240 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period 111. 







fought, as already described, in deep formation, firing 

 by successive ranks. The Protestant general had coupled 

 his French and German squadrons of cavalry together, in 

 order that while one body used the lance, and the alternate 

 one used the pistol, they would mutually support each 

 other, and thereby gain the advantage of both the fire- 

 arms, and the lances. The increased feeling in favour of the 

 use of the arquebus in aid of the cavalry, is shown by the 

 arrangements of Coligny in this action, where, after 

 mixing his corps of cavalry, as mentioned, he further 

 supported them by arquebusiers, who being picked 

 soldiers, were detached not to move (as was his usual 

 practice) at the stirrup of each cavalier, but a little in 

 front of them as skirmishers. 



During the action the royal gendarmes were enabled 

 by the great weight and vigour of their horses to defeat 

 the Protestant cavalry, who were more lightly mounted. 

 Coligny restored the action by the fire of three regi- 

 ments of French arquebusiers, whom he ordered to 

 aim only at the horses, and whose efforts he supported 

 by a charge of six cornets of Reitres. He would probably 

 have gained the action but for the timely advance of the 

 reserve, composed of Swiss infantry, which moved on in 

 steady order under the command of Marshal Cosse.^ 



At the battle of Courtras, fought on the 20th of 

 October, 1587, Henry IV. of Navarre adopted a new 

 method of formation, based upon the prevailing idea of 

 the time. The infantry were placed upon the wings, 

 the cavalry occupied the centre, and the king placed 

 small parties of arquebusiers-^-pied between the different 

 squadrons of cavalry.'"^ These parties consisted of twenty 

 men each, in four ranks, five abreast. The front rank 

 laid down, the second knelt upon one knee, the third 

 stooped, and the fourth stood erect, so that they could 

 all fire at once. They were ordered no. to fire until the 

 enemy's cavalry were within twenty yards, so that the 

 aim should be well directed. They were men chosen for 

 their bravery and steadiness, and the importance of their 

 firmness was carefully impressed upon them. 



Carrion Nisas, i. 510, 511. - Vanderburch, 17, 



