would not agree to it; for it -was ftrongly ru-moured, that the king of France was affem-blirtg a large army, and it was doubtful whither he would march it, and the English imagined it was intended to attack Calais. They were alfo uneafy refpecting the Scots on the borders, and were fearful of fending more forces out of the kingdom, as a large body of men at arms and archers were at fea, under the earl of Arundel, left the country might be defencelefs. When the council was confidering the affairs of Guel-dres, fome of the lords faid,—* Let the duke of Gueldres take care of himfelf : he is valorous enough, and in his own country, and will with-fiand all the Brabanters can do againft him: if any thing worfe befal him, he shall have aflifl-ance. He has again the Germans, his neigh-bours, on his fide, who formerly joined him againft France.* Such was the ffate of affairs in England ; but thofe in Grave fuffered much from* the fiege. During the time it lafted, the Brabanters' re-folved to throw a wooden bridge over thé Meufe, that they might have an entrance into Guel-dreland, overrun that country, and, by inverting the town of Grave on all fide^,N prevent any pro-vifion from entering it; for they were numerous enough to furround it, could they gain a paf-fage over the river. As they finished the dif-ferent parts of this bridge, they joined and placed them in their proper fituations, and had made fuch advances, that it was within the length of a lance of the oppofite shore. •You 307