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"Brother, God knows that till now I have never betrayed the

secrets that, in repentance for my sins, I vowed at my confession

to keep inviolate; that, entirely devoted to God and to my

country, not serving pride, nor seeking earthly glory, I have

lived till now and wished to die a Bernardine monk, concealing my

name not only from the crowd, but from you and from my own son!

However, the provincial has given me permission to make the

disclosure in articulo mortis. Who knows whether I shall return

alive! Who knows what will happen in Dobrzyn! Brother, affairs

are frightfully, frightfully confused! The French are still far

away, we must wait till the winter is over, but the gentry may

not restrain themselves. Perhaps I have been too active in

stirring up the insurrection! They may have understood me ill!

The Warden has spoiled all!