Sir Helion de Lignac left the duke of Lancafter on terms of the ftrongeft affection, and he feemed fenfible things were in the train he wifhed them, for the duke feemed very well fatisfied with what the duke of Berry had offered. He had indeed declared, that he never could marry his daughter in France without the cenfent of his nephew the king of England and the Englifh council; but matters were now fo far advanced, he feémed to think there would not be any great difficulty to obtain them. On thefe aflurances, fir Helion returned to France, delivered letters from the duke of Lancafter to the duke of Berry, and re-lated to him all that had pafled ; with which he was much fatisfied. We will now fpeak of the ambafladors from Caftille. Thefe were indeed cordially liflened to by the duke and duchefs, for their hearts were wrapped up in their hopes of regaining the crown for themfelves or their child. They were very kindly received on their introduction at the caf-tle by the duke and duchefs, to whom they delivered their credential letters, and explained the object of their miflioh. They firft propofed a treaty of peace with Caftille, which the father-confeflbr difcourfed much on, in the apartment of the duke where only the duchefs was prefent, who interpreted to the duke what he did not under-ftand, as fhe had in her youth been educated in Caf-tille and underftood the language perfectly well. . The duke of Lancafter, at this firft interview, did not difcover his real fentiments, although he N 2 enter- , / 179'