CHAPTER III

BATTLE OF STo DENIS (NOVEMBER10, 1567)

ETWEEN the Peace of Amboise (March 19, 1563) and

Bthe outbreak of the ' Second Troubles ' in September 1567,
there was a period of more than four years of ostensible pacifica-
tion, during which Catherine de Medici succeeded in rnain-
taining her position, playing off against each other the two
Catholic factions headed by the old Constable Montmorency
and the Cardinal of Lorraine, who had succeeded his murdered
brother as the head of the house of Guise. She persuaded
both that her policy was definitely anti-Protestant, as most
undoubtedly it was, and so held them back from open attacks
upon her predominance----which was now screened by the
arrival of her son Charles IX at the year of his nominal majority.
But the young King was really still at her disposition-it was
only some time later that he began to show signs of an ill-
regulated desire to assert his own personality. During the
four years of nominal peace the concessions made to the
Huguenots were very imperfectly observed, and provocative
incidents were continually vexing them. But their main appre
hension carne from the ostentatiou s friendship which Catherine
was displaying for Philip of Spain, the husband of her eldest
daughter. And if they had known all that was discussed
between the Queen-Dowager and the Duke of Alva at the
conferences at Bayonne, they would have found all their
suspicions confirmed. The passage of Alva's army alongthe
frontier of France, through Savoy, Bresse, and the Franche
Comt in 1567, seems to have been the final cause of the second
Protestant rising, which had as its object nothing less thanto
kidnap the young King, then at Meaux with his court, andto
get possession of his person and his authority. One is reminded
of the Conspiracy of Amboise of seven years before.
On Michaelmas Day 1567, Cond and Coligny, having
secretly collected 500 gentlemen of their party, tried to surprise
4Z4
1567] MONTMORENCY ATTACKS STo DENIS 425
thecourt, but were foiled by the arrival at Meaux of a body of
5000 Swiss,newly hired by the Queen, who escorted Charles IX,
hismother, and his brothers into Paris. But the kidnapping
plotwas only part of their plans-on the same day Huguenot
bandstook possession of Orleans, Auxerre, Vienne, Valence,
Nlmes,Montpellier, and Montaubon. Civil war had broken
outagain, and from many directions small bands of cavalry
fiockedin to join Cond before the walls of Paris, to whose
gateshe had pursued the King and his Swiss escort.
On October 2, Cond established his headquarters at
St.Denis, waiting for reinforcements, while the old Constable,
whohad assumed command of the Royalists, kept quiet
withinthe walls of Paris with the same object. A whole month
was spent in this curious deadlock; meanwhile sporadic
fightingof a minor sort went on all over France, and absorbed
a great part of the succours which each side was expecting.
Al! through October vain negotiations went on-the Huguenots
demandingsincere compliance with the terms of the old treaty
of 1563, and many additional concessions, such as equal
partitionof office between members of the two religions, and
theexpulsion of the Queen's ltalian favourites and ministers.
Al! this was purely dilatory-they were really waiting for the
arrivalof a large corps of German reiters, which was being
raisedfor them by their zealous co-religionist the Elector
Palatine,and was due to arrive about Christmas. The Con-
stablewas equally inclined to await the approach of a Spanish
contingentfrom Flanders, which Alva had promised him.
Presuming too much on the procrastination of the old
Constable,Cond began to spread his none too numerous force
a11 round Paris, detaching Coligny's brother Dandelot with
800 horse and 2000 foot to the other bank of the Seine, to a
distancefrom which they could not easily be recalled, and
anotherforce under Montgomery 1 to seize Pontoise, the key
ofthe Isle-de-France.
Hearing of this, and urged to do something by the en-
thusiasticmob of Paris-always fanatical1y Catholic-the
Constablesuddenly marched out, on November IO, from the
northerngates of the city against the enemy's headquarters at
St.Denis,intending to take Cond by surprise-as in a way he
did. For though the Huguenot prince had time to get his
troopsinto battle-array, he had no chance of recalling Dandelot,
1 The involuntary slayer of Henry II at the famous tournament of 1559.
426 THE WARS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY [NOV. 10

much less Montgomery. But Cond nevertheless resolved lo

fight-he was always rash in the extreme, full of over-confid-
ence, and thinking too much of his own prestige. He had an
intellectual conternpt for the old Constable, and a great belief
in his own dexterity, and in the invincible courage of the noblesse
which followed him. As La N oue remarks, we may sornetims
admire the pluck of a general, while seeing that hewas attempting
the impossible.
Although he had under his hand at the moment no more
than some 1$00 of his cavalry, and little over 2000 foot,' Cond
refused to move when the Constable carne out against him.
His outposts were in front of Sto Ouen and Aubervilliers, his
main body lodged in Sto Denis. On the approach of the enemy
he took up a prepared position. The cavalry were in three
equal bodies-one under Coligny by Sto Ouen, with a trench
filled with arquebusiers covering its right or outer flank; the
Prince himself, with the centre, was deployed in front of
Sto Denis; the left wing, under Genlis, was drawn up beside
Aubervilliers, flanked by a trench of arquebusiers on its Ief~
just as Coligny's squadron was on the outer flank. These two
bodies of ' shot ' were of no more than 400 men apiece. The
poor remainder of Cond's infantry, 1000 pikes and a few
arquebusiers, was drawn up far to the rear, in front of Sto Denis'
The Prince's resolve was to allow the enemy to come up on
to his chosen ground, and to charge in, when they should find
themselves surprised by the unexpected fire of his hidden
arquebusiers. His force was so small that he arrayed rus
cavalry en haye in the old style-not that he did not knowof
the advantages of a deeper order, says La N oue, but simply
because it was necessary to make a long front, in order to cover
the broad space between Sto Ouen and Aubervilliers.
The royalist army took an unconscionable time in emerging
from the Porte Sto Denis and Porte Sto Martin, and forming up
outside the walls of Paris, for the long march across the wasle
fields and market-gardens, which are now covered by the sordid
streets of the 'Banlieu.' Montmartre and its church wereon
the left of the army, which was drawn up for a linear attackon
Sto Ouen, Sto Denis, and Aubervilliers, where the enemy were

1 La Noue gives even smaller tigures-only about 1000 of each armo M_n.
p.888.
2 It is curious that the Tavannes Memoirs mention this, when so many bene
authorities do noto But undoubtedly the fact is correcto
156,] ARRA Y OF MONTMORENCY'S ARMY 427
mown to lie. The Constable had arrayed his army in a long
&ent,with four masses of infantry in column; in the gaps in
&entof them and on their outer ftanks were placed his cavalry
afivedivisions. The right-hand infantry column was composed
ofFrenchfoot under the Duke of Montpensier, with companies
ri horseunder Biron on its outer, and under the Marshal de
Coss, on its inner ftank. N ext to the left were the 5000
wiss, who were in charge of the artillery, which was drawn out
11 a single line, and opened a distant fire on Genlis's troops
lear the village of Aubervilliers. Beyond the Swiss, in the
rightcentre, were companies of gendarmerie under the Marshal

A.A. HugenotArqveb=ers
B. H.genot Infantr!l Res
C. Montpsnsiu-
O.TheSwiss
E. The Morshol
F The Constobl.
G.longlJeville & Sonsve
H Pars Mil/tia

BATTLE OF STo
DENIS, NOVEMBER
10, 1567.

ontmorency,the old Constable's eldest son. Next to them

theleft centre, were two regiments of French infantry under
zziand Brissac, beyond whom rode the Constable himself
lith his own compagnz"es d'ordonnance. Behind him was the
at body of Paris militia infantry. Finally, forming the ex-
mneleft wing, were companies of heavy and light horse under
Sansac and the Duke of Longueville, facing toward St. Ouen,
Therewere small cavalry reserves-one under D'Aumle,
dIe younger Guise, behind the right wing, and the other under
Darnville, the Constable's second son, behind the left.
Theadvance of such a long array over ground not entirely
fiel,and with one or two groups of houses in its centre, was
DeCessarily very slow, and it was afternoon before the armies
428 THE WARS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY [NOV. 10

carne into active collision, when the royalist horse on the

extreme left and right wings attempted to circle round and
outflank the stationary Huguenot squadrons of Coligny and
Genlis. The horsemen of the latter suffered some loss from
distant artillery fire. But in each case the Catholics fell into
the trap, and were received at fifty yards distance by smashing
arquebus volleys, from the hidden marksmen in the trenches,
which threw them into disorder. Coligny and Genlis charged
at once, and drove their assailants in disorder back against
their infantry-Montpensier's column on the royalist right,
the Paris militia on the left. The former closed up, held firm,
and were soon relieved by de Coss's horse, so that Genlis was
completely checked. But the Parisians mixed with the flying
cavalry, gave back and retreated in the direction of Montmartre.
Seeing his flank corps successfully engaged, Cond then
charged with his central body of horse against the Constable's
gendarmes, and broke them. The old commander-in-chief
was fighting-as at Dreux-in his own front line, though he
was now seventy-four. He was ridden down and summoned to
surrender by a Scottish adventurer, Robert Stuart," to whomhe
replied by a buffet with his sword-hilt which knocked out three
of the Scot's front teeth. The answer was a pistol-bullet in
the side, which inflicted a mortal wound. Cond's men were
making havoc with the Constable's followers, when they were
charged in flank by the companies of the Marshal de Mont-
morency, who carne diagonally from the right, too late to save
his father, but in time to pick up his bleeding body, which was
borne to the rear. A furious cavalry mele followed in the
centre, in which neither party had much advantage; but
Cond was finally compelled to give the signal for retreat,
because his left wing under Genlis had failed in its attack on
Montpensier, and had then been overpowered by Aumle's
companies of gendarmerie from the reserve and Biron's rallied
squadrons. Coligny on the right, who had got far into the
rear of the central fighting, and become engaged with Dam-
ville's companies from the reserve, had to cut his way backward
through the rear of the royalist cavalry, but got off without
much loss, save among the arquebusiers who had served himso
well at the beginning of the fight. Damville is said to have
shown little spirit in pursuing him.
1 The same man who is said to have shot the President Minard for burning Anne
du Bourg, the Huguenot judge, eight years back.
1567] ARRA Y OF MONTMORENCY'S ARMY 427

known to lie. The Constable had arrayed his army in a long

front, with four masses of infantry in column; in the gaps in
front of them and on their outer flanks were placed his cavalry
infive divisions. The right-hand infantry column was composed
ofFrench foot under the Duke of Montpensier, with companies
of horse under Biron on its outer, and under the Marshal de
Coss, on its inner flank. N ext to the left were the 5000
Swiss,who were in charge of the artillery, which was drawn out
in a single line, and opened a distant fire on Genlis's troops
near the village of Aubervilliers. Beyond the Swiss, in the
right centre, were companies of gendarmerie under the Marshal

Soale oOefiles
o 1

BATTLE OF STo
DENIS, NOVEMBER
IO, 1567.

Montmorency, the old Constable's eldest son. N ext to them

inthe left centre, were two regiments of French infantry under
Strozziand Brissac, beyond whom rode the Constable himself
withhis own compagnies d'ordonnance. Behind him was the
great body of Paris militia infantry. Finally, forming the ex-
tremeleft wing, were companies of heavy and light horse under
Sansac and the Duke of Longueville, facing toward Sto Ouen.
There were small cavalry reserves-one under D'Aumle,
theyounger Guise, behind the right wing, and the other under
Damville, the Constable's second son, behind the left.
The advance of such a long array over ground not entirely
level,and with one or two groups of houses in its centre, was
necessarily very slow, and it was afternoon before the armies
428 THE WARS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY [NOV. 10

carne into active collision, when the royalist horse on the

extreme left and right wings attempted to circle round and
outflank the stationary Huguenot squadrons of Coligny and
Genlis. The horsemen of the latter suffered some loss from
distant artillery fire. But in each case the Catholics fell into
the trap, and were received at fifty yards distance by smashing
arquebus volleys, from the hidden marksmen in the trenches,
which threw them into disorder. Coligny and Genlis charged
at once, and drove their assailants in disorder back against
their infantry-Montpensier's column on the royalist right,
the Paris militia on the left. The former closed up, held firm,
and were soon relieved by de Coss's horse, so that Genlis was
completely checked. But the Parisians mixed with the flying
cavalry, gave back and retreated in the direction of Montmartre.
Seeing his flank corps successfully engaged, Cond then
charged with his central body of horse against the Constable's
gendarmes, and broke them. The old commander-in-chief
was fighting-as at Dreux-in his own front line, though he
was now seventy-four. He was ridden down and summoned to
surrender by a Scottish adventurer, Robert Stuart," to whomhe
replied by a buffet with his sword-hilt which knocked out three
of the Scot's front teeth. The answer was a pistol-bullet in
the side, which inflicted a mortal wound. Cond's men were
making havoc with the Constable's followers, when they were
charged in flank by the companies of the Marshal de Mont-
morency, who carne diagonally from the right, too late to save
his father, but in time to pick up his bleeding body, which was
borne to the rear. A furious cavalry mele followed in the
centre, in which neither party had much advantage; but
Cond was finally compelled to give the signal for retreat,
because his left wing under Genlis had failed in its attack on
Montpensier, and had then been overpowered by Aumle's
companies of gendarmerie from the reserve and Biron's rallied
squadrons. Coligny on the right, who had got far into the
rear of the central fighting, and become engaged with Dam-
ville's companies from the reserve, had to cut his way backward
through the rear of the royalist cavalry, but got off without
much loss, save among the arquebusiers who had served himso
well at the beginning of the fight. Damville is said to have
shown little spirit in pursuing him.
1 The same man who is said to have shot the President Minard for burning Anne
du Bourg, the Huguenot judge, eight years back.
1567] RETREAT OF THE HUGUENOTS 429

Al! the three H uguenot corps rallied on their small clump

ofpikes in front of St. Denis, and were not pursued. The
wholeaffair had taken only three-quarters of an hour, but dusk
wasbeginning to fall, and the Catholics, deprived of their
commander-in-chief, did not reorganize themselves for a new
advance,and drew up on the battlefield. They were contented
lohave won a technical victory, and to have the corpses of
!heslain, and a certain amount of captured standards. The
lossesof their cavalry were certainly no less than those of the
Huguenots; their infantry had hardly been engaged.!
This was amad exploit on the part of Cond and his men-
~uiteunjustifiable but attended with no ruinous results. It is
sidthat the Turkish ambassador, who had watched the fight
Iromthe height of Montmartre, exclaimed to those about him
iliat' if his master the Sultan had only a thousand of those
'whitecoats " to put at the head of each of his armies, he could
~comemaster of the whole universe.' 2 Certainly the moral
:esultof the fight was to inspire the Royalists with a wholesome
readof the H uguenot horse. N ext day Cond, having been
~joinedby Dandelot and his corps, offered battle outside the
atesof Paris, and burned the village of La Chapelle and a-
amberof windmills.
No enemy carne out against him-the excuse given being
:hatal! the royalist generals were gathered around the death-
:ro of the old Constable, who expired on November 12. In
zality they were disputing among themselves for the succession
D his command-in-chief-which was claimed not only by his
~nthe Marshal Montmorency, but by several others. The
~een-Dowager adroitly turned their rivalry to her own profit,
yappointing the King's younger brother Henry, Duke of
.\njou,as ' lieutenant-general of the kingdom,' though he was
mlyseventeen years of age. He was her favourite child, the
nlyone for whom she showed any real affection, her other
snsand daughters being little more than pawns in her game.
~ngCharles was showing some signs of becoming restive, but
asstill reduced to subjection, whenever she exercised her
ell-triedascendency over him.
In spite of his reckless display of courage at Sto Denis,

'The Huguenot casualties included the Counts of Sault and Suse, and Picquiny,
Vidame of Amiens. The Catholics, beside the Constable, lost the Count of
.lAvannes and d'Anton, the Constable's nephew.
'D'Aubign, i. p. 307.
430 THE WARS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY [MAR.2J

Cond was beginning to grow anxious as to his position. The

reinforcements which he was expecting from the south hadnO!
turned up, and it was obvious that he could not blockade Paro
with 6000 men, more especially as Spanish troops sent by Alva
were on their way. The only hope was to move east, andjoin
the large German force which the Elector Palatine was raising
for him on the Rhine. On N ovember 4, only four days after
the battle, Con d decamped, and after marching first to
Montereau, where he picked up the levies from Poitou and
Orleans, which had failed to join him before Paris, moved slowl
through Champagne and Lorraine, living on the hostile
countryside. The royalist army followed him with caution,
and could not prevent his junction with the Germans at Pont-
Mousson soon after the N ew Year of 1568.1 Being once moreat
the head of an army strong enough to seek battle, Cond turned
east and laid siege to Chartres, before whose walls he was joined
by a great body of Gascon and other south-country Huguenots,
who had hitherto been fighting their own campaign on !he
Garonne (February 24).
Then followed one of the unexpected and insincere pacifio
.tions which make such frequent appearance in the annals~
the Wars of Religion. The Queen offered the H uguenots al
that they could ask-the restoration of the Treaty of Amboise
and the removal of all restrictions which had been made sine!
its ratification. She feared a general action, though the
Catholic army was now in great force, and fell back on intrigue
-hoping to resume her old policy when once the rebels shoulC
have dispersed, and have sent home their formidable German
auxiliaries. The terms were too tempting to be refused, and
were duly accepted, though Coligny warned his friends that
they would not be carried out honestly. Hence the PeacerJ.
Longjumeau, signed on March 23, 1568, which ended ta
, Second Time of Troubles.'
So closed a campaign mainly to be remembered by the
astonishing battle of St. Denis, where 3500 Huguenots fought
an army of five times their own strength, without suffering th!
destruction that Cond's reckless courage had well eamed.
It is, of course, one more testimony to the power of the cavalr
arm in these days-and (we may add) to the extraordinar
1 The Germans are said, probably with exaggeration, to have numbered no ls

than 8000 horse. This seems an incredible figure, but no doubt the force was ve
large, as it terrified the Royalists.
1568] PEACE OF LONG]UMEAU 431

incapacity of the leaders on both sides, which we have already

marked at Dreux. At the fight in 1562 Cond had at least
some chance of victory, which he threw away; at Sto Denis
there could be none whatever, considering the odds. The
younger Tavannes, compiling the memoirs of his father long
after the wars were over, hazards the opinion that Cond was
only intending to deliver a sharp blow, and then to draw off,
without pushing things to extremes. Their dispositions, he says,
I montrent qui'ils pensaient bien a la retraite.' But it is
doubtful whether the headstrong Cond had any such subtle
intentions. He exposed himself to dangers which should have
provedfatal, if the enemy had any tactical skill whatever. His
psychology must be studied with reference both to Dreux and
lo Jarnac.