other parts of the empire, where foyeral kaigta and fquires had joined tHena. They were bufily employed in making great preparations for die largeft: army which had been fecn for a long time. The king of France was regularly informed by fome Englishmen of thefe trank&ions, the ftate of them, and what was the end propofed. Upon which, having duly considered his ii^ettigeneç, ha lifted- accordingly and laid in a fuf&ciency of provv* fion m al the cities, towns and caftles of Picardy § having ftrongly reinforced the gawifons vmk men at arms, that the country might not be furprifed. When fummer was arrived, king Edward kept the feaft and fokmnity of St. George in Windfor caftle, as he was yearly accuftomed to do, when fir Guifcard d'Angle was clefted a brother-knight with the king, the princes and barons, who were called, in this confraternity, The Knights of the Blue Garter. The king, after this went to London, to his palace of Weftminfter, where he held a grand council on public affairs. The duke of Lan-cafter was ordered to invade France by entering Picardy. He wif&ta bç accompanied by fais bro-ther the earl of Cambridge, Thç k*ng ax the ti treaty of fir Guifcard d/Aijtglç. and the Poitevin appointed the earl.Qjf^embrol^e governor of Aqui-taine, ii} roonjiof thje. dukf o£ Lancafter, with order% tp, haften to thofe countries* arçd to eondjjuft the war againft the French. Thë Galco s and Poitevins had requeft ed of the king by fetters, M ncM aa by fit Guifcard d'Angle, . ' - . that 151