to them,
had taken up others where better accommodation could be obtained;
and much time was lost before the orders reached them. Even then
their movements were slow, and it was afternoon before those in the
neighbourhood were assembled, and the Admiral prepared to fall back
towards the main body of the army, which lay near the position
occupied by Conde.

But before this could be done, the whole Royalist army were upon
him. He had taken part at Bassac, a little village with an abbey,
with but De la Noue's cavalry and a small number of infantry with
him; and though the latter fought desperately, they could not check
the advance of the enemy.

"This is worse than Saint Denis, Francois," De la Noue said, as he
prepared to charge a vastly superior body of the enemy's cavalry,
advancing against the village. "However, it must be done; for
unless Anjou's advance is checked, the battle will be lost before
Conde can arrive. You and your cousin had best put yourself at the
head of your own troop."

On reaching his men Francois gave the order:

"Now, my men, is the time to show that you have profited by your
drill. Keep in a solid body. Do not break up and engage in single
conflicts for, if you do, we must be overpowered by numbers. Ride
boot to boot. Keep your eyes fixed on our plumes and, when we turn,
do you turn also, and follow us closely."

When De la Noue's trumpet sounded the charge, the band of horsemen
burst down upon the Catholic cavalry, broke their ranks, and
pierced far into them. Francois and Philip were but a horse's
length ahead of their men, and the pressure of the enemy soon drove
them back into their ranks. Keeping in a close and compact body,
they fought their way on until Francois perceived that they were
separated from the rest of the force. Then he put the horn that he
wore slung over his shoulder to his lips, and gave the command to
wheel round. It was obeyed, and the line, which was four deep,
fought their way round until facing the rear; and then, putting
spurs to their horses, they overthrew all opposition and cleft
their way out through the enemy, and then galloped back to Bassac.

The village was lost, and the defenders were falling back in
disorder upon D'Andelot; who, with his division, was just arriving
to their assistance. For a moment, the fugitive horse and foot
broke up his ranks. But he rallied his men and, advancing, drove
the Catholics out of the village and retook the abbey.

Bu