166 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period 11. 



advantage by the course he adopted. His plans were 

 crowned with success. 



The battle in the centre commenced by a fight betweeji 

 the two bodies of infantry, in which the French foot sol- 

 diery, raw levies, hastily collected, and badly drilled, 

 were at once defeated by the German battalions, who 

 pressed on, and threw the French horsemen somewhat 

 into confusion. They nearly captured the French king, 

 who was dismounted by the stroke of a javelin which 

 caught in his armour. A desperate struggle ensued, in 

 which close hand-to-hand fighting of the usual deter- 

 mined character was continued for a long time, until the 

 superior skill of the French cavalry decided the day in 

 their favour. 



A charge in flank is also mentioned in this battle, as 

 well as a countercharge to destroy the effect of it, which 

 proves that some idea of tactics was beginning to show 

 its' elf. Another matter mentioned in the account of this 

 action is of great interest, as the first evidence of a reac- 

 tion in the opinion as to the relative values of the cavalry 

 and infantry. 



The heavy armour of the nobles, their skill in the use 

 of weapons, the weight and strength of their horses, and 

 the contempt into which the infantry service had fallen, 

 had resulted, as we have already seen, in making the 

 cavalry not only the all-important, but practically the 

 only service, in the armies of the day. Ideas are always 

 apt to be carried to extremes, and the knights putting 

 their trust in armour, and relying mainly upon its pro- 

 tection for success, increased its weight, and multiplied its 

 pieces, until it became so burdensome that the Avarriors 

 were worn out by the exertion required to carry it, and 

 half stifled by the closeness of the head covering. 



When a knight was unhorsed, he was often unable to 

 get up without assistance, and after a little exertion it 

 became necessary for him to take off his helmet to regain 

 his breath. It must have been about this period that 

 one of the German emperors made the remark, that 

 " Armour protects the wearer, and prevents him from 

 injuring others." 



