1 This country is very fertile: many good Compofitions have been made with it, though the French now check them by their war ; • but this cannot always làft, for their blockhoufes and fiege muft have an end. Now, tell me truly, have any of you thought of the perfon who is to fucceed me ?' The companions remaining filent, he again addrefled them with the utmoft good humour, faying,—c I can eafily believe you have had fome converfations together on • what • I have mentioned ; and I alfo, during the time Lhave been forced to keep my bed, have thought on this matter for you/—« Sir/ replied they, c we refer the matter to you ; and it will be more agreeable - if it came from you than from us : you will therefore be pleafed to inform us of your will/ € Yes/ faid Geoffry, 61 will tell youyand name thofe I wifli to fucceed me. Here is Alleyn Roux and his brother Peter, my coufins, • who are good men at arms and of my blood.: I en-treat you, therefore, to accept of Alleyn as your governor, and that you will fweat to him, in my prefence, loyalty and obedience, as. well as to his brother; but I mean that Alleyn fhould have the fovereign command/—• Sir/ anfwered they, € we will cheerfully do fo,v for you have well chofen/, All the companions then took oaths of obe-dience to Alleyn Roux, and to his brother Peter. When this was done, Geoffry Tête-noir again addrefled them: c'Well, my friends, you have VOL. IX, Y ^ complied • 331