grätz in Bohemia.'
[Footnote 9]: This journal, as also the whole account of Marcus Kintsch von Zobten, is unfortunately in bad handwriting, and very much defaced; but no one could read the fragment without emotion. There cannot possibly be a more simple or striking description than the following:--"As we are unjustly denied the Holy Sacrament, we hereby testify before all, who hear, see, or read this writing, that we die in the holy Christian faith, innocent of all that has been publicly laid to our charge by our sovereign lord. And in making us suffer, he wrongs us: this we testify before our God, and desire that Duke Hans, our merciless master, may answer for it before the righteous tribunal of God. For every one will observe, that had he any just ground of complaint or accusation against us, he would not have condemned us so cruelly in a dark corner; had he brought us in the light of day before the people, his violence would have been apparent. As God Almighty, on account of our sins, has brought this upon us, we will accept it, and suffer patiently, and beg Him of his mercy to give us a happy end. Amen. Written in great distress and affliction."
"Be it known, good people, that we died more from thirst than hunger."
"I, Hans Keppel, have written this, amidst all my distress and suffering, and have my ink from the black of the burnt wick of the light that is burning above. What God will further do with me, depends on his grace and mercy. But if they give us no more food, we shall not last long. May God help and support us. Amen. Hactenus Keppel."
On the day that Keppel wrote this, two of them died; and he and the others later. This diary is given most accurately in 'Stenzel Script. Rer.' Siles. iv.
[Footnote 10]: In 1526.
[Footnote 11]: The famous royal castle of Vissegrad on a bend of the Danube four leagues north of Buda--Pesth.
[Footnote 12]: Ban Ladislaus von Gara was cousin to Queen Elizabeth.
[Footnote 13]: He was cousin to the queen and Ladislaus von Gara.
[Footnote 14]: The name is destroyed in the old manuscript.