fide, and took his road through the army ; for he could not avoid palling through it. Ho was met by the firft guard, but was not flopped, for he iinder-flood the Gafcon language well, ^ and named one of the lords of. the army, as if belonging to him ; fo he was fuffered to pafs on: but he was afterward arretted, and detained under the tents of fome other lofds who* brought him to the main watch. He was interrogated, fearched, and the tatters found upon him, and guarded until morning,* when.the principals of the army affembled in the tent of the count dé Lifle, where the letters were read. They were rejoiced to findthat the garrifon was fo much ilraitened, that they could not hold out longer ; and, feizjng the fervant, they bung the letters round his neck, tbruft him into one of the machines, and flung him into Auberoche. The valet fell quite dead amidft the other valets of the caflle, who were much terrified at it. About this time, the earl of Perigord, his uncle fir Charles de Poitiers, the earl of Carmain and the lord of Duras, mounting their horfes, rode a* near to the walls of the caflle as they could, and, calling out to thofe within by way of derifion, faid, € Gen-tlemen, inquire of your meffenger where he found . the earl of Derby, and whether he is prepared to affifl you, fince your man was fo eager to quit your fortrefs, and bas returned as quickly/ Sir Fr^nk v*n Halle replied, € By my faith, gentlemen, if we be fo clofely confined in this place, we will fally Jorth whenever it fhall pleafe God and the earl of Derby. 1 wifh to Heavep he were acquainted with 69