Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
The next attempt of the Protestant forces was upon St. Secondo, which they attacked
with great vigor, but met with a strong resistance from the Roman Catholic troops, who had
fortified the streets and planted themselves in the houses, from whence they poured musket
balls in prodigious numbers. The Protestants, however, advanced, under cover of a great
number of planks, which some held over their heads, to secure them from the shots of the
enemy from the houses, while others kept up a well-directed fire; so that the houses and
entrenchments were soon forced, and the town taken.
In the town they found a prodigious quantity of plunder, which had been taken from
Protestants at various times, and different places, and which were stored up in the
warehouses, churches, dwelling houses, etc. This they removed to a place of safety, to be
distributed, with as much justice as possible, among the sufferers.
This successful attack was made with such skill and spirit that it cost very little to the
conquering party, the Protestants having only seventeen killed, and twenty-six wounded;
while the papists suffered a loss of no less than four hundred and fifty killed, and five
hundred and eleven wounded.
Five Protestant officers, viz., Gianavel, Jahier, Laurentio, Genolet and Benet, laid a plan
to surprise Biqueras. To this end they marched in five respective bodies, and by agreement
were to make the attack at the same time. The captains, Jahier and Laurentio, passed through
two defiles in the woods, and came to the place in safety, under covert; but the other three
bodies made their approaches through an open country, and, consequently, were more
exposed to an attack.
The Roman Catholics taking the alarm, a great number of troops were sent to relieve
Biqueras from Cavors, Bibiana, Feline, Campiglione, and some other neighboring places.
When these were united, they determined to attack the three Protestant parties, that were
marching through the open country.
The Protestant officers perceiving the intent of the enemy, and not being at a great
distance from each other, joined forces with the utmost expedition, and formed themselves
in order of battle.
In the meantime, the captains, Jahier and Laurentio, had assaulted the town of Biqueras,
and burnt all the out houses, to make their approaches with the greater ease; but not being
supported as they expected by the other three Protestant captains, they sent a messenger, on
a swift horse, towards the open country, to inquire the reason. The messenger soon returned
and informed them that it was not in the power of the three Protestant captains to support
their proceedings, as they were themselves attacked by a very superior force in the plain, and
could scarce sustain the unequal conflict.
The captains, Jahier and Laurentio, on receiving this intelligence, determined to
discontinue the assault on Biqueras, and to proceed, with all possible expedition, to the relief
of their friends on the plain. This design proved to be of the most essential service, for just
as they arrived at the spot where the two armies were engaged, the papist troops began to
prevail, and were on the point of flanking the left wing, commanded by Captain Gianavel.
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