they are men who love to gain wealth. If by your means the king, my fon-in-law, and your lord, could ally himfelf with the lords whom I have juft mentioned, and where on this fide of the fea, he might pafs the river Oifé to feek king Philip, and offer him battle. The ambaffadors returned to London with the aniwer they had received, which when king Edward heard, it gave him much pleafure and comfort. News of what was going forward was foon carried to France, and by degrees magnified, fo that king Philip grew very indifferent to this croifade which had been preached, and of which he had undertaken to be the chief. He countermanded his officers (who were making vpry great prepara-_ rions), and gave them, direftiohs not to proceed further, until he ihould fee upon what footing the king of England meant to aâ, as he was inceffantly employed in affembling men at arms. The king of England ordered ten knights bannerets, and forty knights bachelors, in company with the biihop of Lincoln, who was a right valiant man, to crofs the fea, and to goftraight to Valenciennes, to treat with thofe lords of the Empire^ whom the earl of Hainault had named, and tò adi as he and his brother John might advife. When they were arrived at Valenciennes, all were emulous of the ftate they ihould hold, and fpared ho expenfes j for if the king of England had been there in perfon, they could not have done more, by which they gained great renown and reputation. V OL. I. I There