Page:The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe Volume 3.djvu/606

 which did alienate the Bohemians' minds from him, that he would take away all the occasion thereof. They made answer, that he had made war upon them without a cause, and that he had suffered their countrymen, contrary to his promise, to be burnt at Constance not being heard, and the kingdom to be contumeliously interdicted, and Huss and the nobles of Bohemia to be condemned by the church of Rome as heretics; and that he should think the force and power of the Bohemians not to be so small, but that they would provide for their own honour. Whereunto the emperor answered very gently, and offered them a general council, wherein they might declare their innocency, if they would submit themselves to the judgment of the universal church: but the Bohemians, who were become valiant victors in arms, would not be overcome with words; and so, nothing being finally concluded, the emperor returned home.

Then pope Martin, perceiving the gospel to increase daily more and more, sent the cardinal of Winchester, an Englishman, bom of a noble house, into Germany, to move them to war against the Bohemians; whereunto the emperor also did assist him.

There were three armies provided. In the first army were the dukes of Saxony, and the lower cities.

The second army, which was gathered of the Franconians, was under the conduct of the marquis of Brandenburg.

The third army was led by Otho, archbishop of Treves, whom the Rhenenses, the Bavarians, and the imperial cities of Swevia followed. These armies, entering into Bohemia in three several parts, after they were passed the wood, joined together and pitched before Misnia. This town, a certain learned and eloquent protestant named Prichicho, the night before, had won from the papists; wherefore the army was determined first to recover that city, before they would go any further. But when news came unto the host, how the protestants had gathered an army, and came with all speed towards them; they fled before they saw their enemies, and went unto Tacovia, leaving behind them their warlike engines, with a great prey. The cardinal was not yet come into the camp, but meeting them in their flight at Tacovia, he marvelled at the cowardly flight of so many noble and valiant men, desiring them that they would turn again unto their enemies, who, he said, were far weaker than they. Which thing when he had long travailed about in vain, he was fain to be a companion with them in their flight. They had scarcely entered the wood, when the Bohemians, coming upon them, set upon the rearward. Then was their flight much more disordered and fearful than before, neither did they leave flying, before the Bohemians left following. Then, all impediment or let being taken away, they vanquished Tacovia; and, having obtained great store of warlike engines, they destroyed Misnia. And when they would have returned home by Franconia, they had great sums of money sent unto them, that they should not waste or destroy the countries of Bamberg and Nuremberg; whereby the host of the Bohemians was greatly enriched.

Sigismund the emperor, having news of these things, went straight unto Nuremberg, and gathered there new aid and help. Also pope Martin sent Julian, the cardinal of St. Angel, into Germany with his