The latter rode well in advance of his men, while Coligny was equally in front of the Protestants.
The two leaders therefore met.

The conflict was a short one.
Coligny was severely wounded in the face, and the Rhinegrave was killed.
While the cavalry on both sides fought desperately for victory, the infantry was speedily engaged.

The combat between the Huguenot foot, and the Swiss infantry in the Royalist ranks, was long and doubtful.

The Duc d'Anjou displayed great courage in the fight; while on the other side the Princes of Navarre and Conde, who had that morning joined the army from Parthenay, fought bravely in the front of the Huguenots.

The Catholic line began to give way, in spite of their superiority in numbers; when Marshal Cosse advanced with fresh troops into the battle, and the Huguenots in turn were driven back.
The German cavalry of the Huguenots, in spite of the valour of their leader, Louis of Nassau, were seized with a panic and fled from the field; shattering on their way the ranks of the German infantry.