for he fhould be very much difplèafed if he loft that town. They departed, in number about forty knights and fquires, and three hundred men at arms and archers. They got into the caftie of Aiguillon, where they found about fix fcore brother foldiers, whom the earl of Derby had left there. ' They laid ' in a fufficient ftock of meal, and all other forts of provifion. . As the four firft mentioned knights were on theit road to Villefranche, they colleëled a quantity of cattle, fheep, corn, and all other provifion, which they drove before them to Villefranche. They en-tered the caftie, and repaired its walls, as well as . thofe of the town, and were upwards of fifteen hundred fighting men, well fupplied wi$h provifion. for fix months, }. . } The duke of Normandy was a long time before Angouleme ; and, when he found that he made no impreflion by his affaults, fo well \pas it defended, but loft many of his people every day, be ordered them to ceafe from their' attacks, and tp take up their quarters nearer the city. One day during this fiege, the fenefchal of Beaucaire came to the duke, and faid, c Sir, I am very well acquainted with all this country ; apd, if you will let me have fix hunt. dred men at arms, I will make an excurfion, in fearch of cattle and provifion ; for very fhoftly, if we remain here, we fhall be in need of both/ This was very agreeable to the duke and his coun-cil ; and on the morrow mprning, the fenefchal took thofe knights and fquires who were defirous of ad* •anceoMpt 1©§