Page:Gregor The story of Bohemia.pdf/438

 He collected and carried off to Dresden many rare works of art that had in former times been brought to Prague by King Rudolph. As this had likewise been done by Maximilian of Bavaria at the defeat of the Bohemians on the White Mountain, it follows that the rarest and costliest treasures, that had formerly been the glory of Prague, must be sought for, even at the present time, in the museums and art galleries of Munich and Dresden.

The Saxons having possession of Bohemia, and the Swedes winning victories elsewhere, in this extremity of danger, Ferdinand again turned to Wallenstein, begging him to assume command of the army; which he finally did, but only on condition that he should possess the supreme command, being subject to no one, not even to the emperor.

Taking the field, he soon had an army of 50,000 men; for adventurers from all lands flocked to his standard, knowing that they would be richly rewarded for their services by plundering the nations that they conquered.

As soon as Wallenstein had his army ready for action, he invaded Bohemia, and the Saxons were compelled to leave the country with as great speed as they had before entered it. The Protestants were again driven from the country, never to return, unless they came in disguise as beggars or traveling artisans.

Having conquered Bohemia, Wallenstein turned his victorious army against the Swedes; but although they lost their great leader, Gustavus Adolphus, they nevertheless gained a decisive victory at the battle of Lutzen in Saxony, and Wallenstein was obliged to fall back to Bohemia. In Prague he ordered the execu-