s first thought was to dismiss
Duke Bernhard from the Swedish service; but he saw that if he did so the
disaffection might spread, and that the duke might place himself at
the head of the malcontents and bring ruin upon the cause. He therefore
agreed to bestow at once the Franconian bishoprics upon him, and gave a
pledge that Sweden would defend him in that position.

He declined to make him generalissimo of all the armies, but appointed
him commander-in-chief of the forces south of the Maine. The duke
accepted this modification, and had no difficulty in restoring order in
the ranks of his army. But precious months had been wasted before this
matter was brought to a conclusion, and the month of October arrived
before the duke had completed all his preparations and was in a position
to move forward.

While the delays had been going on Altringer, having been joined by the
army of the Duke of Feria, quitted the line of the Danube, in spite
of Wallenstein's absolute order not to do so, and, evading Horn and
Birkenfeldt, marched into Alsace. The Swedish generals, however, pressed
hotly upon him, and finally drove him out of Alsace. Ratisbon being left
open by Altringer's disobedience to Wallenstein's orders, Duke Bernhard
marched upon that city without opposition, and laid siege to it.
Maximilian of Bavaria was himself there with a force sufficient to
defend the city had he been supported by the inhabitants; but a large
majority of the people were Protestants, and, moreover, bitterly hated
the Bavarians, who had suppressed their rights as a free city.

Maximilian wrote urgently to the emperor and to Wallenstein, pledging
himself to maintain Ratisbon if he could receive a reinforcement of
5000 men. The emperor was powerless; he had not the men to send, but he
despatched to Wallenstein, one after another, seven messengers,
urging him at all hazards to prevent the fall of so important a place.
Wallenstein replied to the order that he would do all in his power, and
in presence of the messengers ordered the Count of Gallas to march
with 12,000 men on Ratisbon, but privately furnished the general with
absolute orders, forbidding him on any account to do anything which
might bring on an action with the duke.

Wallenstein's motives in so acting were, as he afterwards assured the
emperor, that he was not strong enough to divide his army, and that he
could best cover Vienna by maintaining a strong position in Bohemia, a
policy whi