Several other strong places fell, and all the conquests the Protestants had made were wrested from their hands.

The battle of Moncontour was fought on October 3rd.

On the 14th the southern troops marched away, and four days later Coligny, with the remains of the army, started from Saintes.

He had with him but six thousand men, of whom three thousand were cavalry.
His plan was an extremely bold one.

In the first place, he wished to obtain money to pay the German horsemen, by the capture of some of the rich Catholic cities in Guyenne; to form a junction with the army of Montgomery; then to march across to the Rhone, and there to meet the forces of the south, which would by that time be ready to take the field again; then to march north to Lorraine, there to gather in the Germans whom William of Orange would have collected to meet him; and then to march upon Paris, and to end the war by giving battle under its walls.
The Queen of Navarre was to remain in La Rochelle, which city was placed under the command of La Rochefoucault; and the two young princes were to accompany the army, where they were to have small commands.