m . Geoffrj ^ d'Argenton, the tord de Montendre, fir Aimery de * Récheohogart, the vifçoufit dè Thouars, and many other knights and fquires of Poitou and Saintonge, were in the country, but each was in his own caftle ; for they had hot any fufpicions of the English coming to invade them. Had they been fo fortunate as to obtain no-tice of their intentions, they would have been prepared to receive them, but it was not fo ; and the furprife tfas fo great, that all were frightened, and impatient to fave what they could. The farmers began to haftèn their har- veil of corn, for it was the beginning of Augufl. Add to this, there was not then in the country may perfon to take the lead. The lieutenant of Poitou, the duke of Berry, was at Montereau : the fénéfchal of Poitou was juft gone to Paris : the fénéfchal of Saintonge was from home : the fénéfchal of la Rochelle, fir Helion de Lignac, was at Bayonne, on the bufinefs of the duke of Berry, by which the country was left defence-lefs ; for, from want of heads, their courage failed, and without that nothing effectual can be done. The country was much alarmed for two caufes : they had the English army and fleet on one fide, and rumour had already informed them that Perrot le Béarnois was on his march, with more than fifteen hundred combatants, and had already ^entered Berry. They knew not what meafures to adopt, except thft of placing their wealth in fafety $ for it was faid thefe two armies were to form a junction in Saintonge or Poitou, as was the intention of many. There