several of his men, for which reason he will promise you no mercy, but will have you surrender yourselves simply to him. He also insists on Sir William de Montpaon being first given up, that he may deal with him as a traitor according to his deserts." Sir Louis de Mailly replied, "In regard to Sir William de Montpaon, whom you require from us, we swear truly and loyally, Sir Guiscard, that we are ignorant what is become of him, for he did not remain in this town one moment after you had begun to lay siege to it. Surely it will be very hard for us to surrender in the manner you insist upon. We are soldiers sent here for pay as your commander may send you, and before we accept of such a bargain as the duke offers, we will sell our lives so dearly, that report shall speak of it for a hundred years to come. Return, therefore, and tell the duke of Lancaster to accept us in a courteous manner upon certain terms of ransom, as he would wish to be done to any of his own party, should they happen to be so unfortunate."

To this Sir Guiscard merely replied, "that he would most willingly do the utmost in his power for them,” and with these words he returned to the duke, taking with him the Captal de Buch, and the lords de Rosen, and de Mucident, the better to forward the business.

When these lords entered the Prince's presence, they pleaded the cause of the garrison so eloquently and with such good success, that he granted the request, and received the four knights with Silvestre Budes and their men as prisoners, under an assurance

that no harm should be done to them. Thus did the castle of Montpaon again come into the possession of the English, and the duke received the homage of the inhabitants of the town. He placed in the castle two Gascon knights as governors, with forty men-at-arms, and as many archers. He also had the walls of it completely repaired by masons in the neighbourhood. Moreover, he victualled the place, and had it well supplied with all sorts of artillery.

BETWEEN THE ENGLISH UNDER THE EARL OF PEMBROKE AND A SPANISH FLEET IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING OF FRANCE.

DURING the winter of 1372, many councils were held in England on the state of the affairs of the nation and upon the best methods of conducting them. Two expeditions were planned, one to Guienne, and another into France, through Calais; and the English busied themselves in gaining allies as well in Germany as in other parts; and in making great preparations for the largest army which had been seen for a long time.

King Charles of France, by means of spies, was regularly informed of what the English were doing; and having duly considered the objects they had in view, he acted accordingly; laid in a sufficiency of provisions in all the cities, towns, and castles of Picardy, and strongly reinforced the garrisons with men-at-arms, that the country might not be taken by surprise.

When summer was come, King Edward kept the festival of S. George in Windsor Castle, as he was yearly accustomed to do; and on this occasion, Sir Guiscard d'Angle, of whom you heard in the last story, was elected a brother knight with the King, the princes, and barons who were united in this fraternity, and who were called, "The Knights of the Blue Garter.” The King, after this, went to London to his palace of Westminster, where he held a grand council on public affairs. The Duke of Lancaster, who was to be accompanied by his brother the Earl of Cambridge, was ordered to invade France, by entering Picardy; and at the entreaty of Sir Guiscard d'Angle and the Poitevins, the King appointed the Earl of Pembroke governor of Aquitaine in room of the duke, with orders to hasten to those parts and to conduct the war against the French. You must know, that so great was the desire of the Gascons and Poitevins to have the Earl of Pembroke appointed their governor, that they sent letters to the King of England as well as requested Sir Guiscard d'Angle to entreat him, that if he should be advised not to send any of his own children, he would nominate the earl. So much was he beloved by them, and so highly did they esteem him to be a good and hardy knight. King Edward, therefore, thus addressed the earl, who, with several other barons and knights, was present at the council: "John, my fine son, I ordain and institute you governor and captain of all the men-at-arms in Poitou, who, according to the accounts I have had, are very numerous, and also of all

those whom you will conduct thither from this country. You will therefore accompany Sir Guiscard d'Angle into Poitou." The Earl of Pembroke falling on his knees, replied, "My lord, I return you my warmest thanks for the high honour which you have conferred upon me." Upon this, the council broke up, when the King returned to Windsor, taking with him Sir Guiscard d'Angle, with whom he frequently conversed on the affairs of Poitou. In one of these conversations, Sir Guiscard said, "We shall carry on a good war, my lord, when our governor and captain shall arrive in that country; for we shall find there between four and five hundred lances who will all cheerfully obey you, but they must be well and regularly paid." The King answered, "Do not be uneasy, Sir Guiscard, on the score of money, for I have enough, and will most readily employ it on an occasion which so very sensibly affects us and our kingdom."

The season had now arrived for the departure of the Earl of Pembroke, who took leave of the King, as did all those who accompanied him, among whom was Sir Otho de Grantson. The earl had not a very large force with him, but only the knights of his household, in consequence of the information which Sir Guiscard d'Angle had given the King: he carried over, however, a sufficient sum in nobles and florins to pay three thousand fighting men. After taking leave of King Edward, the earl and his party set out for Southampton, where they remained fifteen days waiting for a wind on the sixteenth day they embarked, and having

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