202 Wallenstein
that we have a co-regent on hand, and no longer have free disposition
over our own lands’. Against this background of concern over winter
quarters Wallenstein’s abandonment of the move against Bernhard and
his return to Pilsen created an open breach between the emperor and
his generalissimo. This change of plan, Ferdinand wrote, had come to
him as most unwelcome news, and he reiterated his view of the military
threat to his lands. Rather than his previous polite approach he issued
a blunt order. ‘It is my express wish and demand that Your Excellency
should immediately turn the army round and proceed towards Passau
and the duke of Weimar, march against him, follow him and drive him
out, and this is my final decision, upon which I am completely firm
and immovable.’^6
In his reply Wallenstein noted that he had advised against both a
further march to the Danube and an attempt to find winter quarters
in enemy territory, but on receipt of the emperor’s so clearly expressed
wishes he had not taken it upon himself alone to respond, but had
sought the advice of his generals. This he attached in the form of a
memorandum prepared at a conference in Pilsen on 17 December, with
the request that this be approved, and that the army should remain
where it was for the winter in order to be in good shape for the forth-
coming summer campaign.^7 In their advice the officers stated that to
move the army to seek quarters elsewhere ‘in this winter period is not
only difficult, but with the army in its present condition quite impos-
sible’. As soon as they left the emperor’s lands they would have to
contend ‘not only with the enemy, but especially with the cold, lack of
provisions, money and all the other indispensable necessities, so that
the remaining soldiers would either die or be driven to desperation’.
Should those who had given the emperor such advice have to try to
carry it out, they would soon discover the impossibility for themselves,
particularly as most of the suggested places could not be taken with-
out artillery and sieges, whereas in this season even shovels could not
readily be employed. The same applied to the order to advance against
Bernhard of Weimar, the only result of which would be that ‘horse and
man would be laid low and must inevitably perish’. They went on to
complain that pay and provisions had not arrived as promised in the
past year, and that there seemed little better hope for the coming one,
‘on account of which we have to keep these things completely secret
from the NCOs and ordinary soldiers, for fear of a general mutiny’.
These exchanges indicate not only the growing tension between the
court and the generalissimo, but also the disaffection which was devel-
oping in the army. Reports from Trauttmansdorff and Questenberg,