ThesentenceofproscriptionpronouncedupontheElectorsoondetachedthefreecitiesfromtheUnion；andtheprincesquicklyfollowedtheirexample。Fortunateinpreservingtheirowndominions，theyabandonedtheElector，theirformerchief，totheEmperor’smercy，renouncedtheUnion，andvowednevertoreviveitagain。
ButwhilethusingloriouslytheGermanprincesdesertedtheunfortunateFrederick，andwhileBohemia，Silesia，andMoraviasubmittedtotheEmperor，asingleman，asoldieroffortune，whoseonlytreasurewashissword，ErnestCountMansfeld，dared，intheBohemiantownofPilsen，todefythewholepowerofAustria。
LeftwithoutassistanceafterthebattleofPraguebytheElector，towhoseservicehehaddevotedhimself，andevenuncertainwhetherFrederickwouldthankhimforhisperseverance，healoneforsometimeheldoutagainsttheimperialists，tillthegarrison，mutinyingforwantofpay，soldthetowntotheEmperor。
Undismayedbythisreverse，heimmediatelycommencednewleviesintheUpperPalatinate，andenlistedthedisbandedtroopsoftheUnion。
Anewarmyof20，000menwassoonassembledunderhisbanners，themoreformidabletotheprovinceswhichmightbetheobjectofitsattack，becauseitmustsubsistbyplunder。Uncertainwherethisswarmmightlight，theneighbouringbishopstrembledfortheirrichpossessions，whichofferedatemptingpreytoitsravages。But，pressedbytheDukeofBavaria，whonowenteredtheUpperPalatinate，Mansfeldwascompelledtoretire。