for the affault, and they did their duty fo welt that few dared to appear on? the battlements. Ernautonde Batefol was at the gate where the at-tack was the fharpeft, performing fuch wonders itr arms that the French knights cried out,—' Here is a fquire of great valour, who becomes his arms well, and makes excellent ufe of them : it would not be amifs to treat with him to furrender the caftle, and feek his fortune elfewhere : let him be informed, that if fir Walter de Paflac conquer it by ftorm, no power on earth can fave him*; for he has fworn to be put to death, or have hanged, all whom he may find in any caftle or fort.f The fé-néschal de Touloufe then charged a fquire from Gafcony, named William Aliedel, who was well acquainted with Ernauton, they having formerly borne arms together, to talk with him on thé fubject He willingly undertook it ; for he would have been very forry if Ernauton had fuffered lofs of honour or death, as other things could be remedied. William ftepped forward, and • made figns to* Ernauton that he wanted to fpeak to him on what nearly concerned him, to which his friend affent-ed ; and the affault was at that place difconti^ nued, though not elfewhere. * Ernauton,' faid William, € you are riiking too mucin our leaders have compafiion on you, and fend me to tell you* that ihould you be taken, fir Walter de Paflac has ftrictly ordered you to be instantly put to death, as he has done to thofe who ' were in St, Forget, It is, therefore, much better for yon to furrender the place, as I would advife, than to wait the X 9 '• event j 309 • •