3fj2 r.or.Kit OF WKKDOVKK. [Λ.». 121ÎÎ. it belonged to Jiim by old right; Louis then asked the adviee of the French knights on the matter, who told him that tho Knglish were not worthy of holding charge of such places, as they were traitors to their own sovereign. On this Louis tolti the aforesaid Robert to wait patiently till the. kingdom was subdued, when he would give every one his eights. In the same year on the day of St. Catherine the virgin and martyr, the noble William d'Albiney was released from prison, after paying it fine of six thousand marks for his ransom ; he then did homage to king Henry, who delivered into his custody the castle of Lafort, which he vigorously maintained. Capture of the castle of fierkhampslead. After reducing the castle of Hertford, as above-mentioned, Louis marched on St. Nicholas's day to the castle of Herkhampstead and surrounded it with his engines of war. Whilst the Knglish barons, after pitching their tents, were employed in setting them in order, the knights and soldiers of the garrison made a sally, seized the baggage and conveyances of the barons, and gained possession of the standard of William de Mandeville, with which they returned to the castle, regretting that they could do no further injury to them. On the same day, whilst the barons were sitting at table, the knights and soldiers of the garrison again made a sally, and. in order to put the barons in confusion, they carried before them the standard which they had taken a short time before, and thought to conic, upon them unawares; but the latter were forewarned of this, and drove them back into the castle. When the following day dawned Louis ordered the petraritu and other engines of war to be erected round the city, which being done, they kept up a destructive shower of stones ; but Walleran, a German, well tried in warfare, made a brave resistance against them and caused great slaughter amongst the excommunicated French. However at last the aforesaid Walleran, after a protracted siege, by command of the king surrendered the castle to Louis, saving tin ir horses and arms, on the 20th of December. On the following day which was St. Thomas's day, Louis, after placing his own followers in the castle, went to St. Albau's, and required the abbat to do homage to him ; to