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John Huss and the Hussite Wars - James Aitken Wylie

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Germans, who did not expect to need quarter for<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves, refused <strong>the</strong> promise of it to <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Huss</strong>ites, saying that <strong>the</strong>y were under <strong>the</strong> curse of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Pope, <strong>and</strong> that to spare <strong>the</strong>m would be to<br />

violate <strong>the</strong>ir duty to <strong>the</strong> Church. "Let it be so,<br />

<strong>the</strong>n," replied Procopius, "<strong>and</strong> let no quarter be<br />

given on ei<strong>the</strong>r side."<br />

On Sabbath forenoon, <strong>the</strong> 16th of June, <strong>the</strong><br />

battle began. The Bohemians were entrenched<br />

behind 500 wagons, fastened to one ano<strong>the</strong>r by<br />

chains, <strong>and</strong> forming a somewhat formidable<br />

rampart. The Germans attacked with great<br />

impetuosity. They stormed <strong>the</strong> first line of defense,<br />

hewing in pieces with <strong>the</strong>ir battle-axes <strong>the</strong> iron<br />

fastenings of <strong>the</strong> wagons, <strong>and</strong> breaking through<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. Pressing onward <strong>the</strong>y threw down <strong>the</strong> second<br />

<strong>and</strong> weaker line, which consisted of <strong>the</strong> wooden<br />

shields stuck into <strong>the</strong> ground. They arrived in <strong>the</strong><br />

area within, weary with <strong>the</strong> labor it had cost <strong>the</strong>m<br />

to break through into it. The Bohemians <strong>the</strong> while<br />

were resting on <strong>the</strong>ir arms, <strong>and</strong> discharging an<br />

occasional shot from <strong>the</strong>ir swivel guns on <strong>the</strong> foe<br />

as he struggled with <strong>the</strong> wagons. Now that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

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