fttrack for nine days ; and if, within that time, you lhall come in fufficient force to offer them combat and refill the duke, the town will remain yours) but, if not, the town has given up hoftages to fur-render it to them. You will be pleafed, itioft re-doubted lord, to fay what you will do/ _ The king replied, that c he would advife upon it, and tkçy Ihouid have an anfwer/ He then left them, and retired to his chamber. I am ignorant if hç fum-moned his council or not, or how the matter was managed ; but.thefe fix men were there, for eight days without obtaining any anfwer, nor did they again fee the king. - The day came for the furrender of the town before any of the deputies returned. The duke, therefore, fent his marfhai to, Entença, on the tenth day, to fay, that if the town were not furrendered, accord-ing to the terms of the treaty, he would inftantly cut off the heads of the.hoftages. The marihal, on arViving at the barriers, whither he fummoned the inhabitants, thus addrefled them,—f My good • people, the duke of Lancafter fends me to know why you have not brought hhp the keys of the town, and put yourfelves under his obedience, as you were in duty bound ? The nine days expired, as you know, yefterday. If you do noj inftantly • comply, he will order the heads of the hoftages to • be ftruck off, and then march hither to ftorm -the town, when you will all be (lain, without ipercy, • like to thofe of Ribadavia/ The men of Entença, hearing this, were much • afraid, not only for themfelves, but alfo for thejr friends 187 " •