On that battlefield now stands a great monument with this inscription: "Gustavus Adolphus, The Christian and Hero, Saved, near Breitenfield, Religious Liberty to the World." CHAPTER X. GUSTAVUS IN GERMANY.—CONTINUED. The battle of Breitenfield marks an important epoch in history. Ferdinand had a dream of annexing all northern Europe to the Holy Roman Empire. When he failed at Stralsund he saw the limit of his northern stretch; at Breitenfield he knew the limitations of his army. This battle really restored to freedom and to Protestantism all northern Europe. It marks an era in military affairs. Gustavus had practiced his army in great flexibility, or mobility, and this quality had triumphed over weight and numbers. Colonel Munro says: "Oh! would to God I had once again such a leader to fight such another day in this old quarrel, and though I died standing, I should be persuaded I died well." The united forces of the Emperor and the Catholic League were broken. Gustavus now reaped the benefit of all his smaller conquests. Of the great Imperial army but two thousand remained, with Tilly old, discouraged and discredited. The peasantry fell upon Tilly's retreating army and almost annihilated it. On every side rang the words of a rude song of the period, "Fly, Tilly, fly!" It was howled and hissed and yelled by the peasantry till he had fled far southward. Tilly was heartbroken as much by the hate shown his men in retreat as by the disasters of the battlefield. Gustavus now had full liberty to go wherever he desired. Richelieu expected the King of Sweden to march at once to Vienna. The Elector of Saxony urged the same course. When Oxenstiern came, soon after this, on a short visit and met his king at Mainz he said plainly: "I would rather have proffered my congratulations at Vienna." But the king thought differently; he knew the wily electors who might at any time stab him in the back, and he doubtless understood Ferdinand's hereditary position, that, though driven from Vienna he would have the heart loyalty of all Catholics and many Protestants as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and Gustavus believed such a course would greatly protract the war. Gustavus said, "First pure, then peaceable;" so as he passed through the country having churches rebuilt, property restored, and above all, restoring hope and courage to the desolated provinces, he was everywhere hailed as a friend and deliverer, and just for a short time in the lull after the battle, it looked as if his work were really done.