That was during the great siege of Brno.

The Swedish general Torstenson himself came to the town and decided to take it. If he had succeeded, victory over the Emperor would have been within reach of the Swedes. All they had to do was besiege Vienna and Fertig. But the general had miscalculated.

Brno had strong walls and determined defenders. All the inhabitants of the city stood up to the enemy army. The siege was harsh, many people died and many houses were smashed by cannonballs. But the Brno people did not give up.

We, the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, also tried. We had to carry hay for the horses, food for the soldiers and especially wine to the Swedish camp. On these journeys it was clear that the Swedes were not doing well. Sickness and anger were rampant among the soldiers. One day I happened to overhear Torstenson, I think it was him, saying: "Tomorrow I will order the last attack. We can't go on like this. If we don't take the town by afternoon, I'll give the order to retreat." Wow, that's news that's gonna make the Brno councilmen tear my arms off.

I knew very well where the secret gate was, through which one could enter Brno. I walked as fast as my legs would carry me and told the Brno people everything. The next morning the attack really began, worse than all the previous ones. And when it looked like the city would not hold, I remembered Torstenson's words.

I ran to Petrov and told the churchman everything. We took the stairs to the tower two by two, and as we were at the top, the noon bell began to ring. And it was only eleven o'clock. And, wonder of wonders, it worked.

From the Swedish camp they began to sound the bugle to retreat, and in a few days there was no sign of the Swedes.

And so I, a simple peasant, saved the famous city of Brno.