1 W7 fquire from,tic county of fok named William de Pau, was governor of the place, under the captai de Buch : he had with him a Neapolitan knight, called fir James, fcut without any furname. Many violent aflaults were made, which were weU repulfed by the garrifon. • Not far diftant was the town of Surgeres*, which was garrifoned with Engltfb, by orders of the captai, then a prifoner, who feid one evening they would beat up the French quarters. They therefore marched out, according to an agreement with thofe of Maransj-, and muftcrcd in the whole about forty lances: they fcM upon the quarters of the conftable of France, wounded many, and particularly flew one of his own fquires. The army were roufed and the French collefted toge-ther as faft as they could j but the Englifh, who had performed all they intended* re-entered their fortreffes unhurt. The conftable was fb. enraged at this, that he fwore he would never quit. the fpot wherç he was without conquering the caftle of Benon, and putting to death all within it. He gave orders, that very morning for every ope to be ready for the aflault, and had large machines brought, lb that for a long time fuch an attack had not been feen. The men at arms and the Bretons did not fpare. themfelves: they entered the ditches with fhields on their heads, and advanced to the foot of the *• Surgercs,—-a town in Aunis, fix leagues from la Rochelle. f Maraa?j«9-a town in A un»; fix leagues from la Rochelle, O 3 ' wail