within, confidering that the principal barons of Gafcony were prifoners, and that they had no ex-peditions of receiving fuccours from any place, re-folved to fwear fealty to king Edward of England. The earl of Derby continued his route, and took the road towards Aiguillon* ; but, before he ar-rived there, he came to the caftle of Roche-milon, which was well provided with foldiers and artillery; neverthelefs, the earl ordered it to be vigoroully aflaulted. As the Englilh advanced to the attack, thofe within threw down upon them ftones, bars of iron, and pots full of hot lime ; by which many were {lain and wounded, who adventured themfelves too raflily. When the carl of Derby perceived that his men were labouring in vain, and getting themfelves killed, without any advantage, he founded a re-treat : on the morrow; he ordered the peafants to bring great quantities of brufliwood, faggots, ftraw, and turf, and to throw them all into the ditches of the caftle and plenty of earth with them. When ' a part of the ditch was fo filled that one mi^ht get to the foot of the walls, he affembled three hun-dred archers, well armed, and in battle array, and fent before them two hundred countrymen covered with ftields, haying large pick-axes and hooks : whilft th'efe firft were employed in picking the walls, the archers made fuch good ufe of their bows, that * A town of Guieaue, fluted at the confluence «f the Lot end Garonne, no 76