Egmont, on the other hand, divided his cavalry into five squadrons.  Three of light horse were placed in advance for the first assault—­the centre commanded by himself, the two wings by Count Pontenals and Henrico Henriquez.  The black hussars of Lazarus Schwendi and the Flemish gendarmes came next.  Behind these was the infantry, divided into three nations, Spanish, German, and Flemish, and respectively commanded by Carvajal, Monchausen, and Bignicourt.  Egmont, having characteristically selected the post of danger in the very front of battle for himself, could no longer restrain his impatience.  “The foe is ours already,” he shouted; “follow me, all who love their fatherland:”  With that he set spurs to his horse, and having his own regiment well in hand, dashed upon the enemy.  The Gascons received the charge with coolness, and under cover of a murderous fire from the artillery in front, which mowed down the foremost ranks of their assailants-sustained the whole weight of the first onset without flinching.  Egmont’s horse was shot under him at the commencement of the action.  Mounting another, he again cheered his cavalry to the attack.  The Gascons still maintained an unwavering front, and fought with characteristic ferocity.  The courage of despair inflamed the French, the hope of a brilliant and conclusive victory excited the Spaniards and Flemings.  It was a wild, hand to hand conflict—­general and soldier, cavalier and pikeman, lancer and musketeer, mingled together in one dark, confused, and struggling mass, foot to foot, breast to breast, horse to horse-a fierce, tumultuous battle on the sands, worthy the fitful pencil of the national painter, Wouvermans.  For a long time it was doubtful on which side victory was to incline, but at last ten English vessels unexpectedly appeared in the offing, and ranging up soon afterwards as close to the share as was possible, opened their fire upon the still unbroken lines of the French.  The ships were too distant, the danger of injuring friend as well as foe too imminent, to allow of their exerting any important influence upon the result.  The spirit of the enemy was broken, however, by this attack upon their seaward side, which they had thought impregnable.  At the same time, too, a detachment of German cavalry which had been directed by Egmont to make their way under the downs to the southward, now succeeded in turning their left flank.  Egmont, profiting by their confusion, charged them again with redoubled vigor.  The fate of the day was decided.  The French cavalry wavered, broke their ranks, and in their flight carried dismay throughout the whole army.  The rout was total; horse and foot; French, Gascon, and German fled from the field together.  Fifteen hundred fell in the action, as many more were driven into the sea, while great numbers were torn to pieces by the exasperated peasants, who now eagerly washed out their recent injuries in the blood of the dispersed, wandering, and wounded soldiers.  The army of