There were among them many young knights bachelors, who had one of their eyes covered with a piece of cloth fo that they could not fee with it. It was faid they had made a vow to fome ladies hi their country, that they would never ufe but one eye until they had perfonally performed fome deeds of arms* in France ; nor would they make any reply to whatever queftiôns were afked them ; fo that all marvelled at theirftrange demeanour. After they had been fufficiently feafted and honoured at Valenciennes, the Biihop of Lincoln and the greater number of them drew towards the Duke of Brabant by the advice of the earl of Hainault. The duke treated them magnificently, and agreed afterward to promife his fupport and affiftance to the king of England, to whom he was coufin german, with all the means in his power, and to allow him to enter and quit his territories, armed or difarmed, as often as he pleafed. He had alfo promifed, by the advice of his counfel, and for a round fum of florins, that if thè king of England, his coufin, would defy the king of France,.and enter his territories with a fufEcient force, and could obtain the aid of the lords before mentioned, he would defy him alfo, and join him with a thoufand armed men. The ambafladors then returned to Valenciennes : —by their negotiations and gold, they prevailed upon the duke of Gueldres, brother-in-law to king Edward, the marquis of Juliers for himfelf, and for the archbilhop of Cologne, and his brother Waleran, and lord of Fauquemont, to come to Valenciennes, to treat with them before the earl of Hainaulr,