of France at Paris. The town was burnt, and the inhabitants loft their all : there were belides very many flain and drowned. The Englifh returned to Poitiers with their arniv, the better to refrefh themfèlves. CHAP. CCL1X. •«IR ROBERT KNOLLES 19 APPOINTED CAPTAIN OP THE PRINCE^ COMPANY. HE CAUSES SIR PERDUCAS D'ALBRET TO TURN TO THE ENGLISH. HE BESIEGES THE FRENCH COM-PANIES IN THE FORT OF DU RM EL. ^IR Robert Knolles refided in Brittany, where he had a fine and large eftate : he had always been a good and loyal Englilhman, and had ferved under the king of England, and the prince of Wales his eldeft fon, in their different expeditions, by whom he was much loved : having heard that the French were carrying on a difaftrous war againft the prince, and*meant tg take from him his inheritance of Acquitaine, which he had aflifted in gaining for hinï, he was very much furprifed and difpleafed. He therefore refolved in his own mind to colled as jnany men at arms as he poffibly could, and go with them to ferve the prince of Wales at his own coft and charges. As he had refolved, fo did he execute : he fent to fummon all his vaflals, and to intreat his friends to accompany him. He gathered about fixty men at arms, with as many archers of his own dependants and friends, and made his pre-parations 43*