m dear lord, that you would not interfere in what has been arranged and ordered for the best, for • I must fay you will gain the more by it.' The king did not know what anfwer to make to this fpeech, any more than thofe prefent who had heard it. At last the king faid, very pro-perly, ' Constable, I do not mean to fay that it has been any way thought you have not, on every occaflon, most fully acquitted yourfelf, and will still do fo ; but my late lord and father loved you more than any other perfon, and had the greatest confidence in you: it is from this love and confidence which he repofed in you, that I fhould wifh to have you on this occafion near to me, and in my company. * Very dear lord/ replied the constable, 'you will be fo well attended by fuch valiant men, •all having been fettled with the greatest delibe-ration, that it cannot any way be amended, fb that you and your council ought to be fatisfied with it. I therefore beg of you, for the love of God, most dear lord, that you will permit me to execute my office ; and to-morrow your fuc-•cefs fhall be fuch that your friends will be re-joiced, and your enemies enraged.' . To this the king only anfwered ; € Constable, I will it be fo : in God's name, and in the name of St. Denis, act as becomes your office. I will • not fay one word more to you on the fubject ; for you fee clearer in this bufinefs fhan I do, or thofe who first propofed it. Be to-morrow at mafs.' c Willingly, fir/ replied the consta-ble. He took leave of the king,. who falutecl him, and returned to his quarters, with hie at-tendants and companions. • CHAP.