received some intelligence respecting the approach of Sir John Chandos. 66 Come, come," they said to one another, "Chandos is certainly on his march to assist us, for the French are retreating: let us quit the place at once, take the road to Poitiers, and no doubt, we shall meet him." Those who had horses mounted them immediately, others went on foot, and several rode double. By this means, and in this manner did the Earl of Pembroke and his brave companions quit Puirenon and they had scarcely advanced a league on their way, before they fell in with Sir John Chandos. Much joy was shown on both sides at this meeting; and the Earl and Sir John rode together in conversation for about three leagues. The former, as you may well imagine, expressed his thankfulness at the effort which had been made to effect his rescue, while the latter was sorely vexed at not having been in time to meet the French. The two parties then separated, Sir John returned to Poitiers and the Earl of Pembroke to Mortagne.

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THE English were engaged in war with the French; indeed, the armies of these two nations were actually in the field; the latter under command of the Duke of Burgundy, and the former under the Duke of Lancaster, when a circumstance occurred in England, which, though itself a very common one, was not in this case the less unfortunate for the King, his children, and indeed, the whole kingdom. That excellent lady, the Queen of England, who had done so much good; who, during her whole lifetime had assisted all knights, ladies, and damsels who needed her aid; who had such boundless charity for all mankind, and naturally such an affection for the Hainault nation

(being the country of her birth) lay at this time dangerously ill at Windsor Castle, and her disorder was daily on the increase.

The sickness of the good lady did not continue long, and when she perceived her end approaching, she called to the King, her husband, and extending her feeble right hand from under the bed-clothes, put it into his; and as he stood sorrowful beside her, addressed him thus. "We have enjoyed," she said,

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our union in happiness, peace, and prosperity; I entreat you, therefore, on our separation, to grant me three requests." The King, as well as his sighs and tears would allow him, replied, " Ask, lady, and whatever you request shall be granted."

The virtuous Queen continued as follows: "My lord, first, I beg that when I am no more, you will acquit me of whatever engagements I may formerly have entered into with merchants for their wares as well on this as on the other side of the sea. Secondly, I beseech you to fulfil whatever gifts or legacies I may have made or left to churches wherein I have paid my devotions, both here and on the Continent, as well as what I have left to those of both sexes who have been in my service. Thirdly, I entreat, that when it shall please GOD to call you hence, you will not choose any other sepulchre than mine; but will lie by my side in the Cloisters of Westminster." The King

listened attentively to the requests, and when the good lady had finished speaking, replied, "Lady, I grant them all." Soon after this, the virtuous Philippa

made the sign of the holy cross upon her breast, and having commended her husband and her youngest son Thomas, who was present, to the care of Almighty GOD, yielded up her spirit, which I firmly believe was caught by the holy angels and carried to the glory of Heaven.

Thus died the good Queen of England on the 15th of August, in the year of grace 1369, the vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

Not long after the escape of the Earl of Pembroke from Puirenon, of which you have already heard, the abbey of S. Salvin, which belonged to the English, was betrayed to the French through the treachery of one of the monks who greatly hated the abbat. Now you must know that Sir John Chandos was sadly vexed at this, for S. Salvin was in Poitou, of which part he was seneschal or chief magistrate, Indeed, Sir John was continually engaged in devising means to retake the place, whether by assault or escalade was a matter of perfect indifference to him, so that he could gain it. He made many nightly ambuscades but none succeeded; for Sir Louis de S. Julien, who was in possession of the town and abbey, had so re