and Moravia as far as Lower Austria, which country was thus compelled to swear fealty to Ferdinand, up to this time having refused to do so.
Maximilian and Buquoi joined their forces, and commenced a vigorous campaign against the Bohemians. Their army, amounting to 50,000 men, consisted of Spaniards, Italians, Germans, and other nationalities, and exceeded in strength that of Frederick.
Pressed on by this overwhelming force, the Bohemians were compelled to fall back, the Imperialists gaining possession of the towns of Krumlov, Budweis, Prachatic, and several other places. Pisek, defending itself valiantly, was finally overpowered, and, as a warning to other cities, was razed to the ground, and the people, without regard to age or sex, all massacred. As a result of this, many other towns surrendered without attempting any defense. The Bohemian forces, under the command of Anhalt, kept falling back until King Frederick himself repaired to the army, intending to retrieve some of the disasters; but it was already too late; the army was utterly demoralized, and nothing of importance could be done.
The Imperial army now besieged Pilsen, where Mansfield had shut himself up, and tried in vain to get that general to give them battle. The Bohemian army was at Rokycan, and Thurn, Hohenloh, and Anhalt advised immediate attack upon the Imperialists while they were still weary from the march; but this advice was overruled by the older Anhalt, who feared the superior ability of the emperor’s commanders. Thus the favorable moment was allowed to slip by unimproved, and the army then compelled to fall back until it took its stand upon the White Mountain near Prague.
