CHAR XIV. THE EARL OF FLANDERS STOPS THE PROGRESS ÔF AN AMBASSADOR FROM THE KING OP FRANCE TO SCOTLAND : THIS CAUSES GREAS* DISSENSIONS BETWEEN THEM* T/"ING Charles, who at this time governed France, was very fagaeious and fubtile, as his conduÀ (hewed ; for, though he never quitted his clofet or his amufements, he re-conquered all that his pre-dcccflbrs had loft in the field at the head of their armies* for which he was gready to be commended. Now, becaufe the king of France knew that king Robert of Scotland, and that whole kingdom, bore f mortal hatred to the Englifh (for never can thefe two kingdoms love each other), that a better un-derftanding between him and the Scots might be continued, he determined to fend one of his knights, and a fecretary to his council, to king Robert and the Scots, to treat with them ; to examine the ftate of that country, and fee whether they were in a con-dition to carry on any effcftual war : for Evan of Wales had during his life-time informed him, that the moft certain way of difturbing England was through Scotland. The king of France, having well confidered this matter, had various ideas on the fubjeft -, and, hav-ing fixed his plan, he called to him one of bis knights, a prudent man, named fir Peter lord de Bournezel, and faid $ f You will carry this mef- fage