Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/333

309 CAMPAIGNS OF GONSALVO. 309 French armj in rapid advance against him. He chapter resolved to wait its approach ; and, taking position. '- on the slope of the hills towards the river, he drew up his horse on the right wing, and his infantry on the left.*'' The French generals, D'Aubignj and Precy, put- ting themselves at the head of their cavalry on the left, consisting of about four hundred heavy-armed, and twice as many light horse, dashed into the water without hesitation. Their right was occu- pied by the bristling phalanx of Swiss spearmen in close array ; behind these were the militia of the country. The Spanish ginetes succeeded in throw- ing the French gendarmerie into some disorder, be- fore it could form after crossing the stream ; but, no sooner was this accomplished, than the Spaniards, incapable of withstanding the charge of their ene- my, suddenly wheeled about and precipitately re- treated with the intention of again returning on their assailants, after the fashion of the Moorish tactics. The Calabrian militia, not comprehending this manoeuvre, interpreted it into a defeat. They thought the battle lost, and, seized with a panic, broke their ranks, and fled to a man, before the Swiss infantry had time so much as to lower its lances against them. Kins; Ferdinand in vain attempted to rally the refeatofthc dastardly fugitives. The French cavalry was soon upon them, making frightful slaughter in their 17 Giovio, Vita Magni Gonsalvi, tana, Espaiioles C61ebres, torn. i. lib. 1, pp. 216, 217. — Chronica pp. 223-227. del Gran Capitan, cap. 24. — Quin-
 * -' _ _ -^ "^ Neapolitans.