it arms, marched to that piare, according to their urdcrs ; and, when they were muftered, they Amounted m upwards of fifteen hundred lances mi about three thoufand others. They marched to Belleperche) where they encamped themfelres oppofite to the French. The French kept themfelves clofe in their re-doubt, which was as ftrong and as well fortified as a good town might be. The Englifh foragers were at a lofs where to feek for provisions, fo that, when-ever it was poffible, fome were bipught to them from Poitiers. Sir Louis de Sancerre, marfhal of France, gave txwSt information of the number and condition of the Enghfh to the king of France, and to thole knights who had remained at Paris : he fcnt alfa m proclamation, which he had affixed to the gates of the palace. It ran in thefe words : c Ye knights and fquires who are anxious of renown, and feek for deeds of arms, I inform you for a troth, that the earl of Cambridge and the earl of Pembroke are arrived with their troops at Belleperche, with the intention of rafing the fiege which we havç lb long made : we have fo much ftraitened the garrifon of the caftle that it Oiuft immediately furrender, or our enimies beat m in a pitched battle. Come therefore hither, &re&\y, for you will have opportunities of ex-hibiting your prowefs in arms -, and know dm the Englifh are encamped fo much apart, and il fbek pofitiora, that they may be wonderfully «bftoyed/ Upon 61