Every man supped on what he could get to eat, and took up his lodging upon the ground. About midnight I went to the king’s quarters, where I found the gentlemen of his bed-chamber booted and spurred, and ready to mount on horseback. They acquainted me with the king’s resolution of retreating with all expedition towards Asti and the territories of the Marchioness of Montferrat; and desired me to stay behind and amuse the enemy with a treaty. I heartily thanked them for their love, told them I took no delight in being killed, and that I would be on horseback as soon as the best. Awhile after the king awaked; and, having heard mass, he mounted immediately. An hour before day one of our trumpeters sounded the watch, but when we marched off we made no use of our trumpets, nor, indeed, was it proper to do so: however, this silent stealing away in the night was enough to have discouraged the whole army, especially those who knew what it meant; for we turned our back upon the enemy, and consulted nothing but our safety, which in an army is of dangerous consequence. Besides, at our first decampment we had very difficult marching; for the ways were deep and woody, and, having no guides, we lost ourselves several times. I heard the soldiers call for guides to their ensigns; but the master of the horse and all of them answered there were none: but we had no need of any, for God had conducted us thither, and (as Friar Jerome said) He would carry us back again; otherwise it could not have been supposed that so great a prince would have marched in the night without a guide, where so many might have been had. Besides, God gave us a greater evidence than this of His immediate protection; for the enemy perceived nothing of our decampment till noon the next day, as they still depended upon the treaty which I had set on foot: and then the river was so swollen, it was past four in the afternoon before any durst venture over to pursue us. The first that passed was the Count di Cajazzo, with two hundred Italian light horse, but the current was so strong, they passed in a great deal of danger, and, as I was told afterwards, one or two men were drowned.