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cluded with France being now expired, the English and French no longer appeared in the field as allies to the competitors for Brittany, but as principals in the war. King Edward having landed in France, with about twelve thousand men, endeavoured to give a luftre to his arms by laying fiege to three important cities at once; but finding the number of his troops unequal to his great defigns, and that his enemies were well provided with all kinds of neceffaries, whilft he was obliged to draw all his fupplies from England, he willingly liftened to the mediation of two Cardinals, the Pope's Legates, who happened at that time to be in France, and agreed to another truce for three years. Notwithstanding his dangerous fituation, distressed for provisions, and furrounded by a fuperior enemy, he had the addrefs to procure for himself, and the person on whofe account he had undertaken the expedition, very honourable

terms.

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This truce however was of no long continuance; real or pretended injuries ferved both parties as a pretext to put an end to it. King Edward apprehenfive, from the hostile preparations openly made by his adversary, of an attack on Guienne, fent the Earl of Derby, fon to the Duke of Lancaster, and under him the Earls of Pembroke, Arundel, and Oxford, into France with a confiderable army for the protection of that province. This Prince could not confine his ardour to the fecurity of these domains alone, but made many fuccefsful inroads into the territories of his enemies. The Count de l'Ifle, an experienced French General, was his opponent; yet the Earl with only a thousand cavalry attacked his army unexpectedly, and after taking the Count himfelf prisoner, obtained a complete victory. The Count with twelve thousand men had laid fiege to Auberoche, and battered it with engines fo furiously, that in fix days the fortifications were almoft demolished. The Earl of Derby, apprized of the diftrefs

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of the garrifon, fet out from Bourdeaux by night with a party of three hundred lances, and about twice that number of archers: he had previoufly fent orders to the Earl of Pembroke, who lay at Bergerac with three hundred men at arms and four thoufand archers, to join him with these forces at Libourne. He reached this place himself before morning, and waited all day for Lord Pembroke's arrival, keeping his small army concealed from the enemy; but finding that Nobleman did not overtake him, he marched on in the night, and by day-break arrived within two leagues of Auberoche. this spot he also remained till the following evening in hopes of the reinforcement; when, despairing of any affiftance, he was perfuaded by the gallant Sir Walter Manny to beat up the French quarters while they fhould be at fupper. With this view they proceeded under covert of a wood, till they were close to one divifion of the enemy's camp; they then rushed in upon them with fo much impetuofity, that the Count de

On

T'ifle the General, with the Counts Peri gort and Valentinois, were taken in their tents before they had time to recover from their furprize. Great numbers of the French, unable to make any refiftance, were cut to pieces, and the reft betook themselves to flight. But whilft havock and confufion prevailed in this quarter, the other part of the French army commanded by the Count de Cominges flew to their arms; and being drawn up in order of battle, advanced against the English with great intrepidity. The Earl of Derby, though he had not one-fourth of the number, determined to make a vigorous effort to complete the work he had fo happily begun and collecting his forces into a compact batallion charged the enemy with irresistible fury. The French, defirous of revenging the death of their countrymen, gave him a warm reception; and a defperate engagement enfuing, the victory remained for a long time doubtful, till the garrison of Auberoche hearing the trumpets found a charge

on

on both fides, and defcrying fome English banners, though it was now twilight, fallied forth in great numbers, and falling on the rear of the French army decided the fortune of the day. The enemy, unable to make any further refiftance, were inftantly routed with great flaughter; their lofs in both actions amounting to feven thou fand flain, and twelve hundred prifoners, among whom were ten Noblemen, and two hundred Knights and Gentlemen. The Earl of Pembroke arrived next morning with the troops under his command, and was greatly vexed that he had not the happiness to share in fo glorious an action. Improving this advantage, he reduced in a rapid fucceffion the most capital fortresses of the adjacent provinces. But the French King having at length raised a powerful army, and given the command of it to his fon the Duke of Normandy, the English were unable to keep the field against so great a fuperiority: the Earl of Derby therefore could only act on the defenfive; and by E bravely

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