é me, I (hould not have been courteous nor grateful, if I had not rewarded them. Thank Gôd, my lord, I have a fufficiency for my life, to maintain my ftate ; and wealth has never yet failed me, nor do I believe it ever will. If, therefore, I have in this a6ied con-trary to your wilhes, I befeech y on, dear fir, to pardon mc; for you will be ever as loyally ferved by me and my fquires, to whom I gave your pre-fent, as heretofore.' The prince anfwered ; r Sir James, I do not in the leaft blame you for what you have done, but, on the contrary, acknowledge your bounty to your fquires whom you praife fo much. I readily confirm your gift to them ; but I (hall in-fill upon your accepting of fix hundred marcs, upon the fame terms and,conditions as the former gift.* The prince of Wales and his army kept advan-cing, without meeting any obftacle, and, ' having paffed through Poitou' and Saintonge, camç to Blaye, where he croffed the Garonne, and arrived in the good city of Bourdeaux*. * ' A letter from the Black Prince to the bifhop of Worcefter, dated 20th b&ober 1356, relating to the battle of Poitiers, wherein the French king was made prifoner, &c Ex regifiro Reginald i Brien, Wigorn. epifcopi, fol. 113. * L'ra Dni Principis Wall* de Capcione R. Franciae par * le prince de Gales. N « Reve'nt piere tn Dieu, et trefch' ami,—Nous vous mer. cions entièrement de ce que nous avons entendu q1 vous elles fi bien et fi natureiment porte dev's nous, en p'aoî Dieux p'r nous et p'r n're exploit ; et fumes tout certiens q' p'r caufe de vous devoutes p'eres et dautres, Dieu nous a en toutes nos befoignes be' vueliz aide ; de quoi nous fames a touz jo's VOL. IL A a tenu» 353