Page:The Hussite wars, by the Count Lützow.djvu/231

 Catholics. These lords “sub una” were often closely connected with the Utraquist nobles, and knew that the religious views of the latter did not differ widely from the Church of Rome. Many of the lords “sub una” were also nationalists in their views, and did not wish to help the Germans to subdue their country.

It was not, therefore, under very favourable auspices that the crusaders marched to Střibro on July 22. The army was not complete even then, and troops of crusaders were still crossing the passes from Bavaria to Bohemia. Much disappointment was caused by the delay of the arrival of Cardinal Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, who had now been appointed papal legate, and who was to proceed to the site of war accompanied by 1000 English archers, then famed in all parts of the continent. Cardinal Beaufort arrived at Nürnberg on July 13, and remained there up to the 28th of that month. He then proceeded to Tachov, but travelling leisurely only arrived there on August 4. On July 23 the siege of Střibro began. The city was bravely defended by Přibik of Klenov, who was aided by the strong natural position of the town. In one direction the Misa river and in another a stream that runs into that river rendered it almost impregnable to the armies of the fifteenth century. The bombardment appears to have been carried out with little energy, and to have been directed almost exclusively against the town walls. It is at any rate certain that the city, though garrisoned by only 200 men, remained in the hands of the Hussites. On the last days of July the crusaders were joined by the troops of the Elector of Brandenburg, and by those of the Saxon prince. Almost immediately after his arrival in the camp before Střibro the Elector Frederick was suddenly seized with illness. According to his report to King Sigismund, “he was suddenly attacked by so great a bodily weakness that the Archbishop of Trier, who was also there (in the camp), and 2em