When Michaelmas wis nearly arrived, the ba-rons of England and Gafcony, who had advanced to Niort in order to attend the king of England . at Thouars, were very much furprifed that they heard not-any tidings of him. In order, therefore, to acquit themfelves, they fent mçflengers to the Poitevin lords in Thouars, who faid to themj f Very dear lords, we are fent hither by the lords x of Gafcony in the dependence of the king of Eng-land, • and by thofe Englifh lords now in company with them, who have defired us to inform yoi% , that they have colle&ed all their forces, which may amount to ajxut twelve hundred fighting men*, ready and willing to ferve you. , They entreat you to inform them, if, in the abfence of the king of England and his children, tfiey can affift you, and if the relief may now be accepted j for they are -eager to adventure their lives and fortunes in your company.' The barons of Poitou replied i € We will call a council on what you have faid j and we return our kind thanks to the barons of Gafcony and • All the printed copies Énd M$S. except the one I have lately quoted* have 1200. In the preceding page, FroiHârt fays x 1200 men came to Niort with fir John Devereux,Jcc. and that . fir Richard de Pontchardon brought 1200 mort. They ought, therefore, to have been 2400. My MS. nearly reconciles this by faying, that, * the herald Chandos, who carried the meflage t to the knights in Thouars, informed them his lords were aflem-bled in Niort with 1200 lances, Englifh and GafcOQS* and about 3000 archers and iufty varlets.* England 80S