you went to Berlin?" "Under arrest." "Then under arrest you must
remain!"

I did not recover my liberty till three days before our departure
for Silesia, towards which we marched, with the utmost speed, in the
beginning of May, to commence our second campaign.

Here I must recount an event which happened that winter, which
became the source of all my misfortunes, and to which I must entreat
my readers will pay the utmost attention; since this error, if
innocence can be error, was the cause that the most faithful and the
best of subjects became bewildered in scenes of wretchedness, and
was the victim of misery, from his nineteenth to the sixtieth year
of his age. I dare presume that this true narrative, supported by
testimonies the most authentic, will fully vindicate my present
honour and my future memory.

Francis, Baron of Trenck, was the son of my father's brother,
consequently my cousin german. I shall speak, hereafter, of the
singular events of his life. Being a commander of pandours in the
Austrian service, and grievously wounded at Bavaria, in the year
1743, he wrote to my mother, informing her he intended me, her
eldest son, for his universal legatee. This letter, to which I
returned no answer, was sent to me at Potzdam. I was so satisfied
with my situation, and had such numerous reasons so to be,
considering the kindness with which the King treated me, that I
would not have exchanged my good fortune for all the treasures of
the Great Mogul.

On the 12th of February, 1744, being at Berlin, I was in company