A.D. 1241.] DEFEAT OF HENRY III. AT TAILLEBOURG. * 377 but it would be tedious to enter into the particulars of his habiliments. I have heard several persons declare, that they never before saw at any feast so many surcoate and other dresses of cloth of gold as at this. After this feast, the king conducted the count of Poitiers to that city, to recover the fiefs and lordships. It happened immediately after the king's arrival there, that the count de la Marche, who had even dined at the king's table at Saumur, secretly assembled a large body of men-at-arms to wage war against the king until he should gain his object, and kept himself at Luedgnan near to Poitiers. The good king wished to have been in Paris, but he was forced to remain at Poitiers fifteen days without daring to venture beyond its walls. It was said that the king and the count of Poitiers had made a disadvantageous peace with the count de la Marche. It was necessary, therefore, for the king, in order to make up matters with the count de la Marche, to hold a parley with him and the dowager queen of England his wife, mother to the monarch on the throne. It was not long after the king was returned from Poitiers to Paris, that the king of England and the count de la Marche united together to make war on good St Louis, and to collect as large a body of men-at-arms as they could. They assembled in Gasoony, before the castle of Taillebourg, which is situated on a dangerous river called the Charente, near which there was only one narrow stone bridge that could be passed over. King Louis, on hearing this, marched an army against them towards Taillebourg ; and his men no sooner saw the host of the enemy, who had the castle of Taillebourg on their side, than with great peril they hastened to cross the bridge, and others passed over the river in boats, and began to charge the English. Heavy blows were given on each side» which the good king beholding, he with much danger joined them : indeed, the risk was very considerable, for the English were more numerous than the French who passed the river, by one hundred to one. Notwithstanding this superiority, when the English found that the king of France had crossed the river, they took fright, as it seemed God willed, and made for the city of Saintes, which they entered. It happened in the confusioni