Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/153

Rh After the capture, and almost complete destruction of the metropolis of Russia, the Mongols advanced to Poland. In the year 1240, they ravaged the province of Lublin, and withdrew with their booty to Galicia. They returned, however, in the depth of winter, sacked Sandomir, and advanced, without meeting with any resistance, to within seven miles of Cracow. They then retired a second time, at the beginning of Lent 1241, laden with spoil, and driving before them, like cattle, a multitude of captives of both sexes, the very elite of the nation, tied one to another. Vladimir, the Palatine of Cracow, pursued them with some troops, attacked them, and in the first charge killed many ; but the Mongols, having faced about, charged their assailants again with impetuosity, and put them to flight. This action was, however, favourable to the captives, who, finding means during the battle to break their chains, fled into the neighbouring forests.

The Mongols did not long delay returning to Poland, with new strength, and furious at the resistance they had met with, and on both sides preparations were made for a decisive battle, Henry, Duke of Silesia, surnamed the Pious, the son of Henry the Bearded, and Saint Hedwig, soon found himself at the head of thirty thou- sand men, divided into five corps. The Mongols, com- manded by their general, Baidar, were formed into an equal number of divisions, but each numerically stronger than that of their enemies.

The presence of the Tartars had excited the greatest enthusiasm and military ardour in the States of Poland, not unmingled, probably, with a considerable dread of the foe. The Poles were called on to contend with those