CHAP. CVIL THE EARL OF DER$Y TAKES DIFFERENT TOWNS ÏM GASCONY, IN HIS ROAP TOWARDS LA REOLE. ^HE earl of Derby and his army, upon their ar-rival at Bourdeaux, were received with very great rejoicipgs: the inhabitants though they never could enough teftify their joy to the earl, and to fir Walter Manny, for their enterprize ; in which the count de Lifle, and more than two hundred Jmights were made prifoners. The winter pafled over, without any a&ion taking place in Gafcony that is worthy of being recorded. Eafter, which may be reckoned the beginning of the year 1345, was about the middle of May, and the earl of Derby, who had tarried all the winter in Bourdeaux, collected a very large body of men at arms and archers, and declared he would make an expedition to la Réole, where the French had fixed their head-quarters. He went, the firft day, from Bourdeaux to Ber-gerac, where he found the earl of Pembroke, ready with his troops. Thefe two noblemen, with their forces, remained for three days in Bergerac, and on the fourth departed. When they were got into the open country, they halted their men, counted them, and found that they had about a thoufand men at arms, and two thoufand archers. They pufhed forward, until they came to a caftie palled St. Bafile, to which they laid fiege. Thofe within, 75