CHAP. CLXXXIt. TJIÊ BATTLE Ot MEAtJi. IN ' BRIE, WHERE THE VILLAINS ARE DISCOMFITED BY THE EARL OF i ÏÔÎX AND THÉ CAPTAL OF BUCH. the time thefe wicked men were overrunning the country, the earl of Foix and his coufin the captai of Buch were returning from a croifade in Pruflia*. They were informed on their enter-ing France, of the diftrefs the nobles were in; and they learnt àt the city of Chalons, that the duchefs of Normandy, the duchefs of Orleans, and three hundred other ladies, under the protection of the duke of Orleans, were fled to Meaux on account of thefe difturbances. The two knights refolved to go to the affiflance of thefe ladies, and to reinforce them with all their might, notwithftanding the captai was attached to the Engliih ; but at that time there was a truce be-tween the two kings. They might have in their company about fixty lances. ' They were moft cheerfully received, on their arrival at Meaux, by the ladies and damfels ; for thefe Jacks and peafants of Brie had heard what number of ladies, married and unmarried, and .young children of quality, were in Meaux : they * Barnes fays that the lord Fauconberg was with them, 'and quotes Dugdale, vol. ii. p. 4. ; but 1 do not fee that he mentions any thing relative to this matter, except that he-made a voyage to the Holy Land. had 392