e government of the conquered
countries, some of which are very curious, but give an interesting
picture of the state of the people and of society at that period. Thus
it was commanded that no Jew, necromancer, or sorcerer should be
allowed to settle in the country. Masters who had slaves, and
generally Prussians, prisoners of war, were obliged to send them to
the parish church to be instructed by the clergy in the Christian
religion. German alone was to be spoken, and the ancient language of
the country was forbidden, to prevent the people hatching
conspiracies, and to do away with the old idolatry and heathen
superstitions. Prussians were not allowed to open shops or taverns,
nor to act as surgeons or accoucheurs.

The wages of servants were strictly settled, and no increase or
diminution was permitted. Three marks and a half a year were the wages
of a carpenter or smith, two and a half marks of a coachman, a mark
and a half of a laborer, two marks of a domestic servant, and half a
mark of a nurse. Masters had the right to follow their runaway
servants, and to pierce their ears; but if they dismissed a servant
before the end of his term of service, they must pay him a year's
wages. Servants were not allowed to marry during time of harvest and
vintage, under penalty of losing a year's wages and paying a fine of
three marks. No bargains were to be made on Sundays and festivals, and
no shops were to be open on those days till after morning service.

Sumptuary laws of the most stringent nature were passed, some of which
appear very singular. At a marriage or other domestic festival,
officers of justice might offer their guests six measures of beer,
tradesmen must not give more than four, peasants only two. Playing for
money, with dice or cards, was forbidden. Bishops were to visit their
dioceses every three years, and to aid missions to the heathen. Those
who gave drink to others must drink of the same beverage themselves,
to avoid the danger of poisoning, as commonly practised by the heathen
Prussians. A new coinage was also issued.

The next half-century was a period of general prosperity and advance
for the order. It was engaged almost incessantly in war, either for
the retention of its conquests or for the acquisition of new
territory. There were also internal difficulties and dissensions, and
contests with the bishops. In 1308 the Archbishop of Riga appealed to
Pope Clement V, making serious charges against the or