The count Guy de Blois lay ill at Landrecy* during the whole time thefe warlike .prepara-tions were making, and neither himfelf nor his people knew if he would be able to bear the fatigues of this campaign with the king. He was carried in a litter to Beaumont in Hainault, and was fonuewhat better* for that air was more agreeable to him than that of Landrecy. Not- ' withftanding he was very unwell and feeble, he made ample preparations, as. did his depend-ants in the copntry of Blois, fuch as the lord de Montigny, the lord de Vrefin, fir Yilhennes . de St. Martin, fir Waleran de Douftipnne go-vernor of Remprentin, and other kpjghts and fquires who came to ferve under the young king of France. News was brought to the bifhpp of Norwich, fir Hugh Calverley. and the Englifh befieging Ypres, that the king of France ^as baftening, by forced marches, with an army of upwards of / twenty thpu&nd men at arms, knights and fquires, and fixty thoufand, other n*en. This intelligence wras repeated from fo many quar-ters, that a,t laft it was thought to be true, for fit firft they would not believe, it. They heard ] for certain that it was fo, and that if they re-, mained where they were, they would have to , fight with them. They alfo learnt that the duke of Brittany was with the king of France, and coming againft.them, whicfy aftpnifhed them much. ' • They called a council on this information, to * Landrecy,—a ferong town in Hainault, diocefe of Courtly. confider 300