at this point temporarily to resign the command to d’Estonteville, a ferocious soldier, who led the predatory army as far as Niewport, burning, killing, ravishing, plundering, as they went.  Meantime Philip, who was at Brussels, had directed the Duke of Savoy to oppose the Due de Guise with an army which had been hastily collected and organized at Maubeuge, in the province of Namur.  He now desired, if possible, to attack and cut off the forces of De Thermes before he should extend the hand to Guise, or make good his retreat to Calais.

Flushed with victory over defenceless peasants, laden with the spoils of sacked and burning towns, the army of De Thermes was already on its homeward march.  It was the moment for a sudden and daring blow.  Whose arm should deal it?  What general in Philip’s army possessed the requisite promptness, and felicitous audacity; who, but the most brilliant of cavalry officers, the bold and rapid hero of St. Quentin?  Egmont, in obedience to the King’s command, threw himself at once into the field.  He hastily collected all the available forces in the neighborhood.  These, with drafts from the Duke of Savoy’s army, and with detachments under Marshal Bigonicourt from the garrisons of Saint Omer, Bethune, Aire, and Bourbourg, soon amounted to ten thousand foot and two thousand horse.  His numbers were still further swollen by large bands of peasantry, both men and women, maddened by their recent injuries, and thirsting for vengeance.  With these troops the energetic chieftain took up his position directly in the path of the French army.  Determined to destroy De Thermes with all his force, or to sacrifice himself, he posted his army at Gravelines, a small town lying near the sea-shore, and about midway between Calais and Dunkerk.  The French general was putting the finishing touch to his expedition by completing the conflagration at Dunkerk, and was moving homeward, when he became aware of the lion in his path.  Although suffering from severe sickness, he mounted his horse and personally conducted his army to Gravelines.  Here he found his progress completely arrested.  On that night, which was the 12th July, he held a council of officers.  It was determined to refuse the combat offered, and, if possible, to escape at low tide along the sands toward Calais.  The next morning he crossed the river Aa, below Gravelines.  Egmont, who was not the man, on that occasion at least, to build a golden bridge for a flying enemy, crossed the same stream just above the town, and drew up his whole force in battle array.  De Thermes could no longer avoid the conflict thus resolutely forced upon him.  Courage was now his only. counsellor.  Being not materially outnumbered by his adversaries, he had, at least, an even chance of cutting his way through all obstacles, and of saving his army and his treasure.  The sea was on his right hand, the Aa behind him, the enemy in front.  He piled his baggage and wagons so as to form a barricade upon his left, and placed his artillery, consisting of four culverines and three falconeta, in front.  Behind these he drew up his cavalry, supported at each side by the Gascons, and placed his French and German infantry in the rear.