The lord of Màubuiflon brought back this anfwer, word for word, to the lord of Beaumonf:, who was waiting for him on the bank. He thanked him for % the trouble he had given him? anc\ returned to the earl of Hainault, whom he found playing at chefs with the earl of Namur. As foon as he faw his: uncle, he rofe up, and aiked what news he had brought liim. 4 Sir,* faid fir John, ζ from what I fee, the king of France takes much pleafure in making you keep up fuch forces at fo great an expenfe, and declares he will make you expend and ntortgage all your lands; and whenever'it ihall be his pleafure, and not yours, he will fight with you.' The earl was much angered at this, and fwore it . îhould be otherwife. CHAP. XLIX. THE VrAVAL ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE KING OF ENGLAND AND THE FRENCH BEFORE SLUYS. Ύ^^Έ will now leave the duke of Normandy and the earl of Hainault, and fpeak of the king of England, who had embarked for Flanders, in order to go to Hainault to affifthis brother-in-law in his war againft France. He and his whole navy failed from the Thames the day before the eve of St. John the Baptift, 1340, and made ftrait for Sluys. Sir Hugh Quiriel, fir Peter Bahucet, and Barbenoir, were at that time lying between Blanckenburgh and Sluys with upwards of one hundred and twepty