CHAPTER XVI.

THE CAMPAIGNS OF ZISCA.

RETREAT OF THE EMPEROR. DEPARTURE OF THE TABORITES FROM PRAGUE. — RAVAGES OF ZISCA. ATTACK ON PRACHATITZ.-SIGISMUND'S CONFERENCES WITH THE NOBLES. HIS SECOND ARMY AND CAMPAIGN. TABORITES AND CALIXTINES COMPROMISE DIFFERENCES.-CROWN OF BOHEMIA OFFERED TO THE KING OF POLAND. -ZISCA AND THE MONKS. BOHUSLAUS VON SCHWAMBERG. SECESSION OF SOLDIERS FROM ZISCA'S ARMY.- DEFEAT OF THE IMPERIALISTS AT KLADRUB. - League OF BOHEMIAN CITIES WITH PRAGUE. — MARTIN LOQUI. HIS OPINIONS. HE IS BURNED. POLICY OF ZISCA. HIS FREEDOM FROM FANATICISM. GROWTH OF THE LEAGUE. CONVENTION AT CZASLAU. VINDICATION OF THE STATES. THEIR COMPLAINT AGAINST SIGISMUND. - DEFENCE OF SIGISMUND BY COCHLEIUS. INVA

SION FROM SILESIA.ZISCA LOSES HIS SIGHT ENTIRELY At the Siege oF RABY.STILL HEADS HIS ARMY. PLANS OF INVASION FROM THE EAST AND WEST. -- CEREMONIES OF TABORITE WORSHIP.- KUTTENBERG REVOLTS. ZISCA IN DAnger. – EXTRICATES HIMSELF. - VICTORY AT DEUTSCHBROD. — DISASTROUS RETREAT OF THE IMPERIALISTS. GENERALSHIP OF ZISCA. BISHOP OF LEITOMISCHEL DEFEATED.-INVASION OF MORAVIA. THE CROWN OF BOHEMIA. - EXECUTIONS AT Prague. CORYBUT. DIET AT PRAGUE. ZISCA DISSATISFIED. HOSTILITIES WITH THE CALIXTINES.-MARCH ON KONIGGRATZ.-DEFEAT OF THE CALIXTINES. - ZISCA BECOMES A TABORITE. MARCHES INTO MORAVIA. — RETURNS. SUCCESSIve BatTLES. MARCHES AGAINST PRAGUE. ZISCA'S SPEECH. ITS EFFECT. NEGOTIATIONS. PEACE SECURED. THE EMPEROR TREATS WITH ZISCA. - HIS HUMILIAZISCA'S SUDDen Death, HIS EPITAPH, PERSON, AND CHaracter.

TION.

AUG. 5, 1420-Oct. 11, 1424.

ALTHOUGH the emperor had been forced to raise the siege of Prague, he did not abandon his designs against Bohemia. He determined to levy fresh armies, and make another attempt to recover the kingdom. His retreat from Prague was as desolating to the region through which he passed as his invading march had been. With his hussars, he

stopped for a while at Kuttenberg, and the valor and energies of his army were devoted to the work of ravage and plunder.

His retreat allowed the differences that existed between the Calixtines and Taborites to show themselves. The twelve articles of the latter, for which they demanded the approval and sanction of the city, and one of which threatened danger to the churches and monasteries, were at first rejected, and afterward approved only through a revolutionary movement that secured new magistrates, whom the Taborites nominated. In spite of this, however, they determined to leave the city. Their friends in New Prague strongly urged them to remain, but the Calixtines of Old Prague were more than willing to have them depart. Their radical views of reform, and their unyielding hostility to images, statues, pictures, the old church forms, and whatever savored in their opinion of superstition and Antichrist, diverged so far from the moderation of the Calixtines, who would be satisfied with securing the granting of their four articles, that Zisca acted only a prudent part in withdrawing his forces from Prague, (Aug. 22, 1420.)

But his object in doing this was not merely to prevent a collision between the Taborites and Calixtines. He wished to keep his forces employed, and suppress through Bohemia any movements in favor of Sigismund. The monks and priests soon felt the weight of his vengeance. With sword in hand, he swore never to rest till the power of the Bohemia was utterly prostrate.

of the papacy in

The cities which

CH. XVI.]

CAPTURE OF PRACHATITZ.

473

resisted the freedom of the communion of the cup, but especially the monasteries, were marked for assault and pillage.1 Kniczan, about a league from Prague, was the first to feel his vengeance. The castle was taken, the church destroyed, and seven priests burned. Zisca then directed his steps to the Circle of Prachin. Desolation marked his course. The city of Pisek fell into his hands. He presented himself before the walls of Prachatitz. It stood charged with having treated the Hussites with harsh cruelty. Zisca for once was disposed to be lenient. It was at Prachatitz that he had spent his early years as a student. He wished to spare the city, if possible, as a tribute to the memory of the happy days and the friendships he had enjoyed there. He summoned it to open its gates to him, promising it favorable and lenient terms, but was met by a blunt refusal. Upon this he stormed the city, (Nov. 12, 1420.) It was taken, and no mercy shown. Two hundred and thirty were left dead in the streets, and more than fourscore persons were burned. Even women and children were driven into exile. To the plea for mercy, Zisca's stern reply was, "We must fulfil the law of the Lord Christ in your blood."

Meanwhile Sigismund had gathered a new army, and advanced to resume the siege of Prague. During the past two months (September and October, 1420) he had amused the barons of the empire by frequent assemblies, which he summoned with the ostensible purpose of restoring peace and order throughout the kingdom. But all these efforts were

1 Guerre des Hus., i. 130.

futile. His own character would not allow his subjects to trust him. His complicity in the death of Huss could not easily be blotted from the memories of men who regarded the victim of his perfidy as a martyr for the truth.

By great exertions this second army had been brought together. The march of the emperor was expedited by intelligence of the danger which threatened the garrison of the Vissehrad. With his Moravian recruits, and all that he retained of his former army, he reached Prague before the Vissehrad fell into the hands of the besiegers. But a letter which he had written to the garrison, revealing his plans, fell into the hands of the Hussites and put them on their guard. The arrangements which he had made to raise the siege by an attack upon the city simultaneous with a sortie by the garrison, were frustrated. The latter remained quiet, whether they had lost hope of successful resistance, or did not understand the emperor's signals. The next day they surrendered. Great was the rejoicing of the citizens, and great the mortification of Sigismund.

Yet he was not disposed to abandon his purposes without again trying the fortune of arms. He hazarded a battle, but it proved disastrous to his army. In the absence of Zisca, the citizens of Prague had called in Krussina, with his Horebites, to their assistance. They had the reputation of being full as brave, and more merciless even than the Taborites. The emperor saw his forces beaten and flying like chaff before the terrible blows dealt by the flails of 2 Godeau, xxxvli. 40.

Guerre des Hus., i. 134.

CH. XVI.]

ROUT OF SIGISMUND'S ARMY.

475

the undisciplined peasantry. "I want to come to blows," said he, "with those flail-bearers." "Sire," replied Plumlovisc, a Moravian nobleman, "I fear that we shall all perish; those iron flails are exceedingly formidable." "Oh! you Moravians,” replied Sigismund, "I know you; you are afraid!" The Moravians were stung to desperation by the rash and unworthy taunt. Flinging themselves from their horses, they rushed-where the emperor did not choose to venture-upon the entrenchments of the Hussites. But their assault was futile. A sortie from the city rushed to the rescue of its brave defenders. The besiegers were forced to give way. They fled on all sides, and fell by thousands before the swords and flails of their pursuers. A great part of the Moravian nobility were left on the field of battle. The rout of the army was complete; and again Sigismund was constrained to retire from before the walls of Prague.

The patience and hopes of the Hussites, who had relied upon Sigismund's disposition to conciliate and give peace to his kingdom, were alike exhausted. The Calixtines even, by the force of circumstances, found themselves brought to occupy the position, politically, of the Taborites. The pride of Sigismund, his haughty demeanor, and his intractable purpose to subdue Bohemia and dictate his own terms, had forced the great majority to the conviction that he was unfit to occupy the throne. It was finally determined to call a convention of the states of the kingdom, and elect a new king (Dec. 30, 1420.) An effort also was made to compromise the differences