* and/ added the'duke, c we might, through this means, recover our inheritance of Caftille ; ' for it has been Iblelj through the aid of France that our adverfary has kept his crown : fhould that power turn againft him, which would be the cafe if a marriage took place with the duke of Tun* raine, he muft fpeedily furrender his throne to my daughter.' Such were the expectations the* duke of Lan-cafter flattered himfelf with, and his imagina-tions were in a way to be realized ; not, indeed, by the king of France's brother, but by one who was well qualified to change the face of affairs in Caftille, and who had the complete govern-ment of France, for without his confent nothing was done.: I mean the duke of Berry. You have before heard how he and his foa were made widowers nearly at the fanqe time. What I-am about to relate, I know from my own knowledge ; for I, the author of this book, was at the. time in the country of Blois, on the borders of Poitou and Berry, with my very dear and honoured lord, the count Guy de Blois, by whofe defireand encouragement this hiftory was undertaken. The duke of Berry had, among his other thoughts and plans, a dofign to marry again. He frequently laid to thofe near his perfon, that a lord was nothing without a lady, nor a man without a wife. Thofe in whom he had the greateft confidence replied ; f Very well, my Jprd, marry then your fon John : your houfe will be more plea&nt, and better managed.*— * Ah/ lia •