CHAP, v.] 



CHIVALRY. 



1G5 



of 



he 

 Ken 

 to 

 ivaH 



marching away, and believing that he was avoiding the 

 combat, followed him.' Philip hearing of it, sent the 

 Viscount de Melun with some light cavalry and cross- 

 bowmen, to make a reconnaissaiice in the direction of 

 the enemy. He soon met the army of tlie emperor 

 marching in good order, their horses clad in armour, and 

 the cavalry drawn up in rear of the infantry. This 

 being the usual formation in marching out for battle, the 

 viscount at once saw that they purposed bringing on a 

 general action, and despatched the Chevalier Guerin 

 with the intelligence to King Philip, while he himself 

 remained to watch their movements. 



The German army had a large number of infantry, 

 and the chroniclers say that they were drilled to fight 

 on the level plain, and even against cavalry. They were 

 armed with pikes. The emperor drew up his army with 

 the infantry in front, and his heavy cavalry in rear. The 

 English allies were on his right, the Flemish oi; the left. 

 The French adopted a similar formation, their infantry 

 occupying the front line, the chivalry di'awn up in line 

 behind them. We see in the accounts of this battle a 

 glimmering of tactical arrangement, for it seems that the 

 heavy horsemen were ranged in squadrons, with intervals 

 between, through which the infantry marched, after 

 crossing the bridge of Bou vines, in order to take up their 

 position in front. The squadrons most probably were 

 the followings of the different knights bannerets, who 

 were drawn up together, and so formed tactical units. 

 The light horsemen were on the wings supported by 

 heavy cavalry. The battle was opened by the Chevalier 

 Guerin, sending a body of 150 light cavalry, to charge 

 the Flemish gendarmerie of the enemy's left wing. He 

 seems to have taken this course, not with any idea that 

 the small body of lightly armed troops could gain any 

 decisive result, but with the intention of throwing his ■ 

 opponent's ranks into confusion, before leading his main 

 body of heavy armed knights to the decisive charge. .' 

 He evidently appreciated the value of the last reserve 

 in a cavalry action, and succeeded in obtaining that 

 ' Dauiel, Milice Fran9aise, i, 211, 212, 213. 



