flight of their leaders, had mych rather have fuf-fered death than the fmalleft reproach*. The king's battalion advanced in good order, to ifaeet the Englilh : many hard blows were given with fwords, battle-axes, and other warlike weapon?. The king of France, with the lord Philip his youngeftXon, attacked the divifion of the marfhaW, the earls of Warwick and Suffolk: there were alfo with the malhals fome Gafcons, fuch as the captai de 'Buch, the lord of Puraiers, the lord Ayraery de Charree, the lord of Languran, the lord de l'Ef-trade. The lord John de Landas, with the lord Theobald de Bodenay, returning in good time, difmounted, and joined the battalioq of the king. * My manufcripts wake here a new chapter, and it begins as follows ; * You have heard before related in this bifiory the battle of Crecy, and how fortune was marvelloufly unfavourable to the French. They had equal ill luck at the battle of Poitiers ; far the French men at arms were at lead feven to one* Jt muft therefore be looked upon as very unfortunate that, with this advantage, they could not gain the field from their enemies. But, to fay the truth, this battle of Poitiers was much ' better fought than that of Crecy ; and the men at anus bad more leifure, and better opportunities to obferve their enemies* than they bad at Crecy ; for that battle did not begin before vefpers, and with m army in diforder, whilft the battle of Poitiers commenced early in the morning, and the French army well arranged. There, were many more gallant deed* performed without comparifon, in this than in the former battle ; and there were not fo many great lords flain,.N Thofe that were there behaved themfelves fo loyally, that their heirs, to this day* are honoured for their 'fake/ ' . Y 4 . On 327