that fir Perducas d'Albret (a famed captain of the free companies, who had upwards of three hundred men under his command) was in that part of the country, and that, through the felicitations of the duke of Anjou, he had embraced the French fide. Sir Robert immediately fent to him a herald, with other meffengers, who managed fo well, that he confented to meet him at an appointed place in the open fields, on the faith of his paffport. When fir Robert met fir Perducas d'Albret, he feafted him well, and then by degrees entered upon the bufinefs of his having left the prince. He blamed him very much for having turned French-man, and for quitting the fervice xf a prince who loved him fo much, and who had advanced him to honors. Why fhould I make a long ftory of it ? Sir Robert argued and talked the matter over fo ably that fir Perducas d'Albret changed to the Englifh party, and went over to them with upwards of five hundred Gafcons from the free companies. The duke of Anjou was much angered at this when he heard it, and held fir Perducas cheap for his breach of promife, as did all the others who were of the French party, and hated the Englifh more than ev§ r. This news was foon carried to the city of Cahor% and to the other free companies, who formed a large garrifon there, and had done fo for a con* • fiderable time. • When their leaders, Aimemoa d'Ortige, le petit Mechin, Jacques de Bray, Perrot de Savoye and Arnaudon de Pans, heard that-fir Perducas d'Albret had, with his whole company, 434