CAMPAIGNS OF GONSALVO. 309 French armj in rapid advance against him. He chapter resolved to wait its approach ; and, taking position . '- on the slope of the hills towards the river, he drew up his horse on the right wing, and his infantry on the left.* The French generals, D'Aubignj and Precy, put- ting themselves at the head of their cavalry on the left, consisting of about four hundred heavy-armed, and twice as many light horse, dashed into the water without hesitation. Their right was occu- pied by the bristling phalanx of Swiss spearmen in close array ; behind these were the militia of the country. The Spanish ginetes succeeded in throw- ing the French gendarmerie into some disorder, be- fore it could form after crossing the stream ; but, no sooner was this accomplished, than the Spaniards, incapable of withstanding the charge of their ene- my, suddenly wheeled about and precipitately re- treated with the intention of again returning on their assailants, after the fashion of the Moorish tactics. The Calabrian militia, not comprehending this manoeuvre, interpreted it into a defeat. They thought the battle lost, and, seized with a panic, broke their ranks, and fled to a man, before the Swiss infantry had time so much as to lower its lances against them. Kins; Ferdinand in vain attempted to rally the refeatofthc
- -' _ _ -^ "^ Neapolitans.
dastardly fugitives. The French cavalry was soon upon them, making frightful slaughter in their 17 Giovio, Vita Magni Gonsalvi, tana, Espaiioles C61ebres, torn. i. lib. 1, pp. 216, 217. — Chronica pp. 223-227. del Gran Capitan, cap. 24. — Quin-
