God have you under his holy protection .—Given at Bourdeaux, the eighth day of December.' Thefe letters were fealed with the great feal of the prince of Wales, and fent to the lord d'Albret, who was in his own country, bufily employed making his preparations ; for it was daily reported that the prince was on the point of fetting out. When he received thefe letters from the prince, he opened them deliberately, and read them twice over, in order the better to comprehend them ; for what he faw of their contents aftoniihed him greatly. Being mightily vexed, he exclaimed, € How is this ? My lord the prince of Wales laughs at me, when he orders me to difband eight hundred knights and fquires, whom, by his command, I have re-tained, and have diverted from other means of ob-taining profit and honor.* In his rage, he called for a fecretary, and faid to him, 4 Write* ; and the fecretary wrote as follows from his diâating. Illy dear lord,i—I am marvelloufly furprifed at the contents of the letters you have fent me ; and I neither know nor can imagine what anfwer to make to them. Your orders will be to me of the greateft prejudice, and fubjed me to much blame ; for all the men at arms, whom I have retained by your commands, are ready prepared to do you fer-vice, and I have prevented them feeking for honor and profit elfewhere. Some of thefe knights were engaged to pafs the fea, to Jerufalem, to Conftanti-nople cr to Pruflia, in order ro advance themfeives. Thty will, therefore, be much difpleafed if left be-hind. I am equally fo, and cannot conceive for what 264