thai if he fhould be advifed not to fend any of his own children, he would nominate the earl of Pembroke, whom as they loved much they de-fired to have, for they knew him to be a good and hardy knight. The king, therefore, fpoke to the cttrl of Pembroke, who, with feveral other barons and knights, was prefent at this council, faying ; ? John, my fair fon, I ordain and inftitute you go-vernor and captain of all the men at arms in Poi-tou, who according to the accounts I have had, are Very numerous ; and alfo of thofe you will conduft from hence thither. You will, therefore, accom-pany fir Guifcard d*Angle into Poitou.1 The earl of Pembroke, falleg on his knees, replied : f My lord, I return you my warmeft thanks for the high honour you have conferred upon me. I will aft for your majefty beyond feas as one of your fmalleft marfhals/ , After this, the council broke up, when the king returned to Windfor, taking fir Guifcard d'Angle with- him. They frequendy converfed on die affairs of Poitou and Guienne. " In one of thefe conversations, he faid ; c My lord, when our go-vernor and captain fhall arrive in that country, we lhall carry on a good war j for we (hall there find between four and find hundred lances* who will all cheerfully obey you, ' but they muft be regularly paid.' The king anfwered * c Sir Gfiifcard, it Coward* do aot he uncafyon account of wanting money to continue the war, for I have enough, and will eagerly employ it for fuch an occafion, as it very fenfibly affe&s us and our kingdom.' In thefe and fuch like difcourfes did the king of England amufe 159