The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe/Volume 3/Now to prosecute the wars of the Bohemians again

by John Foxe

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Now to prosecute the wars of the Bohemians again. After Zisca was dead, A.D. 1424, whereof we did treat before, there was great fear, sorrow, and lamentation in the army, the soldiers accusing fortune which gave over such an invincible captain to be overcome with death. The army of Zisca divided.Immediately there was a division in the host, the one part choosing Procopius Magnus to be their captain, the other part saying that there was none could be found worthy to succeed Zisca: whereupon they, choosing out certain to serve the wars, named themselves 'Orphans.'

Thus the Taborites, being divided into two armies, the one part retained their old and accustomed name, and the other, by means of the death of their captain, named themselves Orphans. And albeit that oftentimes there was dissension between them, yet whensoever any foreign power came towards them, they joined their powers together in one camp, and defended themselves. They seldom went unto any fenced towns, except it were to buy necessaries, but lived with their wives and children in their camp and tents. They had amongst them many cars, which they used as a bulwark; for whensoever they went unto battle, they made two wings of them, which closed in the footmen. The wings of the horsemen were on the outside, and when they saw their time to join battle, the waggon-men who led the wings, going forth unto the emperor's standard, and compassing such part of their enemies as they would, did close themselves in together, The order and policy that the army of Zisca used in war after his decease.whereby the enemies being enclosed so that they could not be rescued, they were, partly by the footmen, and partly by the men that were in the cars, with their darts slain. The horsemen fought without the fortification; and if it happened that they were oppressed or put to flight, by and by the cars, opening themselves, received them as it were into a fenced city; and by this means they got many victories, forasmuch as their enemies were ignorant of their policies.

These two armies went forth, the one into Silesia, and the other into Moravia, and returned again with great prey, before their enemies knew of their coming. After this they besieged the town of Swietla in Austria, where the Taborites and the Orphans, during two nights, continually assaulted the walls without ceasing. But Albert, duke of Austria, coming with his host to aid the citizens, they fought by the space of almost four hours, the valiantest warriors being slain on both parts. At length the battle was broken off, and the Taborites lost their cars, and Albert was put out of his camp and tents. Within a while after, Procopius Magnus came again and enclosed the city of Rhetium in Austria with a notable siege. They of Prague were in his army, and Boslaus Cygneus, of whom we spake before, was slain there with a dart, and the city of Rhetium was taken by force, sacked, and burnt. The burgrave of Malderburg, lord of the town, was also taken and carried unto Prague, where he died in prison.

Sigismund, who burned Huss and Jerome before, now is fain to treat for his kingdom.These things thus done, the emperor sent for the nobles of Bohemia, who went unto him unto a town of Hungary, called Presberg, in the borders of Austria, upon the banks of the river of Danube; but they would not enter into the town, but remained without the town in their tents; whither the emperor going out unto them, communed much with them, as touching his right and title, and the recovering of his father's kingdom, promising if there were any cause 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, The death of John Huss and Jerome dwelt upon.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.

A cardinal sent into Germany, to raise war against the Bohemians.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. God rescueth his people newly converted.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; The pope's army flieth.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. Like captain, like soldier.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; The pope raiseth war the second time against the Bohemians.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 ambassage, to make war against the Bohemians, and that he should, in the council of Basil, which doth now shortly draw on,^[1] be president in the pope's name. He, entering into Germany, went straight to Nuremberg to the emperor, where many of the nobles of Germany were assembled.

There was a new expedition decreed against the Bohemians, against the eighth of the kalends of July, and Frederic, marquis of Brandenburg, was appointed general of that war, who should follow the cardinal. He entered into Bohemia by the way that leadeth unto Thopa, and Albert, prince of Austria, was appointed to bring his army through Moravia.

In this expedition were Albert and Christopher of Bavaria, and Frederic, dukes of Saxony; John and Albert, princes of Brandenburg, with their father who was general of those wars; also the bishops of Hyperbolis, Bamberg and Eysten; also the company of the Swevians, which they called the company of St. George, and the magistrates of the imperial cities, the bishop of Mentz, Treves, and Cologne, sent their aids, and with them the chieftains of their provinces. The number of the pope's army against the Bohemians.It is said that the number of their horsemen was above forty thousand, but their footmen were not full so many, for the Germans, for the most part, do use to fight their battles on horseback.

Also Rhenatus, prince of Lorraine, promised to come to these wars; but being letted by his civil wars, forasmuch as he went about to vanquish the earl of Vandome, he could not keep his promise; and the county palatine of Rhine, who did aid and succour the earl of Vandome, could not go against the Bohemians. The cardinal, staying for them, deferred his journey until the kalends of August. In the mean time Albert, leading his army out of Austria (understanding that the cardinal was not present at the day appointed, and seeing himself unable to encounter with the Bohemian power), returned back again. Cardinal Julian entereth Bohemia. His cruel slaughter.After this the cardinal entered into Bohemia with a huge army, and destroyed many of the protestants' towns, killing men, women, and children, sparing neither old nor young: notwithstanding this his tyranny was exercised in the uttermost borders of Bohemia, for his captains feared to enter far into the land. The Bohemians, as soon as they had heard tell that their enemy was come, made ready and gathered their host with all speed, and laid siege to a tower called Stiltiverge, and brought it under subjection.

God striketh fear into the pope's army.In the mean season there fell such a marvellous sudden fear amongst the papists throughout the whole camp, that they began most shamefully to run away before any enemy appeared in sight. The the pope's cardinal Julian, marvelling at this most sudden fear, and what should move so great an army to flee, went about unto the captains, exhorting them to put on armour, to order their battles, and courageously to abide their enemies, saying, they did not fight for the glory of their kingdom, or for the possession of lands, but for their lives, and honour, and the religion of Christ,^[2] and for the salvation of souls. "How ignominious a thing is it," saith he, "for the Germans to flee in battle, whose courage and valiantness all the world doth extol? It were much better to die, than to give place to any enemies before they are seen; for they can by no means live in safety within the walls, who give place unto their enemy in the field; for it is the weapon that defendeth a man and not the walls; and except they would even presently defend their liberty with the sword, they should shortly be in greater bondage, more miserable than any death." The cardinal's army run away for fear.But this exhortation was all in vain, for fear had put away all boldness; for the ensigns were snatched up, and, as though there had been no captain in the host, every man ran headlong away. No man regarded any commandment, neither once took his leave of his captain, but, casting away their armour, with speedy flight they ran away, as though their enemy had been at their backs. The cardinal, also, although it were against his will, was forced to do the like.

Thus the protestants, by the fear of their enemies made the more bold and courageous, pursued them through the woods, and had a great prey and spoil of them. Notwithstanding, Albert, when he heard tell that the cardinal was entered into Bohemia, with all speed came again out of Austria with his army, and besieged the strong town of Prezorabia. But when he understood how the cardinal was fled, he left off his purpose, and returned through Moravia, which was not yet subject unto him, and destroyed above fifty towns with fire and sword, took many of their cities by force, and spoiled them, Great slaughter in Bohemia by duke Albert.committing great murder and slaughter, and so afflicted them that they took upon them his yoke, and promised to be subject and obedient to him under this condition: that, as touching religion, he would be bound to do that which the council of Basil should determine.

A letter of the emperor to the Bohemians.Then was there an ambassage sent out of Bohemia unto Basil, where Sigismuud held the council, who, during the time of the wars, had kept himself at Nuremburg. When he should take his journey unto Rome to be crowned emperor, he wrote letters unto the nobles of Bohemia, wherein was contained, how that he was a Bohemian born, and how he was not more affection ed to any nation than to his own, and that he went to Rome for no other cause but to be crowned; which his honour should also be a renown to the Bohemians, whom to advance, it hath been always his special care.

Also, how that through his endeavour the council was begun at Basil; exhorting all such as were desirous to be heard as touching religion, that they should come thither, and that they would not maintain any quarrel contrary to the holy mother the church; that the council would lovingly and gently hear their reasons; that they should only endeavour themselves to agree with the synod as touching religion, and reserve and keep a quiet and peaceable kingdom for him, against his return; neither should the Bohemians think to refuse his regiment, whose brother, father, and uncle, had reigned over them; and that he would reign over them after no other mean or sort, than other christian kings used to do.

The Bohemians sent for.The council of Basil also wrote their letter to the Bohemians, that they should send their ambassadors who should show a reason of their faith, promising safe-conduct to go and come, and free liberty to speak what they would. The Bohemians in this point were of two opinions; for the protestants, and almost all the common people, said, it was not good to go, alleging the examples of John Huss and Jerome of Prague, who, going to Constance, under the safe-conduct of the emperor, were there openly burned. But the nobility, following the mind of Maynard,^[3] prince of the new House, said, that they ought to go to the council, and that they are not to be suffered who had invented those new and strange opinions of faith, and that new kind of religion, except they would render account of their doings and sayings before the universal church, and defend those things which they had openly taught before learned men. This opinion took place, and an ambassage of three hundred horse was sent to Basil, the chief whereof were William Cosca, a valiant knight, and Procopius, surnamed Magnus, a man of worthy fame for his manifold victories; John Rhochezana, preacher of Prague, Nicholas Gallicus, minister of the Taborites, and one Peter,^[4] an Englishman, of excellent, prompt, and pregnant wit. A. D. 1433. The people came in great number out of the town, and many out of the synod and council, attending before the gates to see the coming of this valiant and famous people; others gathered together in great numbers into the streets where they should pass through. The matrons, maids, and children, filled the windows and houses to behold and see, and to marvel at their strange kind of apparel and stout courageous countenances; saying, that it was not untrue which was reported of them. Notwithstanding all men beheld Procopius, saying, "This is he who hath overthrown the papists in so many battles, who hath subverted so many towns, and slain so many men, whom both his enemies, and also his own soldiers do fear and reverence;" also, that he was a bold, valiant, and invincible captain, who could not be overcome with any terror, labour, or travail.

These Bohemian ambassadors were gently received. The next day after, cardinal Julian, sending for them unto the council house, made a gentle, long, and eloquent oration unto them, to this effect.

 

1. The History of the Council of Basil is given in detail, in a subsequent page in the chronological order of events; the council of Constance, as we have seen, commenced its sittings in 1414, and was dissolved in 1418. In 1431, the council assemhled at Pavia, from whence it was removed to Sienna, and finally met at Basil, on the 23d of June, 1431; the particulars of which are given, under that date.—Ed.
2. Rather for the religion of Antichrist. This cardinal belike loved to preach rather in the camp than in the church.
3. This Maynard was afterwards a great back friend to the faithful Bohemians.
4. This Englishman was Peter Paine.