jmd encamped at Vîllalpando. The marfhal wai advifed to let the duke of Lancafter have informa-tion of this, which he did, by fending to him fir John d'Ambreticourt, and a herald well acquainted with the rpads in Galicia* He himfelf was always pn his guard, left he fhould be furprifed in the night, and one half of his army was on duty, while the other half flept. When the arrival of ir John and the herald at Sant Jago, where the duke and duchefe refided, was known, tàe duke faid, they have brought fome intelligence, and, fending for them, afked the news. c Good news, my lord : the marfhal fends me hither to know how you would wifh him to a& ; for he has learnt for certain, that the French have affembled a ftrong body in Caftille, and are on their parch to crofs the river, and engage with our men before Riba-davia. This is the news I have brought/ * In God's naine,' replied he, c it is news enough, but we will foon provide a remedy.' He looked at fir John Holland and fir Thomas Percy, his conftable and admiral, and faid to them ; € Take three hun-dred fpears and five hundred archers, and join our companions beforç Ribadavia, who are looking for the French coming to' attack them.' They replied, they would cheerfully obey, and, making themfelves ready, fet out with the above men-tioned force, and arrived before Ribadavia, to thç great joy of their countrymen. Sir John Holland faid to the marfhal,—c What do thefe fellows of Ribadavia mean ? will they not furrender V c No, by my faith,' replied fir Thomas, f they 170