Montcoutour, the lord de Mommor, and Marelet his brother. Thefe troops, wheri ordered, marched away, and laid fiege to Mortain. The caftle is fituated on the Garonne, near to and below its embou-chure with the • feat if is, the haadfomeft and ftrongeft fort in all the borders of the countries of Poitou, la Rochelle, and Saintonge. . ' When Evan.of Wales* the barons and knights were arrivod- there, they formed the fiege vefy pmdendy, and provided. themfehrcs by litdc and litdewith :cvcty Mag they wanted ; for thc5y wese well awarç.that they could never conquer the caftle : by ftorro, but -that it mult ..be won by diftrefling the garrifon with famine and a long blockade.. \ Evan, therefore, ordered four block-houfes to be 'crafted, fo that no provifion could enter the place by fea or by land. • • • . At rimes the young knights and . fquires who wiflied to display their courage, advanced to the barriers of the câftlè, and Xkirmifhcd with the gamfon. Many gallant deeds were there per- * formed. ^ ' • There was a knight in Mortain called the foul-dich, who was from Gafcony, a valiant knight and able man at arms, whole orders they obeyed as if he had been their governor. The caftle was plen- • tifully fupplied with wines and provifion, but they were in great want of feveral fmaller neceflaries. • 353 CHAP.