h for three years.

These supplies enabled the king to complete his military preparations;
and he sent his cousin, Henry, earl of Derby, son of the earl of
Lancaster, into Guienne, for the defence of that province.[*] This
prince, the most accomplished in the English court, possessed to a high
degree the virtues of justice and humanity, as well as those of valor
and conduct;[**] and not content with protecting and cherishing the
province committed to his care, he made a successful invasion on the
enemy. He attacked the count of Lisle, the French general, at Bergerac,
beat him from his intrenchments, and took the place. He reduced a great
part of Perigord, and continually advanced in his conquests, till the
count of Lisle, having collected an army of ten or twelve thousand men,
sat down before Auberoche, in hopes of recovering that place, which had
fallen into the hands of the English.

{1345.} The earl of Derby came upon him by surprise with only a thousand
cavalry, threw the French into disorder, pushed his advantage, and
obtained a complete victory. Lisle himself, with many considerable
nobles, was taken prisoner.[***] After this important success, Derby
made a rapid progress in subduing the French provinces. He took
Monsegur, Monpesat, Villefranche, Miremont, and Tonnins, with the
fortress of Damassen. Aiguillon, a fortress deemed impregnable, fell
into his hands from the cowardice of the governor. Angouleme was
surrendered after a short siege. The only place where he met with
considerable resistance, was Reole, which, however, was at last reduced,
after a siege of above nine weeks.[****] He made an attempt on Blaye,
but thought it more prudent to raise the siege than waste his time
before a place of small importance.[*****]

* Froissart, liv. i. chap. 103. Avesbury, p. 121.

** It is reported of this prince, that having once, before
the attack of a town, promised the soldiers the plunder, one
private man happened to fall upon a great chest full of
money, which he immediately brought to the earl as thinking
it too great for himself to keep possession of it. But Derby
told him, that his promise did not depend on the greatness
or smallness of the sum; and ordered him to keep it all for
his own use.

*** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 104.

**** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 110.

***** Froissard, liv. i chap. 112.

{1346.} The reason why Derby was permitted to