Here they were met by messengers from the court, which was in a state of consternation at the steady approach of an enemy they had regarded as crushed; and were ready, in their alarm, to promise anything.

The Admiral fell dangerously ill and, at the news, the king at once broke off the negotiations.

He recovered, however, and, advancing, met the royal army, under Marshal Cosse, in the neighbourhood of the town of Arnay de Duc.
Coligny's army had dwindled away during its terrible march, and it consisted now of only two thousand horsemen and two thousand five hundred arquebusiers, the cannon being all left behind.

Cosse had ten thousand infantry, of whom four thousand were Swiss; three thousand cavalry, and twelve cannon.

The armies took post on the hills on opposite sides of a valley, through which ran a stream fed by some small ponds.