ssed in
his rear by the enemy.

In the spring of 1421, Zisca commenced the campaign, as before, by
destroying all the monasteries in his way. He laid siege to the castle
of Wisgrade, and the emperor coming to relieve it, fell into a snare,
was defeated with dreadful slaughter, and this important fortress was
taken. Our general had now leisure to attend to the work of reformation,
but he was much disgusted with the gross ignorance and superstition of
the Bohemian clergy, who rendered themselves contemptible in the eyes of
the whole army. When he saw any symptoms of uneasiness in his camp, he
would spread alarm in order to divert them, and draw his men into
action. In one of these expeditions, he encamped before the town of
Rubi, and while pointing out the place for an assault, an arrow shot
from the wall struck him in the eye. At Prague it was extracted, but,
being barbed, it tore the eye out with it. A fever succeeded, and his
life was with difficulty preserved. He was now totally blind, but still
desirous of attending the army. The emperor having summoned the states
of the empire to assist him, it was resolved, with their assistance, to
attack Zisca in the winter, when many of his troops departed till the
return of spring.

The confederate princes undertook the siege of Soisin, but at the
approach merely of the Bohemian general, they retreated. Sigismond
nevertheless advanced with his formidable army, consisting of 15,000
Hungarian horse and 25,000 infantry, well equipped for a winter
campaign. This army spread terror through all the east of Bohemia.
Wherever Sigismond marched, the magistrates laid their keys at his feet,
and were treated with severity or favour, according to their merits in
his cause. Zisca, however, with speedy marches, approached, and the
emperor resolved to try his fortune once more with that invincible
chief. On the 13th of January, 1422, the two armies met on a spacious
plain near Kamnitz. Zisca appeared in the centre of his front line,
guarded, or rather conducted, by a horseman on each side, armed with a
pole-axe. His troops having sung a hymn with a determined coolness drew
their swords, and waited for a signal. When his officers had informed
him that the ranks were all well closed, he waved his sabre round his
head, which was the sign of battle.

This battle is described as a most awful sight. The extent of the plain
was one continued scene of disorder. The imperial army fled towards the