journey to Blois, where they remained eight days / for the earl had fent forward one his knights, and a herald, to fignify to the duke his intention of vifiting him, and the circumftance of his being on the road. The duke of Brittany was very happy to learn that his nephew the earl of Derby was coming to fee htm ; for he was attached to him, and had always loved the duke of Lancafter and his other brothers. c Why,' faid the duke to the knight, whofe name was fir William de la Perrière, € has our nephew flopped on the road, frnce he intends to vilit us, and has not come direftly hither ?* The knight excufed him as well as he could ; but duke faid,—c It is foolifh j for there is no knight whom for thefe laft feven years I fhould more gladly fee in Brittany than my fair nephew the earl of Derby. Let him come to us with a hearty welcome, and he fhall find my country and towns open and ready to receive him'/ • The knight was well contented with this anfwer*, and fet out on his return as fpeedily as poflible; On his arrival at Blois, he told the carl and his council the words of the duke of Brittany. On the morrow they mounted their horfes, and left Blois, with the good wifhcs of the inhabitants, who had been paid moft liberally for every thing they had wanted, and all were contented. In company with the earl of Derby was fir Peter de Craon, who had been fo much haraflêd by the parliament of Paris in his. fuit with the queen of 122