the Combat was very hot, and the defence couragious; but after three hours dispute, the Vicomte de l' Estrange was forced to tender himself Prisoner, and be∣ing delivered over into the Sieur de Machault's hand, a Master of Requests, was convicted, and beheaded at l' Estrange, for in example to other Rebels, and ••o oblige them, if possible, by the just rigour to return to their Duties. Not long after this defeat, the said Mareschal de la Force had Intelligence that the Baron 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Peraut Governour of the Castle de Beautaire, and the Sieur de Rostide, Captain of the Town, wrought upon by the Duke de Montmorency, employed all their en∣deavours to gain the thief Inhabitants, and perswade them to receive Monsieur with his Forces: But such was the course he took, that all their attempts were to no purpose. It was impossible on the sudden to prevent Monsieur's getting ••nto the Castle, there being a particular Gate to receive any in, without passing through the City: But having instructed du Pay the King's Atturney, and la Roche chief Consul, with what they should do in their own defence against the Castle, in case it should declare it self, and that Monsieur or his should get into it; they shewed such courage and good conduct, that they preserv'd the Town in his Majesty's obedi∣ence; and instead of furnishing them with any considerable Force, which might have much weakned the Army under his command, which he kept in a posture to fight the Enemy assembled in those parts, he thought it most proper to desire four hundred men of the Army under the command of the Mareschal de Vitry in Pro∣vence, might cast themselves into the City. Mean while Monsieur gets into the Castle with store of Horse, and the Mareschal de Vitry having Intelligence there∣of, dispatched thither his own Regiment, who himself followed in person; and there were such strong Fortifications raised against the Castle, that it was impossi∣ble for them within it to force the City▪ without great loss to themselves. Yet such was Monsieur's courage, that the Assault was resolved; whereupon all his Forces were commanded to prepare themselves to fall on, and accordingly were disposed in order: But the Dukes de Montmorency and d' Elboeuf both there, were so exasperated by jealousies between them, that they could not resolve upon pre∣cedence: so that their strife hindred the execution of the design, and changed their assault into store of Cannon shot discharged against the City, to batter and ruine it. The Inhabitants were no whit terrified hereat, rather on the contrary, as if their fidelity had receiv'd new vigour from those violences, they resolved to undertake a Siege against the Castle: In fine, some got upon the Towers, others into the Steeple of the great Church, from whence they found a means to shoot into the Castle, which did ••ot a little disturb the Garrison; They likewise invested it on the other quarters, by the help of those Troops which the Mareschals de la Force, and de Vitry had sent unto them; so that the Garrison was much incommo∣dated, having not Ammunitions necessary long to subsist, or to sustain a Siege. The Duke d' Elboeuf having got out, provided to send a Convoy with provision of Vi∣ctuals, and Ammunition of War into the place: But the Garrisons placed by the Mareschal de Vitry, both in Vartabregues and the Castle de Saint Romain, prevented his Design, having twice or thrice intercepted the Mules; and besides, the Marre∣scal de la Force inform'd that the Duke d' Elboeuf did gather together store of Am∣munition at Monfrein, to clap them into the Castle, marched on the second of Sep∣tember from Pont-Saint-Esprit, and presently forced the Duke d' Elboeuf to retire with his Forces from those Quarters; and having commanded the Sieur de N••ual∣les to seize on Monfrien, upon the Governours promise to receive him, he march∣ed into the place, and carried off all the said Ammunitions, together with the Duke d' Elboeuf's baggage, which did not a little refre•••• the King's Army. This once effected, they in the Castle despaired of relief, and surrendred upon composition on the sixt of September, The courage and fidelity of the Inhabitants giving the Lye to that Proverb, Who so is Master of the Castle, will soon be Master of the City; and the King to reward them, and incourage other Cities to do the like, bestowed on them divers Favours and Priviledges.