The army then marched toward* the city of Angouleme, leaving the town and caftie of Ville* franche ftanding undemolifhed, and without any guard. Thf city of Ângoulême was clofely befieged ; and the governor of it for the king of England was fir John Norwich. The earl of Derby, who was at Bourdeaux, heard of the arrival ôf this great army from France, and that they had already recaptured Miraumont, and Villefranche, which they had plundered and burnt, except the citadel. Having fent for four of hii knights, in whom he placed much confidence, he ordered them to take fixty men at arms and three hundred archers, and fet out for Villefranche to gain pofleflion of the • caftie, which was empty, and put it, as well as the* gates of the town, into good repair : if the French fhould come to attack them, to make a good defence, for he fhould haften to their affiftance, let it coft what it would. Thefe knights did according to their orders, • and their names were fir Stephen Tonjbeyi fir Richard Heydon, fir Ralph Haftings, and fir Normant de Finefroide. The earl then requefted the earl of Pembroke, fir Walter Manny, fir Frank van Halle, fir Thomas Cook, fir John Touchet, fir Richard de Beauvais,* ftr Philip Radcliff, fir Robert Neville, fir Thomas Biflfet, and many other • knights and fquires, that they would immediately fet oft* to defend Aiguillon, * Bayeux.—BA*N£& for , • • 168