The letters were difpatched by an able fquire of the duke to the vifcount de Meaux, who, hav-ing learnt their contents, fummoned his principal knights, and had them again read in their pre-sence, during the time the fquire who had brought them was made welcome; for, out of love to the duke of Berry, they gave him good cheer. * Gen-tlemen/ faid the vifcount to his companions, c we Ihall never have peace fince the duke of Berry fupports Aymerigot, who is the greateft enemy Auvergne and its poor inhabitants have ever had, and for thefe laft twelve years has fo fore op-prefied them. I thought the duke hated ' him ; but it feems I was miftaken, for he commands me to break up the fiege. I will not at this moment obey his orders, but excufe myfelf from fo doing, by the oommifiion I have received from the king ,çur lord, who ftriftly enjoined me, on leaving Paris, not to quit this place for any orders I might receive, except they came from himfelf, until I had conquered the fort of la Roche de Vandais, and taken Aymerigot by fair or foul means. The duke now commands me to raife the fiege, the inftant I have read his letters ; but, by my faith, I will do no fuch thing.9 * Sir/ replied the knights and fquires of Au-vergne, c you &y loyally and well : we will keep fteady to you. We fuppofe that my lord of Berry is inducedto write thus in favour of his enemies, by fimilar letters from the king of England and the duke of Lancafter to thofe you have received, which the herald and Englifh fquire have carried to • » him/ 166