This will supplement the Admiral's despatches." Philip gave a full report of his route, of the state of the roads, the number of cattle in the country through which he had passed, the accounts he had heard of the forces assembled in the cities, and the preparations that had been made to guard the passages across the rivers of Burgundy.
"I will travel by the route that the Admiral indicates, so far as I can do so undisturbed by the armies of the two French dukes.

I have with me some good guides, as many French gentleman joined me, not long since, with the Prince of Orange.

I had already decided, by their advice, upon following nearly the route commended by the Admiral.

I trust that you, sir, will ride among my friends; to whom I will introduce you this evening, at supper." The Duc's army amounted to some fifteen thousand men, of whom seven thousand five hundred were horsemen from the states of Lower Germany, and six thousand infantry from Upper Germany; the remaining fifteen hundred being French and Flemish gentlemen, who had joined him with the Prince of Orange.

The armies under the French dukes were, together, considerably superior in force to that of Deux-Ponts; but singly they were not strong enough to attack him, and the mutual jealousies of their commanders prevented their acting in concert.