cities and forts, with a force of upwards of fix thoufand men at arms : they faid among them-felvcs, that whether the king willed it or not, they would combat the Englifh before they crofled the . river Sarte, which divides xMaine from Anjou. .„ The king of France was at this moment feized with an illnefs, which much difheartened all who loved him j for, as no remedy could be found for it, they forefaw that in a very fhort time he muft depart this life : indeed, he himielf knew this, as well as,his furgeons and phyficians. The reports were firmly believed, that the king of Navarre, during the time, he refided jn Normandy, had at-tempted to poifon him, and that the king was fo much infe&cd by the venom that the hairs of his head and the nails of his hands and feet fell off, and he became as dry as a ftick, for which they . could not difcover any remedy. His uncle, the emperor, hearing of his iljtnefs, fent to him his own phyfician, thç moft able man of that time, and of the .greateft learning then known in tfafe world, as his works indeed fhew : he was called a fécond Ariftotle, but his name was George of Prague. • When this great doâor came to vifit the king, who at that time was duke of Normandy, he, knew his diforder, and declared, that having been poifoned, he was in clanger of dying : however, he performed the greateft cure known, by fo weaken-ing the force of the poifon that he câufed him to -regain his former ftrength. This poifon ouzed out in fmall quantities from an ifTue in his arm. On the departure of the . doftor, S17