the king's commands, and would cheerfully attend them. He made very magnificent preparations, fet out from Nantes, and journeyed on till he came to Paris, which he entered with more than four hundred attendants on horfeback, and tarried there that day and night. On the morrow, about eight o'clock, he and his attendants mounted their horfes, and rode to the palace, where king Philip was waiting for him, fur* rounded by his twelve peers, great numbers of other barons, and the lord Charles of Blois. When the earl of Montfort was arrived at the palace, he withdrew to the chamber where the king and his barons were ; he was civilly regarded and faluted by thenu ' He advanced towards the king, and making him a reverence, faid, 4 Sir, I come here in obedience to your commands and good pleafure/ The king replied, 4 Earl Montfort, 1 thank you for Jo doing ; but I am much furprifed how you could think or dare, of your own accord, to invade the duchy of Brittany, where you have no right ; for there are nearer heirs than you, whom you attempt to difinherit.: and, in order the better to ftrengthen your claim; you have been, as I am informed, to do hopage for it to my enemy, the king of England/ The earl anfwered, 4 Oh dear, fir, do μοί helieve it ; for, in good truth, you Have been mifinformed: but, with regard to my claim of which you have juft fpoken, with all due deference to your grace, I believe you are quite miftaken; for I know of no pearer relation to the duke, my brother, lately dé ceafetf,