"This is a fine field for a battle," Sir Ralph said, as the troops
halted on the ground indicated by the camp marshals. "It is splendid
ground for cavalry to act, and it is upon them the brunt of the
fighting will fall. We are a little stronger in foot; for several
companies from Honfleur, our own among them, have come up this
morning, and I hear we muster twelve thousand, which is a thousand
more than they say Mayenne has with him. But then he has four
thousand cavalry to our three thousand; and Parma's regiments of
Spaniards, Walloons, and Italian veterans are far superior troops
to Henry's bands of riders, who are mostly Huguenot noblemen and
gentlemen with their armed retainers, tough and hardy men to fight,
as they have shown themselves on many a field, but without any of
the discipline of Parma's troopers.
"If Parma himself commanded yonder army I should not feel confident
of the result; but Mayenne, though a skilful general, is slow and
cautious, while Henry of Navarre is full of fire and energy, and
brave almost to rashness. We are in muster under the command of
the king himself. He will have eight hundred horse, formed into
six squadrons, behind him, and upon these will, I fancy, come the
chief shock of the battle. He will be covered on each side by the
English and Swiss infantry; in all four thousand strong.
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