THE PRINCE OF WALES IMPRISONS THE COMMIS-SIONERS FROM THE KING OF FRANCE WHO HAD _ BROUGHT HIM THE SUMMONS OF APPEAL FROM THE LORDS OF GASCON Y TO THE COURT OF FRANCE. ^J^HEN the prince of Wales had heard this letter read, he was more aftonilhed than before. He fhook his head ; and after having eyed the faid Frenchmen, and confidered awhile, he replied as follows : * We fhall willingly attend on the ap-pointed day at Paris, fince the king of France fends for us ; but it will be with our helmet on our head, $nd accompanied by fixty thoufand men/ The two Frenchmen, upon this, f*ll on their knees, faying *9 c Dear fir, have mercy, for God's fake : do not bear this appeal with too much anger nor indignation. We are but meffengers fent by our lord the kmg^ of France, to whom we owe all obedience (as your fubje&s in like manner do to you), and to whom it is proper we fhould pay it : therefore, whatever anfwer you fhall wifh to charge us with, we will very willingly report it to our lord/ 1 Oh no/ re-plied the prince, ' I am not in the lead angry with you, but with thofe who fent you hither. Your king has been ill-advifed, thus to take the part of our fubje&s, and to wifh to make himfelf judge of what he has nothing to do with, nor any right to interfere in. It fhall be very clearly demonftrated to him, that when he gave poffeffion and feifin of the whole duchy of Acquitaine to our lord and • . father, CHAP. CCXLVI. 3?»