THE CONFEDERATES REPULSED. 3l

landed at Bordeaux, and prepared for hostilities,
At first, the contederates were contident of succeed-
ing in their ebjects; but, ere long, they discovered
that they had mistaken their position, and the
character of the prince whom they were defying.

In tact, Louis soon proved that he was no ‘ carpet
knight.’ Assembling an army, he buckled on his
mail, mounted his charger; and placing himself at
the head of his forces, marched to encounter his
enemies. Reaching the banks of the Charente, he
offered the confederates battle, near the bridge of
Taillebourg; but his challenge was not accepted.
By this time the confederates had lost faith in their
enterprise ; and while De la Marche was meditating a
reconciliation with Louis, Henry, accusing the count
of having deceived, and being about to betray, him,
retreated precipitately, and never drew rein till he
reached the village of Saintonge.

But Louis was unwilling to allow his royal foe to
escape so easily. Nor, indeed, could Henry without
reluctance fly from the peril he had provoked. At
all events, on reaching Saintonge, the English turned
to bay, and a battle began. But the odds were
overwhelming; and, though the Anglo-Norman barons
fought with characteristic courage, they were speedily
worsted, and under the necessity of making for
Bordeaux.

From the day on which this battle was fought, it
was no longer doubtful that Louis was quite able to
hold his own; and neither foreign kings nor conti-
nental counts cared to disturb his government or
deity his power. In fact, the fame of the King of