herald had accompanied him with letters from the king and the duke to the vifcount de Meaux and to the duke of Befrry, ihould there be occafion. ' And why did they not dome with you hither ?f aiked Aymerigot., c Through prudence, as they told me/ replied the varlet, ' for they will under* take the commiflion and delivery of their letters themfelves, and think it better than that any ap^ pearance of collufion Ihould. be feen between you and them/ € They a& wifely,' faid Guyot du Sel, c and fhew by this, that the king of England and the duke of Lancafter fend • them, of their own accord, and that they are interefted in the matter.' 4 Such are their intentions,' anfwered the mef-* fenger. Aymerigot was delighted on hearing this, and told his varlet that he had done juftice to his com-miflion, and in a few days he would handfomely reward him for it. The Englifh fquire and Derby rode. on for la Roche de Vandais, to the place where the befiegers lay, and enquired for the quarters of the vifcount de Meaux. On being conduced thither, they found the vifcount amufing himfelf with feeing the bar thrown. On their approach, they bowed, which civility he returned, and aiked, c whence they came/ They replied, 'from England, and that they were fent by the king and the duke of Lancafter/ / You are welcome,' faid the vifcount ; c but what bufinefs can have brought you to this wild country f * My lord/ anfwered Derby, 4 this is a fquire attached to the duke of Lancafter, who brings you letters ' 159 - \ '