Philip Nassau galloped cheerfully forward; according to the well-concerted plan, sending Cutler and Marcellus Bax with a handful of troopers to pounce upon the enemy’s pickets.  When those officers got to the usual foraging ground they, came upon a much larger cavalry force than they had looked for; and, suspecting something wrong; dashed back—­again to give information to Count Philip.  That impatient commander, feeling sure of his game unless this foolish delay should give the foraging companies time to, escape; ordered an immediate advance with his whole cavalry force:  The sheriff of Zallant was ordered to lead the way.  He objected that the pass, leading through a narrow lane and opening by a gate into an open field, was impassable for more than two troopers abreast; and that the enemy was in force beyond.  Philips scorning these words of caution, and exclaiming that seventy-five lancers were enough to put fifty carabineers to rout; put on his casque, drew his sword; and sending his brother Lewis to summon Kinski and Donck; dashed into the pass, accompanied by the two counts and, a couple of other nobles.  The sheriff, seeing this, followed him at full gallop; and after him came the troopers of Barchon, of Du Bois, and of Paul Bax; riding single file but in much disorder.  When they had all entered inextricably into the lane, with the foremost of the lancers already passing through the gate, they discovered the enemy’s cavalry and infantry drawn up in force upon the watery, heathery pastures beyond.  There was at once a scene of confusion.  To use lances was impossible, while they were all struggling together through the narrow passage offering themselves an easy prey to the enemy as they slowly emerged into the gelds.  The foremost defended themselves with sabre and pistol as well as they could.  The hindmost did their best to escape, and rode for their lives to the other side of the river.  All trampled upon each other and impeded each other’s movements.  There was a brief engagement, bloody, desperate, hand to hand, and many Spaniards fell before the entrapped Netherlanders.  But there could not be a moment’s doubt as to the issue.  Count Philip went down in the beginning of the action, shot through the body by an arquebus, discharged so close to him that his clothes were set on fire.  As there was no water within reach the flames could be extinguished at last only by rolling him over, and over, wounded as he was, among the sand and heather.  Count Ernest Solms was desperately wounded at the same time.  For a moment both gentlemen attempted to effect their escape by mounting on one horse, but both fell to the ground exhausted and were taken prisoners.  Ernest Nassau was also captured.  His young brother, Lewis Gunther, saved himself by swimming the river.  Count Kinski was mortally wounded.  Robert Vere, too, fell into the enemy’s hands, and was afterwards murdered in cold blood.  Marcellus Bax, who had returned to the field by a circuitous