soi .. it was over, they retired into the prefence c&ambeff where they converfed on different fubjeâs, and amnfed themfelves in hearing the minftrels. The lords from France thought they fhould have then received their anfwer, but were difappointed. Wine and fpices were brought, which having par-taken of, they retired to their hôtels, and remained the whole evening comfortably at home. On the enfuing morning, it was fignifiid to them that the duke wiflied to fee them at the caftle, Whither they went ; aftd, being introduced to the apartment where the duke was, he received them kindly, and thus fpoke : 'My fair firs, I know you are anxious for an anfwer to what you have been charged to tell me from my fovereign and other lords, that you may report it to them : I therefore declare, that I have done nothing to fir Oliver de Cliffem that I repent of, except that he has efcaped too cheaply and with his Mfe : this I fpared folely on account of his office, and not in any manner out of perfonal regard ; for he has behaved fo very ill to me, in feveral inftances, that I hate him mortally ; and, begging my fovereign's and their graces pardon, I have not prevented the expedition to England taking place by the arreft of fhe conftable. Of this 1 am able and willing to exculpate «nyfelf ; forêthe day I had him arretted, I was thinking no harm againft it*: it is proper t;o take advantage of an enemy wherever it may be found. If he had been Iain, 1 believe the kingdom of France would not • The original runs, " nul mal je n'y penfoye." have