feiaing and taking poffçflïon of the duchy of Brittany, which had devolved to him, as next heir to his brother lately deceafed. He fufpected, however, that the lord Charles of Blois, and the king of France, would attempt to deprivp him of it by force ; for which reafon he had come to hold the duchy of the king of England, and to do him homage for it, provided he îhould be fecured againft the king of France, or any others that îhould attempt to molelt him in his rights. ' * The king of England, confidering that his war againft France would be ftrengthened by this meansj —that he cduld not have a better entry into that kingdom than through Brittany,—that the Germans and Brabanters had done nothing for him, but coft him large fums,—and that the lords of the empire had led him up and down, taking his money, without making any return for it,—was very happy to comply with the earl's requeft, and received his homage for the duchy by the hand of the earl, who was called and addrefled by the title of duke. The king then gave him his promife, in the prefence of the lords who had accompanied him, as well as before thofe barons of England that were there, that he would aid, defend, and,preferve him, as his liege man, againft any one, the king of France, or any other, to the uttermoft of his royal power. Thefe promifes and homage were written and Jejilcd,. and each party had a copy of them. After