houses，thatTrenckhadtakenandsetfreetheKingofPrussia！
　　ThisraisedthecryamongthefanaticalmobofVienna。Teasedbytheircomplaints，andattherequisitionofTrenckhimself，theEmpresscommandedthatexaminationshouldbeundertakenoftheseaccusations。Field—marshalCordovawaschosentopresideoverthisinquiry。Hespokethetruth，anddrewupastatementofthecase；
　　itwaspresentedtotheCourt，andwhichIshallhereinsert。
　　"Thecomplaintsbroughtagainsthimdidnotrequireacourt—martial。
　　Trenckhadbrokensomeofficersbyhisownauthority；theirdemandsoughttobesatisfiedbythepaymentof12，000florins。Theremainingaccusationswerealltheattemptsofrevengeandcalumny，andwereinsufficienttodetainatVienna，entangledinlaw—suits，amansonecessarytothearmy。Moreover，itwouldbeprudentnottoinquireintotrifles，inconsiderationofhisimportantservices。"
　　Trenck，dissatisfiedbythissentence，andanimatedbyavariceandpride，refusedtopayasingleflorin，andreturnedtoSclavonia。
　　HispresencewasnecessaryatVienna，toobtainotheradvantagesagainsthisenemies。TheygavetheEmpresstounderstand，thatbeingamanexcessivelydangerous，wheneverhesupposedhimselfinjured，TrenckhadspreadperniciousviewsinSclavonia，whereallmenweredependentonhim。Heraisedsixhundredmoremen，withwhomhemadeacampaignintheNetherlands，andinOctober，1746，returnedtoVienna。AfterthepeaceofDresden，hisregimentwasincorporatedamongtheregulars，andservedagainstFrance。
　　ScarcelyhadhearrivedatVienna，beforeanordercamefromtheEmpressthathemustremainunderarrestinhischamber。Hereherenderedhimselfguiltybythemostimprudentactionofhiswholelife。Heorderedhiscarriageandhorses，despisingtheimperialmandate，wenttothetheatre，whentheEmpresswaspresent。InoneoftheboxeshesawCountGossau，incompanywithacomradeofhisown，whomhehadcashiered：thesepersonswereamongtheforemostofhisaccusers。Inflamedwiththedesireofrevenge，heenteredthebox，seizedCountGossau，andwouldhavethrownhimintothepitinthepresenceoftheSovereignherself。Gossaudrewhissword，andtriedtorunhimthrough，butthelatterseizingit，woundedhimselfinthehand。EverybodyrantosaveGossau，whowasunabletodefendhimself。Afterthisexploit，thecolonelofthepandoursreturnedfoaminghome。
　　SuchanactionrendereditimpossibleforMariaTheresatodeclareherselftheprotectressofamansorash。Sentinelswereplacedoverhim，andhisenemiesprofitingbyhisimprudenceandpassion，hewasorderedtobetriedbyacourt—martial。GeneralLoewenwaldeintriguedsosuccessfully，thatheprocuredhimselftobenamed，bytheHofkriegsrath，presidentofthecourt—martial，andtobechargedwiththesequestrationofthepropertyofTrenck。Invaindidthelatterprotestagainsthisjudge。Theveryman，whomtheyearbeforehehadkickedoutoftheante—chamberofPrinceCharles，receivedfullpowertodenouncehimguilty。ThenwasitthatpublicnoticewasgiventhatallthosewhowouldprefercomplaintsagainstColonelBaronTrenckshouldreceiveaducatperdaywhilethecouncilcontinuedtosit。Theysoonamountedtofifty—four，who，inaspaceoffourmonths，received15，000florinsfromthepropertyofTrenck。Thejudgehimselfpurchasedthedepositionsoffalsewitnesses；andCountLoewenwaldeofferedmeonethousandducats，ifIwouldbetraythesecretsofmycousin，andpromisedmeIshouldbeputinpossessionofmyconfiscatedestatesinPrussia，andhaveacompanyinaregiment。
　　Thattheindictmentandtheexaminationsofthewitnesseswerefalsified，hasalreadybeenprovedintherevisionofthecause；butastheindictmentdidnotcontainonearticlethatcouldaffecthislife，theyinventedthefollowingstratagem。Acourtesan，amistressofBaronRippenda，whowasamemberofthecourt—martial，wasbribed，andmadeoathshewasthedaughterofCountSchwerin，Field—marshalinthePrussianservice，andthatshewasinbedwiththeKingofPrussia，whenTrencksurprisedthecampatSorau，madeherandtheKingprisoners，andrestoredthemtheirfreedom。SheevenventuredtonameBaronHilaire，aide—de—camptoFrederic，whomsheaffirmedwasthenpresent。Hilaire，whoafterwardsmarriedtheBaronessTillier，andwhoconsequentlywasbrother—in—lawtoTrenck，fortunatelyhappenedtobeinVienna。Hewasconfrontedwiththiswoman，andthroughherfalsehoods，thegentlemanwasobligedtoremaininprison，wheretheyofferedhimbribes，whichberefusedtoaccept；and，topreventhisspeaking，hecontinuedinprisonsomeweeks，andwasnotreleasedtillthisshamefulproceedingwasmadepublic。
　　CountLoewenwaldeinventedanotherartifice；hedrewupafalseindictment；and，thathemightbepreventedallmeansofjustification，hechoseadaytoputitinpractice，whentheEmperorandPrinceCharleswerehuntingatHolitzsch。Loewenwalde’scourt—martialhadalreadysignedasentenceofdeath，andeverypreparationfortheerectionofascaffoldwasmade。HisintentionwasthentogototheEmpressandinducehertosignthesentence，underapretencethattherewassomeimminentperilathand，ifamansodangeroustothestatewasnotimmediatelyputoutoftheway，andthatitwouldbenecessarytoexecutethesentenceofdeathbeforetheEmperorcouldreturn。HewellknewtheEmperorwasbetteracquaintedwithTrenck，andhadeverbeenhisprotector。
　　Hadthissucceeded，Trenckwouldhavediedlikeatraitor；MissSchwerinwouldhaveespousedtheaide—de—campofLoewenwalde，withfiftythousandflorins，takenfromthefundsofTrenck，andhispropertywouldhavebeendividedbetweenhisjudgesandhisaccusers。Asithappened，however，thevalet—de—chambreofCountLoewenwalde，whowasanhonestman，andwhohadanintimacywithaformermistressofTrenck，confidedthewholesecrettoher。SheimmediatelyflewtoColonelBaronLopresti，whowasthesincerefriendofmykinsman，and，beingthenpowerfulatCourt，washisdeliverer。TheEmperorandPrinceCharleswereinformedofwhatwasinagitation，buttheythoughtpropertokeepitsecret。ThehuntingatHolitzschtookplaceontheappointedday。CountLoewenwaldemadehisappearancebeforetheEmpress，andsolicitedhertosignthesentence。She，however，hadbeenpre—informed，theEmperorhavingreturnedonthesameday，andtheirabominableprojectprovedabortive。MissSchwerinwasimprisoned；Loewenwaldewasdeprivedofhispower，aswellasofthesequestrationoftheeffectsofTrenck；atotalrevisionoftheproceedingsofthecourt—
　　martial，andoftheprosecutionofmycousin，wasordered，whichwasanevent，that，tillthen，wasunexampledatVienna。
　　Trenckwasfreedfromhisfetters，removedtothearsenal，anofficerguardedhim，andhehadeveryconveniencehecouldwish。Hewasalsopermittedtheuseofacounsellortodefendhiscause。I
　　obtainedbytheinfluenceoftheEmperorleavetovisithimandtoaidhiminallthings。ItwasatthisepochthatIarrivedatVienna，and，atthisveryinstant，whentherevisionoftheprosecutionwascommandedanddeterminedon。CountLoewenwalde，supposingmeaneedy，thoughtlessyouth，endeavouredtobribeme，andprevailonmetobetraymykinsman。PrinceCharlesofLorrainethendesiredmeseriouslytorepresenttoTrenckthathisavaricehadbeenthecauseofallthesetroubles，forhehindrefusedtopaythepaltrysumof12，000florins，bywhichhemighthavesilencedallhisaccusers；butthat，asatpresent，affairshadbecomesoserious，heoughthimselftosecurehisjudgesfortherevisionofthesuit；tosparenomoney，andthenhemightbecertainofeveryprotectiontheprincecouldafford。
　　TherespectableField—marshalKonigseck，governorofVienna，wasappointedpresident；but，beinganoldman，hewasunabletopresideatanyonesittingofthecourt。CountS—wasthevice—president，asubtle，insatiablejudge，whoneverthoughthehadmoneyenough。I
　　took3，000ducats，whichBaronLoprestigaveme，tothismostworthycounsellor。Thetwocounsellors，KomerkansquyandZetto，eachreceived4，000rix—dollars，withapromiseofdoublethesumifTrenckwereacquitted；therewasaformalcontractdrawnup，whichacertainnoblelordsecretlysigned。TrenckwasdefendedbytheadvocateGerhauerandbyBerger。Theybeganwiththeself—createddaughterofMarshalSchwerin；and，toconcealtheiniquitousproceedingsofthelatecourt—martial，itwasthoughtproperthatsheshouldappearinsane，andreturnincoherentanswerstothequestionsputbytheexaminers。Trenckinsistedthatamoresevereinquiryshouldbeinstituted；buttheyaffirmedthatshehadbeenconductedoutoftheAustrianterritories。
　　Trenckwasaccusedofhavingorderedacertainpandour，namedPaulDiack，tosufferthebastinadoof1，000blows，andthathehaddiedunderthepunishment。Thiswassworntobytwoofficers，nowgreatmeninthearmy，whosaidtheywereeye—witnessesofthefact。Whentherevisionofthesuitbegan，TrencksentmeintoSclavonia，whereIfoundthedeadPaulDiackalive，andbroughthimtoVienna。Hewasexaminedbythecourt，whereitappearedthatthetwoofficers，whohadsworntheywerepresentwhenheexpired，andhadseenhimburied，wereatthattime160milesfromtheregiment，andrecruitinginSclavonia。PaulDiackhadengagedinplots，andhadmutiniedthreetimes。Trenckhadpardonedhim，butafterwardsmutinyingoncemore，withfortyothers，hewascondemnedtodeath。
　　Attheplaceofexecutionhecalledtohiscolonel："Father，ifI
　　receiveathousandblows，willyoupardonme？"Trenckrepliedintheaffirmative。Hereceivedthepunishment，wastakentothehospital，andcured。
　　IbroughtfourteenmorewitnessesfromSclavonia，whoattestedthefalsityofotherarticlesofaccusationwhichwerenotworthyofattention。Thecauseworeanewaspect；andthewickednessofthosewhoweresodesiroustohaveseenTrenckexecutedbecameapparent。
　　Oneofthechiefarticlesintheprosecution，whichforeverdeprivedhimoffavourfromhisvirtuousandapostolicmistress，andforwhichalonehewascondemnedtotheSpielberg，was，thathehadravishedthedaughterofamillerinSilesia。Thiswasmadeoathof，andhewasnotentirelyclearedofthechargeintherevision，becausehisaccusershadexcludedallmeansofjustification。Twoyearsafterhisdeath，Idiscoveredthetruthofthisaffair。
　　Mainsteinaccusedhimofthiscrimethathemightpreventhisreturntotheregiment；hismotivewas，becausehe，inconjunctionwithFrederici，hadappropriatedtotheirownpurposes8，000florinsofregimentalmoney。
　　Thismiller’sdaughterwasthemistressofMainstein，beforeshehadbeenseenbyTrenck。MariaTheresa，however，wouldneverforgivehim；and，tosatisfythehonourofthisdamsel，hewascondemnedtopay8，000florinstoher，and15，000tothechestoftheinvalids，andtosufferperpetualimprisonment。Sixty—threecivilsuitshadI
　　todefend，andalltheappealsofhisaccuserstoterminateafterhisdeath。Igainedthemallandhisaccuserswerecondemnedincosts，alsotorefundthesomuchperdaywhichhadbeenpaidthembyGeneralLoewenwalde；buttheywereallpoor，andImightseekthemoneywhereIcould。Injustice，Loewenwaldeoughttohavereimbursedme。Thetotalofthesumtheyreceivedwas15，000
　　florins。
　　MostoftheotherarticlesofaccusationconsistedinTrenck’shavingbeheadedsomemutinouspandours，andbrokenhisofficerswithoutacourt—martial；thathehadboughtofhissoldiers，andmelteddowntheholyvesselsofthechurch，chalices，androsaries；
　　hadbastinadoedsomepriests，hadnotheardmasseverySunday，andhaddraggedmalefactorsfromconvents，inwhichtheyhadtakenrefuge。WhentheofficerswerenolongerprotectedbyLoewenwalde，orWeber，theydecamped，butdidnotceasetolabourtogaintheirpurpose，whichtheyattainedbytheaidoftheCourt—confessor。
　　ThismonkfoundmeanstorenderMariaTheresainsensibleofpitytowardsamanwhohadbeensoprodigalofhisbloodinherdefence。
　　Loewenwaldeknewhowtoprofitbytheopportunity。Gerhauerdiscoveredthesecretproceedings；andLoewenwalde，nowdeeplyinterestedintheruinofTrenck，wenttotheEmpress，relatedthemannerinwhichthejudgeshadbeenbribed，andthreatenedthatshouldhe，throughtheprotectionoftheEmperorandPrinceCharles，bedeclaredinnocent，hewouldpubliclyvindicatethehonourofthecourt—martial。
　　HadmycousinfollowedmyadviceandplanofflighthewouldnothavediedinprisonnorshouldIhavelaininthedungeonofMagdeburg。Withrespecttoindividualswhomherobbed，innocentmenwhomhemassacred，andmanyotherworthypeoplewhomhemademiserable；withrespecttohisfather，agedeighty—four，andhisvirtuouswife，whomhetreatedwithbarbarity；withrespecttomyself，tothedutiesofconsanguinityandofman，hemeritedpunishment，thepursuitoftheavengingarmofjustice，andtobeextirpatedfromallhumansociety。
　　EPILOGUE。
　　ThomasCarlyle’sopinionoftheauthorofthisHistoryisexpressedinthefollowingpassagesfromhisHistoryofFriedrichII。ofPrussia："’FrederickBaronTrenck，’loudsoundingphantasm，oncefamousintheworld，nowgonetothenurseriesasmythical，wasofthiscarnival（1742—3。）……Atallactualityinthattime，swaggeringaboutinsumptuousLifeGuarduniforminhismess—roomsandassembly—rooms；muchinlovewithhimself，thefool！AndI
　　ratherthink，inspiteofhisdoginsinuations，neitherPrincesshadheardofhimtilltwentyyearshence，inaverydifferentphasisofhislife！Theempty，noisy，quasi—tragicfellow；soundsthroughoutquasi—tragical，likeanemptybarrel；well—built，longingtobefilled。"——Bookxiv。，ch。3。
　　EndofVolume2