haying mentioned to any one his intenttonSi and made figns with his cap that he wanted to fpeak with fome one from the army. Thofe who had noticed the figeai came to know what he wanted : he faid, ' he wifhed to fpeak with my lord the duke of Nor-mandy, or with one of his marlhals/ They went to inform the duke of this, who came there, attended by fome of his knights. As foon as fir John faw the duke, he pulled off his cap, and faluted him. The duke returned the falute, and faid, %" Sir John, how fares it with you ? Are you inclined to furren-der yourfelf ?' ' I have no intentions to do that/ re-plied fir John ; c but I could wilh to entreat of you, in reverence to the feaft of our Lady, which is to-morrow, that you would grant us a truce for that day only, that neither of us may hurt the other, but remain in peace.* The duke faid, € he was willing to confent to it/ Early the next morning, which was Candlemas day, fir John and his companions armed themfelves, and packed up all tbey had. They then ordered one of the gates to be opened* ' and iflued forth ; which being perceived by the army, fome part of it began to put itfelf in motion : fir John, upon this, rode up to them, and faid, ' Gentlemen, gentle-men, beware that you do no harm to us; for we have had a truce agreed on for this whole day, as you muft know, by the duke of Normandy; and we lhall not touch you. If you have not been in-formed of it, go and inquire ; for we can, upon the faith of this truce, ride and go wherever we pleafe/ This information w^s brought to the duke, and he YOIMII. , X was 113