d the standard of rebellion against their
sovereigns. She lent, however, 7000 pounds to the King of Navarre,
taking ample security in the way of jewels for the sum; and ordered
Admiral Winter to embark six cannons, three hundred barrels of
powder, and four thousand balls, and carry them to La Rochelle. The
admiral, well aware of the crooked policy of the queen, and her
readiness to sacrifice any of her subjects in order to justify
herself, absolutely refused to sail until he received an order
signed by the queen herself.

His caution was justified for, upon the French ambassador
remonstrating with her upon supplying the king's enemies, she
declared that the assistance was wholly involuntary; for that
Admiral Winter had entered the port of La Rochelle simply to
purchase wine, and other merchandise, for some ships that he was
convoying. The governor, however, had urged him so strongly to sell
to him some guns and ammunition that he, seeing that his ships were
commanded by the guns of the forts, felt himself obliged to comply
with the request. The court of France professed to be satisfied
with this statement, although perfectly aware of its absolute
untruth; but they did not wish, while engaged in the struggle with
the Huguenots, to be involved in open war with England.

As soon as spring commenced, both armies again prepared to take the
field. The position of the Huguenots was by no means so strong as
it had been, when winter set in. Considerable numbers had died from
disease; while large bodies had returned to their homes, the nobles
and citizens being alike unable to continue any longer in the
field, owing to the exhaustion of their resources. Upon the other
hand, although the army of Anjou had suffered equally from disease,
it had not been diminished by desertion, as the troops were paid
out of the royal treasury. Two thousand two hundred German
horsemen, a portion of the large force sent by the Catholic princes
of Germany, had joined him; and the Count de Tende had brought 3000
soldiers from the south of France. Other nobles came in, as the
winter broke, with bodies of their retainers.

The southern Huguenot leaders, known as the Viscounts, remained in
Guyenne to protect the Protestant districts. The plan of Conde and
the Admiral was to effect a junction with them, and then to march
and meet the army of the Duc de Deux-Ponts. They therefore left
Niort, which had for some time been their headquarters, and marched