They kept close to the princes during the fight, riding far enough back for them to be seen by the Huguenots, and closing round when the enemy poured down upon them.

When the German horsemen fled, and the infantry were enveloped by the Catholics, they led Henri and Conde from the field; charging right through a body of Catholic horse who had swept round to the rear, and carrying them off to Parthenay.
Here they found the Admiral, who had been borne off the field, grievously wounded.

For a moment the lion-hearted general had felt despondency at the crushing defeat, being sorely wounded and weakened by loss of blood; but as he was carried off the field, his litter came alongside one in which L'Estrange, a Huguenot gentleman, also sorely wounded, was being borne.

Doubtless the Admiral's face expressed the deep depression of his spirit; and L'Estrange, holding out his hand to him, said: "Yet is God very gentle." The words were an echo of those which formed the mainspring of the Admiral's life.

His face lit up, and he exclaimed: "Thanks, comrade.