make, without opposition,
such progress on the side of Guienne, was the difficulties under which
the French finances then labored, and which had obliged Philip to lay on
new impositions, particularly the duty on salt, to the great discontent,
and almost mutiny, of his subjects. But after the court of France was
supplied with money, great preparations were made: and the duke of
Normandy, attended by the duke of Burgundy and other great nobility, led
towards Guienne a powerful army, which the English could not think of
resisting in the open field. The earl of Derby stood on the defensive,
and allowed the French to carry on at leisure the siege of Angouleme,
which was their first enterprise. John Lord Norwich, the governor, after
a brave and vigorous defence, found himself reduced to such extremities
as obliged him to employ a stratagem, in order to save his garrison, and
to prevent his being reduced to surrender at discretion. He appeared on
the walls, and desired a parley with the duke of Normandy. The prince
there told Norwich, that he supposed he intended to capitulate. "Not
at all," replied the governor: "but as to-morrow is the feast of the
Virgin, to whom I know that you, sir, as well as myself, bear a great
devotion, I desire a cessation of arms for that day." The proposal was
agreed to; and Norwich, having ordered his forces to prepare all their
baggage, marched out next day, and advanced towards the French camp. The
besiegers, imagining they were to be attacked, ran to their arms; but
Norwich sent a messenger to the duke, reminding him of his engagement.
The duke, who piqued himself on faithfully keeping his word exclaimed,
"I see the governor has outwitted me: but let us be content with gaining
the place." And the English were allowed to pass through the camp
unmolested.[*] After some other successes, the duke of Normandy laid
siege to Aiguillon; and as the natural strength of the fortress,
together with a brave garrison under the command of the earl of Pembroke
and Sir Walter Manny, rendered it impossible to take the place by
assault, he purposed, after making several fruitless attacks,[**] to
reduce it by famine: but before he could finish this enterprise, he
was called to another quarter of the kingdom by one of the greatest
disasters that ever befell the French monarchy.[***]

* Froissard, liv. i. chap. 120.

** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 121.

*** Froissard, liv. i. chap. 134.

Edward, info