make par* of It, which he fent by' an honourable mm, one of his uihers at arms. . ' When the duke of Brittany had read the letter, he burft out into laughter, and calling to them hi lord de Montbôucher, fail,—*$ See what my 4ord of France writes me. He has undertaken to fet out \n the month of March next for Rome, and deftroy, by the power of his arms, pope Boniface and his cardinals. As God is my help, he will % never fucceed, but fhortly have other flax to fpia, which will force him to give up fuch fooliih bu-Snefs. He defires me to • accompany him with two thoufand lances. As 1 wHh to pay him every honour that is his due, I ihall write a very civil anfwer back to pleafe him, and fay that, if he perfift in undertaking the expedition mentioned in his letter, he Ihall not go without me, ftnce he is defirous of my company ; but I tell you, lord de Montbôucher, that I ihall not trouble any of . my vaffals on the occafion, for 1 repeat, it will end in words.9 The duke of Brittany fent very handfome let-' ters by the ufher at arms, to the king at Paris, who was well fatisfied with the anfwer. No one attempted to difcourage the king refpe&ing this .expedition, for, it was highly agreeable to thé knights and fquires, as k made them of import-ance, and employed their rime.4 All ranks of perfons made their preparations, even the clergy, and the provinces wçre willing to tax themfelves to fend men at arms, at their expenfe, to ferve the king, • . . This 249