Those in Châtillon had found means to send information to lord Shrewsbury at Bordeaux, that if he would hastily march to their relief, the French would fly: he was therefore exceedingly surprised, on his arrival, to see the manner in which the French had intrenched themselves, and how well they had posted their artillery. The commanders to oppose the English were the lords marshals, the grand master of the household, the count de Penthievre, the seneschal of Poitou, the lord de la Bessiere, sir John Bureau, and others having the conduct of the siege, besides several great lords who had taken the field against the king's enemies. Lord Shrewsbury and his companions advanced boldly to the barriers, thinking to force an entrance into the park; but he found there such valiant opposers, who seemed eager to display their courage, as astonished him, after the intelligence he had received from those in Châtillon. The earl was mounted on a small hackney, and did not dismount on account of his age[154]; but he ordered all others so to do. The English had eight banners displayed, namely, that of the king of England, of St George, of the Trinity, of the earl of Shrewsbury, and others, with the standards of the nobility skilfully arranged. The attack commenced with great valour, and each party fought manfully, so that the business lasted a full hour,--at the end of which, the men at arms of the duke of Brittany, under the command of the lords de Montauban and de la Hunodaie, were sent for to relieve the French who had been thus long engaged at the barriers. On their arrival, by the aid of God and their own prowess, the English were forced to turn their backs, and were beaten down, with all their banners, by these Bretons. The artillery played so well that the English were constrained to fly, but not without numbers being left dead on the spot. The hackney of lord Shrewsbury was struck down by a culverin-ball, and he was put to death by the French, as he lay under him[155]. Among the slain were the lord l'Isle, sir Hedoual Haul, Thomas Aurigan, the lord de Pingulan, a gascon knight, and thirty of the most valiant knights, as it was said, from England. Lord Molyns was made prisoner. As the French were much fatigued, and on foot, they could not pursue the enemy, so that numbers of English and Gascons escaped; and about eight hundred or a thousand retreated into Châtillon, among whom were the count de Candale, son to the captal de Buch, the lords de Montferrant, de Rosem, and d'Anglades: the lord de l'Esparre escaped also, who had been the principal author of this rebellion. Those who could not enter the town fled by land or water,--but in regard to the last, they were mostly all drowned.