. 3% ûmmt of trampling them under his feet, and 0|v preffing "diem with taxes upon their lands which -had not been heard of befbte, and which they would never permit to be levied. They demon-orated to the king* that they had an appeal to him, and demanded that the prince fhould be fummoned before the parliament and the peers, to anfwer for the grievances and oppreflions he intended to lay on •them. . The king of France liftened with complacency to thefe lords of Gafcony, when they requefted front him help and affiftance as from their fovereign lord, adding, that fhould he xefufe it to them, they would withdraw their allegiance, and apply to ferae other court ; fo that, for fear of lofing his claim to this fovereignty, he in the end complied with their ' requeft. He was, however, Tenfible that this affair muft • caufe a war, which he was defirous not to begin with-out fome appearance of right: befides, his king-dom was not recovered from the effe&s of the late -war, nor from the oppreffions of the free companies and other enemies. In additionalfo to thefereafona, his brother the duke of Berry was (till a hoftage m England ; fo that he was determined to a£fc with prudence and caution. About this time, fir Guy de Ligny, earl of St. Pol, had returned to France from ' England, without permUEon of the Englifh, by a very in-genious trick. As the full detail of it would take a confiderable time, I pais it over. This earl hated the Englifh more than words can exprefe, and took much