Louis de Chalons, fir Hugh de Vienne, the count d'Ufez, and many other worthy knights and fquires, eager to advance to the combat, both for their own honor and to deftroy thefe freebooters, who were wafting the country without right or reafon. The archprieft, whofe name was Arnaut de Cervole, was ordered to take the command of the firft battalion. He willingly obeyed ; for he was an expert and hardy knight* and had under Ids com* mand about fixteen hundred combatants. The freebooters, from their fituation on the hill* faw but too clearly all thefe arrangements of the French, who could not fee what they were about, nor approach them without danger and lofs ; for there were at leaft a thoufand cart loads of flints ready to be thrown againft the firft affailants by that body of men who appeared fo ill armed to the fcouts. I mufl mention, that the only way thefe French men at apis, who were fo defirotis to fight the companions at any rate, could approach them Was to afcend fideways the hill on which they had placed themfelves. When they, therefore, attempted this, thofe who were on the hill began to throw down on them the ftones and flints, of which they had made fo large a provifion that they had only to ftoop and pick them up ; and, having full time ta aim them well, they wounded and killed many, fo that others were afraid to pufh forward. This advanced battalion was fo feverely treated* it was not of any good ufe afterwards. The other bat* talions marched to its fuccour, under the lord James VOL. ID. G de 81