Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I to Edict of Nantes - James Aitken Wylie

anks were broken by the firm phalanxes on which
they threw themselves, and before they could rally,
a tremendous slaughter had begun, which caused
something like a panic amongst them. Coligny was
wounded at the very commencement; his lower jaw
was broken, and the blood, oozing from the wound
and trickling down his throat, all but choked him.
Being unable to give the word of command, he was
carried out of the battle. A short hour only did the
fight rage; but what disasters were crowded into
that space of time! Of the 25,000 men whom
Coligny had led into action, only 8,000 stood
around their standards when it was ended.
Ammunition, cannon, baggage, and numerous
colors were lost. Again the dark night was closing
in around French Protestantism.
As Coligny was being carried out of the field,
another litter in which lay a wounded soldier
passed him by. The occupant of that other litter
was Lestrange, an old gentleman, and one of the
admiral's chief counsellors. Lestrange, happening
to draw aside the curtains and look out, recognised
his general. "Yes," said he, brushing away a tear
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