146 A JACOBITE EXILE

troops and posted them in a strong position, one flank be-
ing covered by a marsh and the other by a wood. He had
time to effect his arrangements, as Charles was compelled
to wait until the whole of his troops were across. As soon
as they were so he led them against the enemy.

The battle was a severe one, for the Swedes were unpro-
vided with artillery, and the Saxons, with the advantages
of position and a powerful artillery, fought steadily.
Three times Marshal Steinau led his cavalry in desperate
charges, and each time almost penetrated to the point
where Charles was directing the movements of his troops;
but at last he was struck from his horse by a blow from the
butt-end of a musket, and his cuirassiers with difficulty
carried him from the field. As soon as his fall became
known disorder spread among the ranks of the Saxons.
Some regiments gave way, and the Swedes rushing forward
with loud shouts, the whole army was speedily in full flight.
This victory laid the whole of Courland at the mercy of
the Swedes, all the towns opening their gates at their
approach.

They were now on the confines of Poland, and the king,
brave to rashness as he was, hesitated to attack a nation
so powerful. Poland at that time was a country a little
larger than France, though with a somewhat smaller popu-
lation, but in this respect exceeding Sweden. With the
Poles themselves he had no quarrel, for they had taken no
part in the struggle, which had been carried on solely by
their king with his Saxon troops.

The authority of the kings of Poland was much smaller
than that of other European monarchs. ‘The office was not
a hereditary one; the king being elected at a diet composed
of the whole of the nobles of the country, the nobility
embracing practically every free man; and as it was
necessary, according to the constitution of the country,
that the vote should be unanimous, the difficulties in the