He entered his territories with an army of thirty-three thousand men, and swept all opposition before him.
In a final and desperate battle the troops of the elector were cut to pieces, and the elector himself, surrounded on all sides, sorely wounded in the face and covered with blood, was taken prisoner.

Charles disgraced his character by the exhibition of a very ignoble spirit of revenge.

The captive elector, as he was led into the presence of his conqueror, said-- "Most powerful and gracious emperor, the fortune of war has now rendered me your prisoner, and I hope to be treated--" Here the emperor indignantly interrupted him, saying-- "I am _now_ your gracious emperor! Lately you could only vouchsafe me the title of Charles of Ghent!" Then turning abruptly upon his heel, he consigned his prisoner to the custody of one of the Spanish generals.

The emperor marched immediately to Wittemberg, which was distant but a few miles.

It was a well fortified town, and was resolutely defended by Isabella, the wife of the elector.