f • Stf WiffiÉtri on Ms arrival at the cafije dif-motarited, stud drdered his men to do the fame, Whefe they Inftantly began the attack. It was very fevere and of lofig continuance, for thofe within it fought for their lives. Sir William -performed fuch galant deeds as proved him wor- thy of being their leader. He did not • fpare himfelf, and {hewed how they ought to attack it. The place was at laft taken by ftorm, and the French, entering it by ladders, made prison-ers of all that were found there, or put them to the fword. • This firft conqueft this feason was made by fir Wiliam de Lighac, as he was waiting for the duke of Bourbon and his army. On the duke's arrival at Niort, he found plenty of men at arms impatient for his arrival. His odufin the count de la Marche, with a large bo-dy, the vifcount de Tonnerre, fir Henry de Thôiiars, fénéfchal ôf Limoufin, the lords de Pons, de Partenay, de Tours, de.Poufanges, and many other barons of Poitou and Sâintonge were there. Sir William de Lignac came thither to wait on the duke, having conquered the caille de l'Aigle, for which the duke felt himfelf obliged to him. When all thefe men at arms were muftered, they amounted to full feven hundred lances, not including the Genoefe and the lufty variets : in the whole, two thoufand combatants. They then held a council whither they (hould turn their arms; to Bertueil, Taillebourg* or Mont- * Taillebourg,—a town in Saintongc on the Charente thfee Jttiffes from Saintes. B 4 lieu.