before la Rochelle, and arrived undifcovered on the oppofite (hore to the caftle of Soubife where the lord dc Pons was, who knew nothing of this embarkation. The captai was alfo ignorant of it, as he was colleéking his forces in St. Jean d'Angelyj for, had he fufpefted any thing of the fort, he, would have had a larger body of men : but he lent back a confiderable number, having alfo left many in St. Jean d'Angely. He marched witti only two hundred lances at. the utmoft, and about night arrived near to the French army and to the caftle of Soubife. They difmounted on the oxitûde of a fmall coppice, m tighten their gloves of mail and regirth their horiès. Having remounted, they difplayed their banners, ' dafhing among the French with their ihouts of war. Many were flam and wourided at this onfet, for the French were not on their guard. Thç lord du Pons and Thibaut du Pons,, with fixty. of their principal men, were made prifoners, and the reft put to flight* At this moment, Evan of Wales with bis forces advanced, having haftily crofifedi the Charente, with torches and other lights, for it was exceed-ingly dark. Thefe four hundred lances, who were determined men and quite frefh, fell upon the Englifli and Gafcons, who thought they had ac-complifhed their bufinefs. Many were fcattered about pillaging, and the knights were attending to their prifoners. * They were treated by thefe new 187