Ï dare to order them ? Certainly, my dear lord, envy and jealoufy are lb much abroad, I ought to be on my guard againft them: I therefore entreat you will not inlift on my taking this office, but give it to fome other who will readily accept it, and who knows better than I do how to execute it/ The king made ,anfwcr ; c Sir Bertrand, that ex-cufe will not ferve you; for I have neither brother, nephew, coufin, count or baron in my realm but who will obey your orders ; and fhould any one aft othcrwife, he would fo anger me that he fhould foon feel the effefts of it : I therefore beg of you to accept this office with a good will/ Sir Bertrand, finding that no excufe nor any thing he could fay would be liftened to, accepted the king's offer, but it was much againft his incli-nation. He was invefted with the office of con-ftable j and the king, to fhew him greater affeftion, made him be feated at his table, and gave him, befides this office, many rich gifts and large do-mains in land, for him and his heirs. The duke of Anjou was very aftive in forwarding this pro-morion. - 109 CHAP.