through Artois, pafîîng by Arras, taking the fame road which the duke of Lancafter had done before. They, however, could not find any provifion in the flat countries, for every thing had been carried into the different garrifons. The country had been £9 pillaged and . deftroyed, that the ground had not been cultivated for the laft three years ; and there was fuch diftrefs and famine in the kingdom of France, that if corn and oats had not been fent, from 1 Hainault and the Cambrefis, into Artois, Vermandois, the bifhoprick of Laon, and Rheims, mufl have died for hunger. It was upon this account, that the king, who had been informed of the poverty and diftrefs in France, had made fuch ample provifion before he quitted England. Each lord had done the fame according to his rank, except in the articles of ftraw and oats, and for that they did with their horfes as well as they could. The feafon, however, was very rainy, which hurt greatly both themfelves and their horfes ; for almoft every day and night it rained in torrents, fo that the vintage of this year was worth nothing. The king continued his march, by fhort journeys with his whole army, until he came near Bapaume *. I mufl: notice here an adventure which befel fir Gala-haut de Ribemmont, a very gallant and expert knight of Picardy. I^will firft inform you, that all the towns, cities arid caftles near the road that the king of England was following were well guarded ; for each town in Picardy took and received knights açd • • Bapaume,—a flrong town hi Artois, diocefe of Arras. fquircs 4