J 416 brother, to allow him to pafs through his territo-ries, or to remain there, if there fhould be occafion, and to enter through his country, the kingdom of France, to carry thte war into the heart of it. Duke Albert would willingly have complied with the requefts of the king of England his uncle, and of queen Philippa his aunt, through the mediation and advice of lord Edward de Gueldres, who was of the king's party, and alfo by means of the duke of Juliers his coufm-german, but he had been already gained, as you will hear. Thefe two were m thofe times ftri&ly connected, by faith and ho-mage, to the king of England, who had defired each of them to engage for him as many as a thou-fand lances* for which they fhould be well fatisfied. On this account, thefe two lords would have been very glad to have had duke Albert in alliance with the king of England. The duke was much tempt-ed to join them by the magnificent prefents which the king offered to make him ; which promifes were frequently repeated by thefe two lords, as well as by other knights whom he fent over to him, and principally by the lord de Comines *, who chiefly on this account had returned to Hainault, after hav-ing refided fome time with the king. But the king of France and his council had gained over the lord John de Verchin, high fteward • Lord de Comines. ' My MSS. have Gommegines. This paflagc feems very much confufed. Lord Berners fays, in his tranflation, that the lord de Comines was at the French court, and came away to prevent duke Albert join-ing the king of England*