His young neighbor, Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, acted vigorously.

After coming to terms with his own subjects by negotiations, he raised troops and met a band of insurgents at Frankenhausen.

He wished to treat with them also, but Muenzer's fanaticism, promising the deluded men supernatural aid, nerved them to reject all terms.

In the very ancient German style they built a barricade of wagons, and calmly awaited the attack of the soldiers.

[Sidenote: May 15] Undisciplined and poorly armed, almost at the first shot they broke and fled in panic, more than half of them perishing on the field.