John were mustered at Marche in Luxemburg; those of the states in a plain
within a few miles of Namur. Both armies were nearly equal in number,
amounting to nearly twenty thousand each, including a force of two
thousand cavalry on each side. It had been the original intention of the
patriots to attack Don John in Namur. Having learned, however, that he
purposed marching forth himself to offer battle, they decided to fall
back upon Gemblours, which was nine miles distant from that city. On the
last day of January, they accordingly broke up their camp at Saint
Martius, before dawn, and marched towards Gemblours. The chief commander
was De Goignies, an old soldier of Charles the Fifth, who had also fought
at Saint Quintin. The states' army was disposed in three divisions. The
van consisted of the infantry regiments of De Heze and Montigny, flanked
by a protective body of light horse. The centre, composed of the Walloon
and German regiments, with a few companies of French, and thirteen
companies of Scotch and English under Colonel Balfour, was commanded by
two most distinguished officers, Bossu and Champagny. The rear, which,
of course, was the post of responsibility and honor, comprised all the
heavy cavalry, and was commanded by Philip Egmont and Lumey de la Marck.
The Marquis Havre and the General-in-chief, Goignies, rode to and fro,
as the army proceeded, each attended by his staff. The troops of Don
John broke up from before Namur with the earliest dawn, and marched in
pursuit of the retiring foe. In front was nearly the whole of the
cavalry-carabineers, lancers, and heavy dragoons. The centre, arranged
in two squares, consisted chiefly of Spanish infantry, with a lesser
number of Germans. In the rear came the Walloons, marching also in a
square, and protecting the baggage and ammunition. Charles Mansfeld had
been left behind with a reserved force, stationed on the Meuse; Ottavio
Gonzaga commanded in front, Ernest Mansfeld brought up the rear; while in
the centre rode Don John himself, attended by the Prince of Parma. Over
his head streamed the crucifix-emblazoned banner, with its memorable