These horses, unlike those of the Italian gendarmes, wore no caparisons of dressed leather, which made them more exposed to attack.

Every knight was followed by three horses--the first ridden by a page in armour like his own, the two others by equerries who were called lateral auxiliaries, because in a fray they fought to right and left of their chief.

This troop was not only the most magnificent, but the most considerable in the whole army; for as there were 2500 knights, they formed each with their three followers a total of 10,000 men.

Five thousand light horse rode next, who carried huge wooden bows, and shot long arrows from a distance like English archers.

They were a great help in battle, for moving rapidly wherever aid was required, they could fly in a moment from one wing to another, from the rear to the van, then when their quivers were empty could go off at so swift a gallop that neither infantry or heavy cavalry could pursue them.