I return from this digression to the siege of Dourlens.  The death of La Motte made no difference in the plans of Fuentes.  He was determined to reduce the place preparatively to more important operations.  Bouillon was disposed to relieve it, and to that end had assembled a force of eight thousand men within the city of Amiens.  By midsummer the Spaniards had advanced with their mines and galleries close to the walls of the city.  Meantime Admiral Villars, who had gained so much renown by defending Rouen against Henry iv., and who had subsequently made such an excellent bargain with that monarch before entering his service, arrived at Amiens.  On the 24th July an expedition was sent from that city towards Dourlens.  Bouillon and St. Pol commanded in person a force of six hundred picked cavalry.  Pillars and Sanseval each led half as many, and there was a supporting body of twelve hundred musketeers.  This little army convoyed a train of wagons, containing ammunition and other supplies for the beleaguered town.  But Fuentes, having sufficiently strengthened his works, sallied forth with two thousand infantry, and a flying squadron of Spanish horse, to intercept them.  It was the eve of St. James, the patron saint of Spain, at the sound, of whose name as a war-cry so many battle-fields had been won in the Netherlands, so many cities sacked, so many wholesale massacres perpetrated.  Fuentes rode in the midst of his troops with the royal standard of Spain floating above him.  On the other hand Yillars, glittering in magnificent armour and mounted on a superbly caparisoned charger came on, with his three hundred troopers, as if about to ride a course in a tournament.  The battle which ensued was one of the most bloody for the numbers engaged, and the victory one of the most decisive recorded in this war.  Villars charged prematurely, furiously, foolishly.  He seemed jealous of Bouillon, and disposed to show the sovereign to whom he had so recently given his allegiance that an ancient Leaguer and Papist was a better soldier for his purpose than the most grizzled Huguenot in his army.  On the other hand the friends of Villars accused the duke of faintheartedness, or at least of an excessive desire to save himself and his own command.  The first impetuous onset of the admiral was successful, and he drove half-a-dozen companies of Spaniards before him.  But he had ventured too far from his supports.  Bouillon had only intended a feint, instead of a desperate charge; the Spaniards were rallied, and the day was saved by that cool and ready soldier, Carlos Coloma.  In less than an hour the French were utterly defeated and cut to pieces.  Bouillon escaped to Amiens with five hundred men; this was all that was left of the expedition.  The horse of Villars was shot under him and the admiral’s leg was broken as he fell.  He was then taken prisoner by two lieutenants of Carlos Coloma; but while these warriors were enjoying, by anticipation, the enormous ransom they should derive