when they were again aflembled in the prefence of the king. In this conference there were many fpeakers, for all were defirous to offer the king advice to the bed of their abilities : it was vifible the king was againft the plan of the preceding day, for he had not for-gotten the unfortunate event of the battle of Alju-barota, where he was defeated by the king of Por-tugal with fuch lofs, that another fimilar to it would lofe him his realm. When all had delivered their opinions, fir William de Lignac and fir Walter de Paftac were afked theirs ; for, as they were the commanders in chief, every thing fhouid be ordered and executed by them. The two knights looking at each other, fir Wil-liam faid, 4 Do you fpeak, fir Walter/ * Not I,* replied fir Walter : 1 do you, for you have been longer ufed to arms than myfelf.' ,Sir William, having paufed a while, thus fpoke : 6 Sir king; you ought, methinks, to return many thanks to this noble chivalry of France, who have come fo far to ferve you in your diftrefs, and who have fhewn you fuch affeftioh as to decline fhutting themfelves up in any of your caftles or towns, but are eager to take the field and combat your enemies wherever they may find them : which, however, faving your grace and the good will you fhew, cannot be done at prefent for many reafons ; the principal of which is, the abfence of my lord the duke of Bourbon1 who will foon arrive with a confiderable reinforce-ment of men at arms. There are aifo many of our knights and fquires who have never before been in this 2C0