would not obey the Aimmous of the earl: but there wis fo fharp $m aifault made on it, that the town was taken, and all within put to death. The earl placed a new garrifon in the caftie, and ad-vanced to Poitiers, which is a large ftraggling city: te could only therefore lay fiege to it on one fide ; for he had not forces fufficient to furround it. ' He immediately made an aflault ; but the towifuien of the poorer fort were fo numerous, though little pre-pared for fuch an attack, and defended the town fo well, that the earl's people gained nothing : they retired to their quarters much fatigued. On the morrow, fome of the earl's knights armed themfelves, rode round the town, and afterwards made their report to him of what they had feen and heard. There was then a council held ; and it was refolved to attack the town, in three different places at once, the next day, and to poft the greater number of the men at arms and archers at the weakeft part ; which was executed. It happened, that it that tipe thefe was not any gallant knight in the town, who knew what deeds of arms werej 'nor were they provided with any accuftomed to wars, that might advife them how properly to defend themfelves. The earl's people, therefore, at this aflault, entered the town at the , weakeft part: aad, when thofe within faw them-felves thus conquered, they fled for the fafteft out of the other gates, for there were many. Upwards ef fevea hundred were flain ; for the earl's people put every one to the fword, men, women and little children. The city was inftantly plundered, and N 4 , was 188