For a moment, the fugitive horse and foot broke up his ranks.

But he rallied his men and, advancing, drove the Catholics out of the village and retook the abbey.
But as a whole army was opposed to him, the success was but brief.
After a desperate struggle the village was again lost, and the Huguenots fell back, contesting every foot of the ground, along a raised causeway.
The enemy were, however, fast outflanking them; and they were on the point of destruction when Conde arrived, with three hundred knights with whom he had ridden forward, leaving the infantry to follow, as soon as Coligny's message for help had reached him.
He himself was in no condition for battle.

His arm had been broken by a cannon shot and, just as he reached the scene of battle, his hip was fractured by the kick of a horse ridden by his brother-in-law, La Rochefoucault.

Nevertheless he did not hesitate but, calling on his little band to follow him, rode full at a body of eight hundred of the Catholic cavalry.
For a time the struggle was a desperate one.

The Huguenots performed prodigies of valour; but the Royalists were reinforced, and the devoted band melted away.