CHAP. IX.] USE OF FIREARMS BY CAVALRY. 



241 



The Royalist cavalry commenced to charge at a 

 distance of 800 metres, and were pretty well blown 

 before coming to close quarters. King Henry waited 

 till they were within twenty paces, then the infantry 

 poured in a volley, and the cavalry charged vigorously 

 upon the disordered horsemen, and at once put them to 

 rout. 



An interesting cavalry action took place at the battle 

 of Mookerheyde in Holland, on the 14th of April, 1574, 

 between the Dutch troops under Count Louis of Nassau, 

 and the Spanish army under Avila. The Spanish cavalry 

 were drawn up with the mounted carbineers in the front 

 rank, the lancers and German black Reitres in the rear. 

 Count Louis charged with all his cavalry upon the 

 enemy's horse, and soon drove the carbineers in rout and 

 confusion before him ; his men, however, having wheeled 

 after their attack in order to reload their pieces, were 

 promptly charged at speed by the lancers and cuirassiers, 

 who had remained firm in reserve. This attack was 

 made with great spirit, and at the proper moment.^ 

 After a short struggle Count Louis's carbineers were 

 overthrown with heavy loss, and the fate of the day 

 decided. 



' Motley's Rise of the Dutch Republic, 558. 





B 



