non, where lie was received with as much refpeët as if .he had been fon to the king of France. * He dined many times with the pope and cardinals, who gave him absolution from all his fins ; and, at his departure, they prefented him with forty thoufand crowns, to difiribute among his companions. Thefe men, therefore, marched away to different places, following, however, the direéiions of the archpricfl. CHAP. CLXXV. A WELSHMAN, OF THE NAME OF RUFF1N*, COMMANDS A TROOP OF THE FREE COMPANIES. ^T this time alfo, there was another company of men at arms, or robbers, collected from all parts, who flationed themfelves between the rivers Loire and Seine, fo that no one dared to'travel be-tween Paris and Orleans, nor between Paris and Montargis, or even to remain in the country : the inhabitants of the plains, and near Orleans, had all fled to Paris. This company had chofen for their leader a Welfliman, of the name of Griffith, whom they had knighted, and who acquired fuch immenfe riches, as could not be counted.. Thefe companies advanced one day near tô Paris, another day towards Orleans, another time to Chartres ; and thçre was no town nor fortrefs * Barnes call* him Griffith, but mentions no authority. but 381