The Swedish army now marched to Old Brandenburg, thirty-four miles
west of Berlin, and there remained for some time waiting until some
expected reinforcements should reach it.
The place was extremely unhealthy, and great numbers died from
malaria and fever, thirty of Munro's musketeers dying in a single
week. During this time the king was negotiating with the Elector of
Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse. These were the two most powerful
of the Protestant princes in that part of Germany, and Tilly resolved
to reduce them to obedience before the army of Gustavus was in a
position to move forward, for at present his force was too small
to enable him to take the field against the united armies of Tilly
and Pappenheim.
He first fell upon the Landgrave of Hesse, and laid Thuringen
waste with fire and sword. Frankenhausen was plundered and burned
to the ground. Erfurt saved itself from a similar fate by the
payment of a large sum of money, and by engaging to supply great
stores of provisions for the use of the Imperial army. The Landgrave
of Hesse-Cassel was next summoned by Tilly, who threatened to carry
fire and sword through his dominions unless he would immediately
disband his troops, pay a heavy contribution and receive the
Imperial troops into his cities and fortresses; but the landgrave
refused to accept the terms.
Owing to the unhealthiness of the district round Old Brandenburg,
Gustavus raised his camp there, and marched forward to Werben near
the junction of the Elbe with the Havel.
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