the dlftrefs and lofe. of the late inhabitants, • It was therefore thought advifable in a council of nooles and prelates, as well as by the common affent ' of the whole kingdom, to cleft a chief or commander, called a conftable (for fir Moreau de Fiennes wifhed to refign the office) who was a valiant and enterprifing man, and one to whom all knights and fquires would pay proper de-ference. Aftçr all things had been well confi-dered, they unanimoufly elefted fir Bertrand du Guefclin (provided he would undertake the of-fice,) as the moft valiant, the beft informed, the moft virtuous and fortunate in conducing affairs for the crown of France of all thofe who were bearing arms in its defence. The king wrote to him by mefiengers, for him to come to Paris. Thofe fent found him in the vifcounry of Limoges, taking caftles and forts, which he put under the obedience of madame de Bretagne, widow of the late lord Charles de Blois, He had lately taken a town called Brantôme*, whofe inhabitants had furrendered themfelves to him, and was then on an . expedition againft another. When the king's mefiengers came to him, he received them handfomely, as he knew well how to do. They gave him their letter, and deli-vered their meflage word for word. When fir Bertrand thus faw himfelf fpecially ordered, he was unwilling to make any more excufes for not • Brantôme,—a town in Perigord, diocefe of Perigueux, waiting 10/