âéûîlf his return Wâs wifhed for ; tô confirih which, they gave to the duke their credential letters from the prelates, barons and principal towns of Brit-tany. , The duke gave full credence to the knights and their letters, and faid he would fhcw them to the king and his uncles* which he did. When the king and his uncles heard all thefe things, and how the whole of Brittany, the prelates, barons and principal towns, excepting Guefclin, Laval, Clifton, Rohan and Rochefort, had fent to the duke their lord, fupplicating him to return to his own country, the king faid to him f c You muft go over to Brittany, fince they fend for you, and maintain your rights : we will fliortly fend to your affiftance a fufficient force of men at arms to defend your frontiers ; but you will leave the lady-diichefs with my mother and her brothers, whilft you go to carry on this war.* The duke heard thefe words with great joy, and made his preparations accordingly : he was not long in having every thing ready at Southampton. When taking leave of the king, the princefs of Wales, and of his duchefs, he made a ftrift treaty of alliance with the king of England, and fwore on his faith, that if he Ihould fpeedily be fuccoured by the Englifh, he would always remain fleadily attached to them, and do all in his power to make his country join with him ;. and that England fhould always find his ports open, whenever her fleets Jiouid come thither. After this, he fet out from London, accompanied L2 .by • 147 "