A.D. 1194. THE FEENCH ΑΕΛΙΥ PUT TO FLIGHT. 327 corn, or other fruits of the earth. It was also agreed that all churches and ecclesiastical persons who, by the ravages of the said war, had been deprived of their property or incomes, everywhere throughout the territories of both kings, should have full compensation made them. But, because the king of France wished that all those who had adhered to him or to the king of England should be included in the said truce, so as to receive molestation from neither of them, as also, that no one of those who had changed sides, should be subject to hostile proceedings, the truce was broken off. For the king of England was unwilling to violate the customs and laws of Poitou, or of any other of his territories, in which, from ancient, times, it had been the custom of the nobles to settle their own disputes with the sword. Accordingly, the matter being broken off, they all separated who had begun the said conference, and from that day the said kings became still more hostile, and with greater violence made attacks on each other with ravages and excessive conflagrations. The king of France came to the city of Evreux, and utterly destroyed it, and levelled its churches, sparing neither ago nor sex, and carrying off the relics of the saints. This he did because the citizens of Evreux, having left him, had returned to their duty and allegiance to their lord the king of England. After the king of France, having destroyed the city of Evreux, was on his departure thence, and had appeared before a town called Freteval, the king of England came to Vendôme, to lie in wait for him ; and, as that place was not surrounded by a wall, or suited for defence, the king ordered his tents to be pitched outside the town ; and in them he awaited the approach of the king of France, who had sent him word that that day he would visit him with a hostile band, as unconcernedly as if he had been shut up within walls. The king of England joyously receiving his message, sent word back to him that he would wait for him, and, if he should not come, would pay him a visit on the following morning. On the king of France hearing this, he did not visit the king of England that day. Accordingly, early next morning, the king of England ordered his troops to arm, and went forth for the purpose of engaging with the army of the king of France : on hearing of which, the king of France and his army fled before the face of the king of England, who pursued them ; and, in the flight, many of the troops of the king of France were slain, and many