damfels went to dinner, which was very fumptu-ous and magnificent, and that day the counts and baronsferved at it in grand array. After dinner? they amufed themfelves in different manners, which continued with great enjoyment until evening, when the king retired with his bride. The feafts were continued until the Tuefday fol-lowing, when news was brought to the king and to his council that Francis Atremen had taken the town of Damme. A herald arrived at the fame time frpm the duke of Bourbon, who brought let-ters that Taillebourg, with its caille and bridge, had been fubdued, and that the duke, with his army, was on full march to befiege Verteuil, hav-ing already conquered back again in Poitou and Limoufin, fix fortreffes. This news rejoiced fomewhat the court, and made them indifferent as to the lofs of Damme: but it was determined the king fhould not under-take any thing until he had marched to Flanders and re-taken Damme. He declared he would % enter the Quatre Meftiers, from whence this mifchief had fprung, and would not leave any houfe undeftroyed. Meffengers were immediately fent over the kingdom with fummons for every man at arms to be in Picardy by the firft of Auguft, to march to Damme. This was foon fpread through France, and all knights and fquires made their prepara-tions for waiting on the king as they had been commanded. This fame day, duke Frederick of Bavaria, duke Albert, and the other barons took D 2 ' leavi . . . 35 . .