them to underftand, that their intelligence was very agreeable to him. The dukè returned fuch anfwers by the meffengers as fhewed the propofal was very fatisfactory, and had given him much joy. The meffengers, on their return, found the duke of Berry in Poitou, but preparing to return to Paris ; for the king and the duke of Burgun* dy h^d exprefsly fent for him, to confider of 1 • ftate of Brittany. Having read the anfwer from the duke of Lancafter, which afforded him much pleafure, he determined to perfevere in the bu-finefs, although he could not defer his journey to Paris. He refolved, however, to proceed in it by the fhorteft mode, and fent letters to one of knights, called fir Helion de Lignac, who at that time was fénéfchal of la Rochelle, ordering him to place the town under the government of thofe he could depend upon, and then, without fail, to hafen to him at Paris. Sir Helion, on receiving the duke's orders, fealed with his feal, and noticing the hafte in which he was fummoned to follow him, loft no time in putting la Rochelle and its dependencies under the command of two valiant knights of Beauce, called fir Peter de Jouy and the lord Peter Taillepiè. When this was done, he took the fhorteft road he could to join the duke, who he knew, from the tenor of his letter* would be impatient to fee him. * We will return to the duke of lancafter at Bay-onne, and fay what were his thoughts on the pro-pqfal from the duke of Berry. He was not will- * , ing 160