water, tn the excefs of rage, he jcrled out— ' * Ah, St. Ives ! ha, St. George ! ha, our Lady I what do I fee there ? I fee in part the flower of onr army, who are moft unequally matched. I would rather have died than have witneffed this. Ah ! fir Louis de Sancerre, I thought you more temperate and better taught than I fee you now .are ; how could you have hazarded fomany noble knights and fquires, and men at armsj againft ten or twelve thoufand men, who are proud, prefumptuous and well prepared, and who will fliew them no mercy, whilft we are unable, if there should bè a neceffity, to aid them ? Ah, Rohan ! ah, Laval ! ah, Rieux ! ah, Beauma-rioir ! ah, Longuevijle ! ah, Rochfort ! ah, Man-ny ! ah, Maleftroit ! ah, Converfant ! ah, Aich % one and fuch a one, how afflicted am I for yon all! when, without confulting me, you have run into fuch imminent danger. .Why am I conftable of France ? ' for, if you be conquered I shall incur all the blame, and they will fay I ordered you on this mad enterprise.' The conftable, before he heard that fuch numbers of valiant men had crofted, had for* bidden any of thofe near him to pafs the river; but, when he faw the appearance of thofe who had pafledi he faid aloud, c I give free liberty for all who wish it to crofs, if they be able/ ^ At thefe words, the knights and fquires ftep-jied forth, feeking means to crofs the bridge ; but it was foon night, and they were forced to leave off their attempt, though they had begun " ' . "to 185