It happened then one day, that the French had gained exaft information how the Englifh had taken the field and were out on an excurfion, which gave them fuch fpirits that they collected all their forces, and places themfelves in ambufcade, to fall upon the Englifh as they returned from the inroad which they had made between Mirebeau * and Lufignan f. It was on a broken caufeway that the French, to the amount of five hundred men, commanded by the before-mentioned captains;, fir John de Bueil, fir William des Bourdes, fir Louis de St. Julien and Carnet le Breton advanced to attack them. A fharp engagement enfued, when many were unhorfed ; for the Englifh defended themfelves bravely, and fought gallantly as long as it Iafted. Many valo-rous aftions were performed. Sir Simon Burley and the earl of Angus proved themfelves good, knights : but in the end they had the difadvantage for they were only a handful of men when compa-red with the French. They were therefore defeat-ed, and compelled to fly. The earl faved himfelf as well as he could, and gained the caftle of Lufig-nan ; but fir Simon Burley was fo clofely purfued, and furrounded on the broken caufeway near Lu~ -fignan, that he was made prifoner by the French : moft of his people being killed or taken, for very few efcaped. • Mirebeau.—a town in Poitou. t Lufignan,—*a town in Poitou, feven leagues from Poitiers. The 409