Already I have every reason to congratulate myself upon having, almost as it were by chance, taken him under my protection." The winter passed quietly, but as soon as spring set in and the roads were sufficiently good for the passage of wagons, d'Harcourt prepared to attempt to raise the siege of Casale, before which Leganez with twenty thousand men had intrenched himself.

The roads were still, however, far too heavy for cannon, and as the garrison were becoming hardly pressed he left his guns behind him and started at the end of April with seven thousand foot and three thousand horse.

The position occupied by the Spaniards was a strong one, and their general did not for a moment think that the French, with a force half the strength of his own, would venture to attack him.

D'Harcourt, however, resolved upon doing so.

He divided his force into three parts; two of these were composed of French soldiers, the third comprised the forces of the Duchess of Savoy.