appointed .day, and amounted to two hundred lance?, good men and to be depended on. After they had been muftered, they left Chartres» and took the, road towards Auvergne, through the, Bourbonnois. The news of this affiftance coming thither was foon fpread abroad, to the great joy of the inhabitants of Auvergne. It was fortunate fo much hafte had been made in forwarding this force j for, had it been delayed fix days later, Aymerigot r and his troops had planned to ravage the country, between Clermont and Montferrant, and down the river Allier, and alfo the furround-ing country of Riom, as far as Gannat*. Had they done fo, they would have plundered it of one hundred thoufand francs at leaft ; for the parts I have mentioned are jhe very richeft in Auvergne. None could have oppofed them, for the whole country was void of men at arms j and the reports were, that Aymerigot's troops were more numerous than ever. Aymerigot and his men were prepared for thi* excurfion ; but they learnt, I know not how, whe« ther from pilgrims or fpies, _ that a large body of men at arms was marching againft them, under the command of the vifcount de Meaux, to befiege and to drive them out of their fortrefs of la Roc% de Vandais. This intelligence made them defer their intended excurfion, and fhut themfelves within their fort.. Glanai,—town m tie Bourbonnois, five letguee#«m Worn. •~- - , " "for ; . . _ 146 '