• . m your fort to give them battle. * They therefore tdl you, that if you will come forth to. meet themj they will permit you to choofc any plot of ground for the field of batde j and let God give the event of it to whomfoever he pleafes.' / The duke of Bourbon made to this the follow-ing reply:c Chandos, you will tell your maftersj that I fhall not combat as they may wifh or de-fire. I know well enough where they are ; but for all that, I will not quit my fort nor raife the fiege, until I fhall have re-conquered the caftle of Belleperche.' f My lord,' anfwered the herald, c I will not fail to report what you have faid/ The herald fet out, and on his return gave the duke's anfwer, which was not very agreeable. They called another council, and when it was over, gave to Chandos a propofal, for him Co carry to the French He did fo, and faid ; € Gendemcn, my lords and mafters let you know, that fince you are not willing to accept the offtr they have made you, three days hence, between nine and twelve o'clock in the morning, you, my lord duke of Bourbon, will fee your lady-mother placed on horfeback, and carried away. Confider this, and refcue her if you can.' The duke anfwered -,€ Chandos. Chandos, tell your mafters, they carry on a mSW difgracefui war, • when they leize an ancient lady Brom among her domeftics, and carry her away like a prifoner. It was never feen formerly, that in the warfare be-tween gendemen, ladies or damfels were treated as prifoncrs. It will certainly be very unplea&nt «I