The Imperialists were, however, too
strong to be checked, and horse and foot were being driven in when
Colonel Munro sallied out with a hundred of his own regiment, and
the Imperialists after a brisk skirmish, not knowing what force
they had to deal with, fell back.
As soon as day broke the king and Hepburn made a tour of the walls,
which were found to be in a very bad condition and ill calculated
to resist an assault. The Imperialists were not to be seen, and the
king, fearing they might have marched by some other route against
Wurtzburg, determined to return at once, telling Hepburn to mine
the bridge, and to blow it up if forced to abandon the town.
Hepburn at once set to work to strengthen the position, to demolish
all the houses and walls outside the defences, cut down and destroy
all trees and hedges which might shelter an enemy, and to strengthen
the walls with banks of earth and platforms of wood. For three days
the troops laboured incessantly; on the third night the enemy were
heard approaching. The advanced troopers and a half company of
infantry were driven in, contesting every foot of the way. When they
reached the walls heavy volleys were poured in by the musketeers
who lined them upon the approaching enemy, and Tilly, supposing
that Gustavus must have moved forward a considerable portion of
his army, called off his troops and marched away to Nuremberg.
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