Inthisworthyemployment，however，Ihadnearlylostmylife。
Returningfromcarryingcorn，thewindrose，anddrovetheboattosea。Inotunderstandingthemanagementofthehelm，andtheservantsawkwardlyhandlingthesails，theboatintackingwasoverset。Thebenefitoflearningtoswim，Iagainexperienced，andmyfaithfulservant，whohadgainedtherock，aidedmewhenalmostspent。Thegoodpeoplewhohadseentheshallopoverset，cameoffintheirboatstomyassistance。AnhonestCalmuc，whomIhadbroughtfromRussia，andanotherofmyservantsperished。IsawthefirstsinkafterIhadreachedtheshore。
ThekindSwedesbroughtmeonboard，andalsorightedandreturnedwiththeshallop。ForsomedaysIwassea—sick。Weweighedanchor，andsailedfortheTexel，themouthofwhichwesaw，andthepilotscomingoff，whenanotherstormarose，anddroveustotheportofBahus，inNorway，intowhichweran，withoutfartherdamage。Insomefewdaysweagainsetsail，withafairwind，andatlengthreachedAmsterdam。
HereImadenolongstay；forthedayaftermyarrival，anextraordinaryadventurehappened，inwhichIwasengagedchieflybymyownrashness。
Iwasaspectatorwhiletheharpoonersbelongingtothewhalefisherywereexercisingthemselvesindartingtheirharpoons，mostofwhomweredrunk。Oneofthem，HermanRogaarbyname，aheroamongthesepeople，forhisdexteritywithhissnickasnee，cameup，andpassedsomeofhiscoarsejestsuponmyTurkishsabre，andofferedtofillipmeonthenose。Ipushedhimfromme，andthefellowthrewdownhiscap，drewhissnickasnee，challengedme，calledmemonkey—tail，andaskedwhetherIchoseastraight，acircular，oracrosscut。
ThusherewasI，inthisexcellentcompany，withnochoicebutthatofeitherfightingorrunningaway。Therobust，Herculeanfellowgrewmoreinsolent，andI，turningroundtothebystanders，askedthemtolendmeasnickasnee。\"No，no，\"saidthechallenger，\"drawyourgreatknifefromyourside，and，longasitis，Iwilllayyouadozenducatsyougetagashinthecheek。\"Idrew；heconfidentlyadvancedwithhissnickasnee，and，atthefirststrokeofmysabre，that，andthehandthatheldit，bothdroppedtotheground，andthebloodspoutedinmyface。
Inowexpectedthepeoplewould，indubitably，tearmetopieces；butmyfearwaschangedintoastonishmentathearingauniversalshoutapplaudingthevanquisheroftheredoubtedHermanRogaarwho，solatelyfearedforhisstrengthanddexterity，becametheobjectoftheirridicule。AJewspectatorconductedmeoutofthecrowd，andthepeopleclamorouslyfollowedmetomyinn。Thiskindofduel，bywhichIgainedhonour，wouldanywhereelsehavebroughtmetothehighestdisgrace。Amanwhoknewtheuseofthesabre，inasingleday，mightcertainlyhavedisabledahundredHermanRogaars。Thisstorymayinstructandwarnothers。Hethatisquarrelsomeshallneverwantanenemy。Mytemerityoftenengagedmeindisputeswhich，bytimelycomplianceandcalmness，mighteasilyhavebeenavoided；butmyevilgeniusalwaysimpelledmeintothepathsofperplexity，andIseldomsawdangertillitwasinevitableIleftAmsterdamfortheHague，whereIhadbeenrecommendedtoLordHolderness，theEnglishambassador，byLordHyndford；toBaronReisbach，byBernes；totheGrandPensionaryFagel，bySchwart；andfromthechancellorIhadalettertothePrinceofOrangehimselfI
couldnot，therefore，butbeeverywherereceivedwithallpossibledistinction。Withintheserecommendations，andtheknowledgeI
possessed，hadIhadthegoodfortunetohaveavoidedVienna，andgonetoIndia，wheremytalentswouldhaveinsuredmewealth，howmanytearsofafflictionhadIbeenspared！Myillfortune，however，hadbroughtmelettersfromCountBernes，assuringmethatheavenwasatVienna，andincludingacitationfromthehighcourt，requiringmetogiveinmyclaimofinheritance。BernesfurtherinformedmetheAustriancourthadassuredhimIshouldmeetwithalljusticeandprotection，andadvisedmetohastenmyjourney，astheexecutorshipoftheestatesofTrenckwasconductedbutlittletomyadvantage。
ThisadviceItook，proceededtoVienna，andfromthatmomentallmyhappinesshadanend。Ibecamebewilderedinlawsuits，andtheartsofwickedmen，andallpossiblecalamitiesassaultedmeatonce，therecitalofwhichwoulditselfaffordsubjectmatterforahistory。
Theybeganbythefollowingincidents：—
OneM。SchencksoughtmyacquaintanceattheHague。Imetwithhimatmyhotel，whereheintreatedIwouldtakehimtoNuremberg，whencehewastoproceedtoSaxony。Icomplied，andborehisexpenses；butatHanau，wakinginthemorning，Ifoundmywatch，setwithdiamonds，aringworthtwothousandroubles，adiamondsnuff—
box，withmymistress’spicture，andmypurse，containingabouteightyducats，stolenfrommybed—side，andSchenckbecomeinvisible。Littleaffectedbythelossofmoney，atanytime，Iyetwasgrievedformysnuff—box。Therascal，however，hadescaped，anditwasfortunatethattheremainderofmyreadymoney，withmybillsofexchange，weresafelylockedup。
Inowpursuedmyjourneywithoutcompany，andarrivedinVienna。I
cannotexactlyrecollectinwhatmonth，butIhadbeenabsentabouttwoyears；andthereaderwillallowthatitwasbarelypossibleforanyman，insoshortatime，tohaveexperiencedmorevariouschangesoffate，thoughmanysmallerincidentshavebeensuppressed。
Theplaces，wheremypledgedfidelityrequireddiscretionwillbeeasilysupposed，aslikewisewilltheconcealmentofcourtintrigues，andartifices，thepublicationofwhichmightevenyetsubjectmetomorepersecutions。Allwritersarenotpermittedtospeaktruthofmonarchsandministers。Iamthefatherofeightchildren，andparentalloveanddutyvanquishtheinclinationoftheauthor；andthisduty，thisaffection，havemademeparticularlycautiousinrelatingwhathappenedtomeatVienna，thatImight，thereby，servethemmoreeffectuallythanbyindulgingtheprideofthewriter，orthevengeanceoftheman。
CHAPTERXIII。
Sinceaccountssovarious，contradictory，anddishonourabletothenameofTrenck，havebeencirculatedinVienna，concerningfactswhichhappenedthirty—sevenyearsago，Iwillheregiveashortabstractofthem，andsuchasmayheverifiedbytherecordsofthecourt。Ipledgemyhonourtothetruthofthestatement，andwereI
soallowed，wouldproveit，totheconvictionofanyunprejudicedcourtofjustice：butthisIcannothope，asprincesaremuchmoredisposedtobestowunmeritedfavoursthantomakeretributiontothosewhomtheyhaveunjustlypunished。
FrancisBaronTrenckdiedintheSpielberg，October4th，1749。IthasbeenerroneouslybelievedinViennathathisestateswereconfiscatedbythesentencewhichcondemnedhimtotheSpielberg。
Hehadcommittednooffenceagainstthestate，wasaccusedofnone，muchlessconvicted。ThecourtsentencewasthattheadministrationofhisestateshouldbecommittedtoCounsellorKempfandBaronPeyaczewitz，whowereselectedbyhimself，andtheaccountsofhisstewardsandfarmersweretobesenthimyearly。Hecontinued，tillhisdeath，tohavethefreeandentiredisposalofhisproperty。
Although，beforehisdeath，hesentforhisadvocate，DoctorBerger，andbyhimpetitionedtheEmpressshewouldissuethenecessaryorderstotheGovernoroftheSpielberg，topermittheentranceofwitnesses，andallthingsnecessarytomakealegalwill，itbynomeansfollowsthathepetitionedherforpermissiontomakethiswill。Thecaseistoocleartoadmitofdoubt。Theroyalcommandsweregiven，thatheshouldenjoyallfreedomofmakinghiswill。
Permissionwasalsogiventhat，duringhissickness，hemightberemovedtothecapuchinconvent，whichwasequaltoliberty，butthisherefusedtoaccept。
Neitherwashisabilitytomakeawillquestioned。TheadvocatewasonlytorequesttheQueen’spermissiontosupplysomeformalities，whichhadbeenneglected，whenhepurchasedthelordshipsofVelikaandNustar，whichpetitionwaslikewisegranted。Theroyalmandatestillexists，whichcommissionedthepersonsthereinnamedastrusteestotheestateandeffectsofTrenck，andthismandaterunsthus：\"LetthelastwillofTrenckbedulyexecuted：letdispatchbeused，andtheheirprotectedinallhisrights。\"Confiscation，therefore，hadneverbeenthoughtof，norhispowertomakeawillquestioned。
IwillnowshowhowIhavebeendeprivedofthisvaluableinheritance，whileIhavebeenobligedtopayabovesixtythousandflorins，todefraylegacieshehadleft；andwhenthisnarrativeisread，itwillnolongerbeaffirmedatVienna，thatbythefavoursofthecourtIinheritedseventy—sixthousandflorins，orthelordshipofZwerbachfromTrenck，Ishallproceedtomyproofs。
ThefatherofBaronTrenck，whodiedintheyear1743，governorofLeitschau，inHungary，namedmeinhiswillthesuccessorofhisson，shouldhediewithoutheirsmale。
Thiswillwassenttobeproved，accordingtoform，atVienna，afterhavingbeenauthenticatedinthemostlegalmannerinHungary。ThecourtcalledHofkriegsrath，atVienna，neglectedtoprovideacuratorforthesecurityofthenextheir；yetthiscouldnotannulmyrightofsuccession。WhenTrencksucceededhisfather，heenterednoprotesttothis，hisfather’swill；therefore，dyingwithoutchildren，intheyear1749，myclaimwasindisputable。I
washeirhadhemadenowill：andevenincaseofconfiscation，mytitletohisfather’sestatesstillremainedvalid。
Trenckknewthisbuttoowell：he，asIhavebeforerelated，wasmyworstenemy，andevenattemptedmylife。Iwillthereforeproceedtoshowtherealintentofthishiscraftytestament。
Determinednolongertoliveinconfinement，ortoaskforgiveness，bywhich，itiswellknown，hemighthaveobtainedhisfreedom，havinglostallhopesofreimbursinghislosses，hisavaricewasreducedtodespair。Hisdesireoffamewasunbounded，andthiscouldnowaybegratifiedbutbyhavinghimselfcanonizedforasaint，afterspendinghislifeincommittingalltheravagesofapandour。Henceoriginatedthefollowingfacts：—
HeknewIwasthelegalclaimanttohisfather’sestates。Hisfatherhadboughtwiththefamilymoney，remittedfromPrussia，thelordshipsofPrestowaczandPleternitz，inSclavonia，andhehimself，duringhisfather’slife，andwithhisfather’smoney，hadpurchasedthelordshipofPakratz，forfortythousandflorins：thismustthereforedescendalsotome，hehavingnomorepowertowillthisfromme，thanhehadtheremainderofhispaternalinheritance。
Thepropertyhehimselfhadgainedwasconsignedtoadministrators，butahundredthousandflorinshadbeenexpendedinlawsuits，andsixty—threesuitscontinuedactuallypendingagainsthimincourt；
thelegacieshebequeathedamountedtoeightythousandflorins。
These，hesaw，couldnotbepaid，shouldIclaimnothingmorethanthepaternalinheritance；he，therefore，torendermeunfortunateafterhisdeath，craftilynamedmehisuniversalheir，withoutmentioninghisfather’swill，butendeavoured，byhismysteriousdeath，andthefollowingconditions，toenforcetheexecutionofhisownwill。
First，——IwastobecomeaCatholic。
Secondly，——IwastoserveonlythehouseofAustria；and，Lastly，——Hemadehiswholeestate，withoutexceptingthepaternalinheritance，aFideicommissum。
Hencearoseallmymisfortunes，asindeedwashisintention；for，butashorttimebeforehisdeath，hesaidtotheGovernor，BaronKottulinsky，\"Ishallnowdiecontented，sinceIhavebeenabletotrickmycousin，andrenderhimwretched。\"
Hisdeath，believedinViennatobemiraculous，happenedafterthefollowingmanner；andbythishehadinducedmanyweakpeople，whoreallybelievedhimasaint，tofurtherhisviews。
Threedaysbeforehisdeath，whileinperfecthealth，hedesiredthegovernoroftheSpielbergwouldsendforhisconfessor，forthatSt。
Francishadrevealedtohimheshouldberemovedintolifeeverlastingonhisbirth—dayattwelveo’clock。Thecapuchinwassentfor，butthepredictionlaughedat。
Theday，however，afterthedepartureofhisconfessor，hesaid，\"PraisebetoGod，myendapproaches；myconfessorisdead，andhasappearedtome。\"Strangeasitmayseem；itwasactuallyfoundtobetruethatthepriestwasdead。HenowhadalltheofficersofthegarrisonofBrunnassembled，tonsuredhisheadlikeacapuchin，tookthehabitoftheorder，publiclyconfessedhimselfinasermonofanhour’slength，exhortedthemalltoholiness，actedthepartofamostexemplarypenitent，embracedallpresent，spokewithasmileoftheinsignificanceofallearthlypossessions，tookhisleave，kneltdowntoprayers，sleptcalmly，rose，prayedagain，andaboutelevenintheforenoon，October4th，takinghiswatchinhishand，said，\"ThanksbetomyGod，mylasthourapproaches。\"Alllaughedatsuchafarcefromamanofsuchacharacter；yettheyremarkedthattheleftsideofhisfacegrewpale。Hethenleanedhisarmonthetable，prayed，andremainedmotionless，withhiseyesclosed。Theclockstrucktwelve——nosignsoflifeormotioncouldbediscovered；theyspoketohim，andfoundhewasreallydead。
Thewordmiraclewasechoedthroughthewholecountry，andthetransmigrationofthePandourTrenck，fromearthtoheaven，bySt。
Francis，proclaimed。Thecluetothislabyrinthofmiracles，knownonlytome，istrulyasfollows：—Hepossessedthesecretofwhatiscalledtheaquatofana，andhaddeterminedondeath。Hisconfessorhadbeenentrustedwithallhissecrets，andwithpromissorynotes，whichhewishedtoinvalidate。Iamperfectlycertainthathehadreturnedapromissorynoteofagreatprince，givenfortwohundredthousandflorins，whichhasneverbeenbroughttoaccount。Theconfessor，therefore，wastobeprovidedfor，thatTrenckmightnotbebetrayed，andadoseofpoisonwasgivenhimbeforehesetoffforVienna：hisdeathwastheconsequence。Hetooksimilarmeanswithhimself，andthusknewthehourofhisexit；findinghecouldnotbecomethefirstonearth，hewishedtobeadoredasasaintinheaven。Heknewheshouldworkmiracleswhendead，becauseheorderedachapeltobebuilt，willedaperpetualmass，andbequeathedthecapuchinssixtythousandflorins。
Thusdiedthismostextraordinaryman，inthethirty—fourthyearofhisage，towhomnaturehaddeniednoneofhergifts；whohadbeenthescourgeofBavaria；theterrorofFrance；andwhohad，withhissupposedcontemptiblepandours，takenabovesixthousandPrussianprisoners。Helivedatyrantandenemyofmen，anddiedasanctifiedimpostor。
Suchwasthestateofaffairs，aswilledbyTrenck，whenIcametoVienna，in1759，whereIarrivedwithmoneyandjewelstotheamountoftwentythousandflorins。
InsteadofprofitingbythewealthTrenckhadacquired，Iexpendedahundredandtwentythousandflorinsofmyownmoney，includingwhatdevolvedtomefrommyuncle，hisfather，intheprosecutionofhissuits。TrenckhadpaidtwohundredducatstothetribunalofVienna，intheyear1743，toprocureitsveryreprehensiblesilenceconcerningacurator，towhichIwassacrificed，asthenewjudgesofthiscourtrefusedtocorrecttheerroroftheirpredecessors。
SucharetheproceedingsofcourtsofjusticeinVienna！
Onmyfirstaudience，noonecouldbereceivedmorekindlythanI
was，bytheEmpressQueen。Shespokeofmydeceasedcousinwithmuchemotionandesteem，promisedmeallgraceandfavour，andinformedmeoftheparticularrecommendationsshehadreceived，onmybehalf，fromCountBernes。Findingsixty—threecaseshangovermyhead，inconsequenceoftheinheritanceofTrenck，toobtainjusticeinanyoneofwhichinVienna，wouldhaveemployedthewholelifeofanhonestman，Ideterminedtorenouncethisinheritance，andclaimonlyunderthewillandastheheirofmyuncle。
WiththisviewIappliedforandobtainedacopyofthatwill，withwhichIpersonallyappeared，anddeclaredtothecourtthatI
renouncedtheinheritanceofFrancisTrenck，wouldundertakenoneofhissuits，norberesponsibleforhislegacies，andrequiredonlyhisfather’sestates，accordingtothelegalwill，whichIproduced；
thatistosay，thethreelordshipsofPakratz，Prestowacz，andPleneritz，withoutchattelsorpersonaleffects。Nothingcouldbemorejustorincontrovertiblethanthisclaim。Whatwasmyastonishment，tobetold，inopencourt，thatHerMajestyhaddeclaredImusteitherwhollyperformthearticlesofthewillofTrenck，orbeexcludedtheentireinheritance，andhavenothingfurthertohope。Whatcouldbedone？Iventuredtoremonstrate，butthewillofthecourtwasdeterminedandabsolute：ImustbecomeaRomanCatholic。
InthisextremityIbribedapriest，whogavemeasignedattestation，\"ThatIhadabjuredtheaccursedheresyofLutheranism。\"Myreligion，however，remainedwhatithadeverbeen。
GeneralBernesaboutthistimereturnedfromhisembassy，andI
relatedtohimthelamentablestateinwhichIfoundmyaffairs。HespoketotheEmpressinmybehalf，andshepromisedeverything。Headvisedmetohavepatience，toperformallthatwasrequiredofme，andtomakemyselfresponsibleforthedependingsuits。Somefamilyconcernsobligedhim，asheinformedme，tomakeajourneytoTurin，buthisreturnwouldbespeedy：hewouldthentakethemanagementofmyaffairsuponhimself，andinsuremygoodfortuneinAustria。
Berneslovedmeashisson，andIhadreasontohope，fromhisassurance，Ishouldbelargelyrememberedinhiswill，whichwasthemoreprobable，ashehadneitherchildnorrelations。Hepartedfromme，likeafather，withtearsinhiseyes；buthehadscarcelybeenabsentsixweeksbeforethenewsarrivedofhisdeath，which，ifreportmaybecredited，waseffectedbypoison，administeredbyA
FRIEND。Everthesportoffortune，thusweremysupporterssnatchedfrommeattheverymomenttheybecamemostnecessary。
ThesameyearwasI，likewise，deprivedbydeathofmyfriendandprotector，Field—marshalKonigseck，GovernorofVienna，whenhehaddeterminedtointeresthimselfinmybehalf。IhavebeenbelovedbythegreatestmenAustriaeverproduced，butunfortunatelyhavebeenpersecutedbythechicaneryofpettifoggers，fools，fanatics，andpriests，whohavedeprivedmeofthefavourofmyEmpress，guiltlessasIwasofcrimeordeceit，andleftmyoldageinpoverty。
Myillswereincreasedbyanewaccident。SoonafterthedepartureofBernes，thePrussianminister，takingmeaside，inthehouseofthePalatineenvoy，M。Becker，proposedmyreturntoBerlin，assuredmetheKinghadforgottenallthatwaspast，wasconvincedofmyinnocence，thatmygoodfortunewouldtherebecertain，andbepledgedhishonourtorecovertheinheritanceofTrenck。I
answered，thefavourcametoolate；Ihadsufferedinjusticetooflagrant，inmyowncountry，andthatIwouldtrustnoprinceonearthwhosewillmightannihilatealltherightsofmen。MygoodfaithtotheKinghadbeentooillrepaid；mytalentsmightgainmebreadinanypartoftheworld，andIwouldnotagainsubjectmyselftothedangerofunmeritedimprisonment。
Hispersuasionswerestrong，butineffectual。\"MydearTrenck，\"
saidhe，\"Godismyjudgethatmyintentionsarehonest；Iwillpledgemyself，thatmysovereignwillinsureyourfortune：youdonotknowVienna；youwillloseallbythesuitsinwhichyouareinvolved，andwillbepersecutedbecauseyoudonotcarryarosary。\"
HowoftenhaveIrepentedIdidnotthenreturntoBerlin！Ishouldhaveescapedtenyears’imprisonment；shouldhaverecoveredtheestatesofTrenck：shouldnothavewastedtheprimeoflifeinthelitigationofsuits，andthewritingofmemorials；andshouldhavecertainlybeenrankedamongthefirstmeninmynativecountry。
Viennawasnoplaceforamanwhocouldnotfawnandflatter：yetherewasIdestinedtoremainsix—and—thirtyyears，unrewarded，unemployed；andthroughyouthandage，tocontinueonthelistofinvalidmajors。
HavingrejectedthepropositionofthePrussianenvoy，allmyhopesinViennawereruined；forFrederic，byhisresidentsandemissaries，knewhowtoeffectwhateverhepleasedinforeigncourts，anddeterminedthattheTrenckwhowouldnolongerserveorconfideinhimshouldatleastfindnoopportunityofservingagainsthim：IsoonbecamepaintedtotheEmpressasanarchhereticwhoneverwouldbefaithfultothehouseofAustria，andonlyendeavouredtoobtaintheinheritanceofTrenckthathemightdevotehimselftoPrussia。ThisIshallhereafterprove；anddisplayascenethatshallbethedisgraceofmany，bywhomtheEmpresswasinducedtoharbourunjustsuspicionsofanableandhonestman。Iherestanderectandconfidentbeforetheworld；
publishthetruth，andtakeeverlastingshametomyself，ifanymanonearthcanprovemeguiltyofonetreacherousthought。Iowenothanks；butsofarfromhavingreceivedfavours，Ihavesixandthirtyyearsremainedunabletoobtainjustice，thoughIhaveallthewhilebeendesirousofsheddingmybloodindefenceofthemonarchywhereIhavethusbeentreated。Tilltheyear1746，IwasequallyzealousandfaithfultoPrussia；yetmyestatesthere，thoughconfiscated，wereliabletorecovery：inHungary，onthecontrary，thesentenceofconfiscationisirrevocable。Thisisaremarkableproofinfavourofmyhonour，andmychildren’sclaims。
Surelynoreaderwillbeoffendedatthesedigressions；mymindisagitated，myfeelingsroused，rememberingthatmyageandgreyhairsdeprivemeofthesweethopeofatlengthvanquishingopposition，eitherbypatience，orforcingjustice，byeminentservices，ornobleefforts。
Thismyhistorywillneverreachamonarch’seye，consequentlynomonarch，byperceiving，willbeinducedtoprotecttruth。Itmay，indeed，becriticisedbyliterati；itwillcertainlybedecriedbymypersecutors，who，throughlife，havebeenmyfalseaccusers，andwillprobably，therefore，beprohibitedbythepriests。AllGermany，however，willread，andposterityperhapsmaypity，shouldmybookescapethemisfortuneofbeingclassedamongimprobableromances；towhichitisthemoreliable，becausethatthebiographersofFredericandMariaTheresa，formanifestreasons，haveneversomuchasmentionedthenameofTrenck。
Oncemoretomystory：Iwasnowobligedtodeclaremyselfheir，butalwayscumreservationejurismei，notassimplyclaimingunderthewillofFrancisTrenckIwasobligedtotakeuponmyselfthemanagementofthesixty—threesuits，andtheexpensesattendinganyoneofthesearewellknowninVienna。Mysituationmaybeimagined，whenIinformthereaderIonlyreceived，fromthewholeestateofTrenck，3，600florinsinthreeyears，whichwerescarcelysufficienttodefraytheexpensesofnewyear’sgiftstothesolicitorsandmastersinchancery。HowdidIlabourinstatingandtranscribingproofsforthecourt！ThemoneyIpossessedsoonvanished。MyPrussianrelationssupportedme，andtheCountessBestuchefsentmethefourthousandroublesIhadrefusedatPetersburg。IhadalsoremittancesfrommyfaithfulmistressinPrussia；and，inaddition，wasobligedtoborrowmoneyattheusuriousrateofsixtypercent。BewilderedasIwasamonglawyersandknaves，myambitionstillpromptedmetoproceed，andallthingsarepossibletolabourandperseverance；butmypropertywasexpended：and，atlength，IcouldonlyobtainthatthecontestedestatesshouldbemadeaFideicommissum，orputundertrust；
whereby，thoughtheywereprotectedfrombeingthefurtherpreyofothers，Ididnotinheritthemasmine。Inthispursuitwasmyprimeoflifewasted，whichmighthavebeenprofitablyandhonourablyspent。
Inthreeyears，however，Ibroughtmysixty—threesuitstoakindofconclusion；theprobabilitieswerethiscouldnothavebeeneffectedinfifty。Exclusiveofmyassiduity，themeansItookmustnotbetold；itissufficientthatIherelearntwhatjudgeswere，andthusamenabledtodescribethemtoothers。
Forafewducats，thepresident’sservantusedtoadmitmeintoaclosetwhereIcouldseeeverythingasperfectlyasifIhadmyselfbeenoneofthecouncil。Thisoftenwasuseful，andtaughtmetopreventevil；andoftenwasIscarcelyabletorefrainburstinginuponthiscourt。
Theirappointedhourofmeetingwasnineinthemorning，buttheyseldomassembledbeforeeleven。Thepresidentthentoldhisbeads，andmutteredhisprayers。Someonegotupandharangued，whiletheremainder，inpairs，amusedthemselveswithtalkinginsteadoflistening，afterwhichthenewsofthedaybecamethecommontopicofconversation，andthecouncilbrokeup，thecourtbeingfirstadjournedsomethreeweeks，withoutcomingtoanydetermination。
ThiswascalledjudiciumdelegatumincausisTrenkiansis；andwhenatlasttheycametoaconclusion，thesentencewassuchasIshallevershudderatandabhor。