The Swiss behaved with the utmost courage, and charged the main body and reserve of the French with an impetuosity that astonished them, in the hopes of succeeding as they had before done at Novara. The artillery of the French was not asleep, and the Swiss made an attempt to seize it, but were repulsed with much loss,--for not a cannon was fired without killing numbers of them. This battle lasted until the going down of the sun,--and both sides fought as long as the dust and light allowed them to see each other. Some, thinking to retire to their own camp, found themselves in that of the enemy; but what caused great confusion was the Swiss shouting out 'France, France!' and then attacking the French. The night was not long. The king was constantly with his men, giving them every sort of encouragement, by words and example. He was particularly anxious about his artillery, which was well guarded by a party of Lansquenets. Having visited the different divisions of his army, he reposed himself in his armour, on the carriage of a cannon; and I may with truth assert, that if the king had not been present at this engagement the French would have had more than enough to do. On the morrow, the 14th of September, in the year 1515, and the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Swiss, enraged against the French, advanced on them by day-break (notwithstanding their loss on the preceding night had been more than they supposed) with an eagerness as if they had been going to a dance, and made their charge with valour and steadiness. The conflict was long and doubtful; but the king's artillery, where he was in person, did the greatest service, particularly on a strong body that kept firmly united until their losses were so considerable, the remainder turned their backs, and fled for Milan. The other divisions of the Swiss made now little resistance; and to make short of the matter, all that remained were put to death, or taken prisoners; and had not the dust been great, fewer would have escaped,--for it was so thick they could not see many yards before them[63]. The heat that day was very oppressive; and the king and his lords suffered greatly from thirst, for there was no water near that was pure,--for all the springs and streams were discoloured with blood, of which, nevertheless, they were forced to drink; at length, some clear water was brought them. The king was as much rejoiced that the Swiss had renewed the battle, on the following day, as a huntsman when he lays blinkes in the chace of a stag. The Swiss left full sixteen thousand dead on the field, who did not lose their lives like children, but as men of true courage; and all the roads toward Milan and Como were full of those who in their flight had died of the wounds they had received in battle.