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From Here to Forever
and nothing could stand against them. The brave Ziska died, but his
place was filled by Procopius, in some respects a more able leader.
The pope proclaimed a crusade against the Hussites. An im-
mense force was precipitated upon Bohemia, only to suffer terrible
defeat. Another crusade was proclaimed. In all the papal countries of
Europe men, money, and munitions of war were raised. Multitudes
flocked to the papal standard.
The vast force entered Bohemia. The people rallied to repel
them. The two armies approached each other until only a river lay
between. “The crusaders were in greatly superior force, but instead
of dashing across the stream, and closing in battle with the Hussites,
whom they had come so far to meet, they stood gazing in silence at
those warriors.
Suddenly a mysterious terror fell upon the host. Without striking
a blow, that mighty force broke and scattered as if dispelled by
an unseen power. The Hussite army pursued the fugitives, and
immense booty fell into the hands of the victors. The war, instead of
impoverishing, enriched the Bohemians.
A few years later, under a new pope, still another crusade was set
on foot. A vast army entered Bohemia. The Hussite forces fell back
before them, drawing the invaders farther into the country, leading
them to count the victory already won.
[74]
At last the army of Procopius advanced to give them battle.
As the sound of the approaching force was heard, even before the
Hussites were in sight, a panic again fell upon the crusaders. Princes,
generals, and common soldiers, casting away their armor, fled in all
directions. The rout was complete, and again an immense booty fell
into the hands of the victors.
Thus the second time a host of warlike men, trained for battle,
fled without a blow before the defenders of a small and feeble nation.
The invaders were smitten with a supernatural terror. He who put
to flight the armies of Midian before Gideon and his three hundred,
had again stretched out His hand. See
Judges 7:19-25
;
Psalm 53:5
.
19
Wylie, bk. 3, ch. 17.