though brave, had fuffered much in his wars with England, having often been defeated by king Ed ward, grandfather of the young king, being at this lime very old, and affii&ed with leprofy, hearing that the king had been taken prifoner and depofed, and his counfellors put to death, thought it a favourable opportunity to fend a defiance to the prefent king,, as yet a youth, whofe barons were not on good terms with each other, and to attempt the conqueft of fome part of England. About Eafter, 1327, he fent a defiance to king Edward and all the country, informing them that he would enter the kingdom,, and burn it as far as he had done before after the % defeat of Stirling, in which the Englifh fuffered fo much. When the young king and his council received this challenge, they publifhed it throughout tha kingdom, and ordered that all the nobles and others ihould Come properly accoutred and accompanied, according to their different ranks, to* York, the day of Afcenfion following. He alfo lent a considerable Jxdy of men at arms to guard the frontiers of Scotland* and pieffengers to fir John de Hainauft, begging him very affeftionately to affili and accompany Mm in this expedition, and to meet him at York on Afcenfion day, with as* many companions ai arms as he could bring with* him. When the lord of Beaumont received this requeff* he difpatched letters and meflengers into Flanders^ Hainault and Brabant^ or wherever he thought he!: could