letters from the king of England and from hi* lord, which, if you pleafe, you will read. I have accompanied him, becaufe I am fo well acquainted with this country^ to ferve him as a guide.' • The fquire prefented his letters, which the vifcount, after examining the feals, knew to be authentic, and to come from England. He called one of his men afide who could read, and had their contents repeated over two or three times, until he was fully mafter of them. He was t ^ while pehfive, for the king of England had written, to complain that he was day and night odcupyiftg a part of his territories with a large army, and doing afts to infringe the truce, which he ought not to do, being direftly contrary to the articles' that had been fwôrn and fealed between him and his adverfary of ' France ; and that, as foon as he fhould have perufed thefe letters, he muft raife the fiege, march away his army, and leave Ayme-rigot Marcel in peaceable pofleffion of a caftle which had coft him fuch large fums to fortify. Such, and many other expreflions in favour of Aymerigot, did thefe letters contain. The letter from the duke of Lancafter was nearly fimilar to thofe from the king and council; for he was fovereigri lord and duke of Aquitaine. The vifcount de Meaux, "having confulted fome ' of his friends, faid to the fquire and the herald,— c My fair firs, the intelligence, you have brought demands full confideration : I will advife upon it,' and you fhall foon have my anfwer/ They were then conduced to the vifcount's tent, to partake ' - v "* ' ' of 160