a. In this encounter,
where each man had singled out his own foe as though it were a
tournament, very many lances were broken, especially those of the Italian
knights; for their lances were hollowed so as to be less heavy, and in
consequence had less solidity. Those who were thus disarmed at once
seized their swords. As they were far more numerous than the French, the
king saw them suddenly outflanking his right wing and apparently prepared
to surround it; at the same moment loud cries were heard from a direction
facing the centre: this meant that the Stradiotes were crossing the river
to make their attack.

The king at once ordered his division into two detachments, and giving
one to Bourbon the bastard, to make head against the Stradiotes, he
hurried with the second to the rescue of the van, flinging himself into
the very midst of the melee, striking out like a king, and doing as
steady work as the lowest in rank of his captains. Aided by the
reinforcement, the rearguard made a good stand, though the enemy were
five against one, and the combat in this part continued to rage with
wonderful fury.

Obeying his orders, Bourbon had thrown himself upon the Stradiotes; but
unfortunately, carried off by his horse, he had penetrated so far into
the enemy's ranks that he was lost to sight: the disappearance of their
chief, the strange dress of their new antagonists, and the peculiar
method of their fighting produced a considerable effect on those who were
to attack them; and for the moment disorder was the consequence in the
centre, and the horse men scattered instead of serrying their ranks and
fighting in a body. This false move would have done them serious harm,
had not most of the Stradiotes, seeing the baggage alone and undefended,
rushed after that in hope of booty, instead of following up their
advantage. A great part of the troop nevertheless stayed behind to
fight, pressing on the French cavalry and smashing their lances with
their fearful scimitars. Happily the king, who had just repulsed the
Marquis of Mantua's attack, perceived what was going on behind him, and
riding back at all possible speed to the succour of the centre, together
with the gentlemen of his household fell upon the Stradiotes, no longer
armed with a lance, for that he had just broken, but brandishing his long
sword, which blazed about him like lightning, and--either because he was
whirled away like Bourbon by his own horse, or because he had