as your abbey, and make particular inquiries after the fhrine, and will take it away, to your great lofs. I would therefore advife, that you have it carried to Dover-caftle, where it will be perfeôly fafe, though all England were loft/N The*abbot and all the convent were fo much angered at this fpeech, though meant well, that they replied,— * How ! fir Simon, would you wi{h to defpoil this church of its jewel? If you are afraid yourfelf, gain courage, and fhut yourfelf up m your caftle of Dover, for the French will not be bold enough, nor in fufficient force to adventure themfelves fo far.' This was the only anfwer he had ; but fir Simon perfifted fo long in his propofition, that the common people grew difcontented, apd held him for an ill-inclined perfon, which, as I ftiall relate, they afterwards (hewed more plainly; Sir JJimonmade but a fhort ftay,and returned to Dover. CHAP. XIV. ÏÙE KING OF FRANCE VISfTS HIS FLE£T AT SLUYS, «—THE KING OF ARMENIA CROSSES TO ENGLAND, TO ATTEMPT A RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE TWO KINGS.—THE ANSWER HE RECEIVES. 'JpHE king of France, to fhew his impatience for x the invafion and his ctiflike of being at too great a diftance, came to Sluys. The report was now daily current in Flanders and Artois, « The king Will embark 101