ill the paflfei were guarded : they were alloved * proceed freely/ for fo th$ king of England had or* dered, and praifed very much th# difyofitiong of. the earl of Derby, who was polled at the bridge of Nieullet, over which they palled. They rode on, until they came where the king wan, whom they found furrounded by his baroni and knights : they all four difmounted, and ad** vanced toward* the king, with many reverences ; then the lord Epftacq de Ribeaumont faid, € Sir, the king of France informs you through us, that |e is come to th9 hill of Sangate, in order to give you battle ; but he cannot find any means of ap-proaching you : he therefore wi flies, you would afiembleyour council, and he will fend foaie ôf his, ' that they may confer together, and fix upon a fpof where a general combat may take place/ The king of EngUnd was advifed to make his anfwer m follows : € Gentlemen, I perfeéîly underfiand the rçquefi yon have made me from my adverfary, who . wrongfully keeps pofieffion of my inheritance, which weighs much upon me. You will therefore tell him from, me, if you pleafe, that I have been on this fpot near a twelvemonth : this hq was well in-formed of, and, had he chofen it, might have come here fooner ; but he has allowed me to remain fo long, that I have expended very large fums of money, and have done fo much that I muft be mafter of Calais in a very fbort time : I am not therefore inclined, in the fqaalleft degree, to comply with his requeft, or to gratify his convenience, or to abandon what I have gained* or what I have ' been m