m his road to Rhodes, to examine the ftrength of the caftle ; that he was at Villeneuve d* Agenças,. from whence he was to be efcorted by only ftxty lances. When thefe knights heard this news, they were in high fpirits, and refolved to lay an ambufcade for * fir Thomas, confiding of three hundred lances -r fo that about two leagues from Montauban, as the high fteward was continuing his route with fixty lances and two hundred archers, they were attacked by this large ambufcade of Gafcons. The Englifh were very much furprifed \ for they, not fufpecting lueh an attack, were quite unprepared for it ; how-ever, they began to exert themfelves ftautly in felf-defence ; but the Gafcçns, who had formed their plan at leifure, were too many for them, and at the firft fhock numbers were difmounted : Ihe Englifh not being able to refift the violence of the Gafcons of Perigord, Comminges. and Carmaing, were thrown.into diforder, and,, being defeated without much refiftance, turned their backs. Many were taken and Iain. Sir Thomas was obliged himfelf to fly, otberwife he would have been made pri-foner ; and he owed his fafety to the fleetnefs of his horfe, which carried him to Montauban. The Gafcons and others returned to their own countrv. carrying with them their prifoners and booty. ^ * News was very foon brought to the prince of Wales, who at that time reftded at Angouleme, how his high fteward of Rouergue had been de-feated by the earl of Perigord, and by thofe other noblemen who had fummoned him by appeal to . the 388