293 ROfìF.R OF WF.NIIOVEIÎ. [Λ.II. ÌÙU. French king, on learning the approach of the English monarch, went out to meet him, and at a bridge not far from the city thev gave battle to the English king's army: but king .John, bv good luck, gained the victory, taking twenty knights in the battle, and amongst the rest the son and heir of Kobcrt de Drus, uncle of the French king ; this knight the king loaded with chains, and took away with him on his return. After this the said king inarched with his army to the castle of iiocheau Maine, and laid siege to it ; on hearing which Louis, son of the French kinz. who had been sent by his father to check the incursions of king John, hastened with a large army to the assistance of the besieged. The English king, when he learned their approach, scut scouts from his army to find out the number and strength of the approaching enemy ; these messengers, soon performing the duty assigned to them, returned and told the king that he, the English kinz. had a much larger force, and therefore earnestly persuaded him to engage the enemy in open battle, because, bydoing this, he would without doubt gain a victory over the enemy. lie therefore, being inspirited by the information of bis messengers, ordered his soldiers to arms as soon as possible, to give open battle to Louis, but the barons of l'oictou refused to follow the king, saying that they were not prepared for a pitched battle. King John then, knowing- too well the accustomed treachery of the nobles of l'oictou, although the capture of the castle was almost certain, retired in great annoyance from the siege. Louis too, when he heard that the English kiliî had moved his camp, feared that he would attack him. and tied in an opposite direction from king .John's ; and thus each army ignominiously taking to flight, turned their backs on one another. Jlotc the king of the French marciteti against the army of the English king in F.antters. At this time the English king's army in Flanders bad spread its ravages through several provinces, and iva, now laying waste l'oictou in a most relentless manner : in this expedition were the warlike and tried men William duke of Holland; Reginald, formerly count of Boulogne; l'errami count of Flanders: and Hugh ile BOMS, η brave soldier though a cruel and proud man, for he showed his cruel di*