dered mmj prifoners, whdm Ms people had maie in the diftricts of PontMeti and Vimeu, to be brought before him. The king, moft courteoufly, afkect f iif any of them knew a ford below Abbeville, where he and llis army could pafs without dangç? ;9 and added, ' Whoever will fliew us fuch a ford ftiall haie his liberty, and that of any twenty of his fellow fol* difrs whom he may wiih to fele6l.* There was tmoog them, a common fellow whofe name was Gobiu Agace, who anfwered the king, and faid# ' Sir» I promife you, under peril of my life, that 1 will conduct you to fuch apiece, whereyouand your whole army may pafs the river Somme without any rifk. There are certain fordable places where you may pafs twelve men a-breast twice in the day, and not.have water above your knees; but when the tide is in, the river is full and deep, and no one Pfp croft if : when the tide is out* the river is fo low that it m*y bepaffed, ou horfebftck or on foot without danger. The bottom of this ford is very hard* of gravel $nd white ftones, over which »11 yopr carriages may f#foly pafsJ and from thençe is called Blancbetaque. You ««11 therefore fet out efprly, To as to be at the ford before fun-rife/ f friend,' feplted thf king* * if I find what thou Im4 juft faid to bf tfue, 1 will give thee and «U thjr companion* their liberty ; and I w§i bp$4«i HB*k* thee n prefent of -a hundred nobles/ The king gave order* for every one to bp ready to inarch at the firft found of bis trumpet, and to proceed forward. Lé . CHAP.