lions. On the morrow, the knight, in company with.the fquire who had brought the letters, fet out for Touloufe, and they continued their journey until they arrived there in the evening, when fir Roger retired to his lodgings, and the fquire to his mat-ters. On learning that the knight was arrived, the commiffioners faid,1 Since fir Roger d'Efpaign is come in perfon, ^to-morrow we fhall have fome intelligence.* The next day, after mafs, fir Roger waited on the bifhop of Noyon and the lord de la Riviere, who kindly received him. After fome converfation on different fubje&s, they told him the caufe of their coming, and fhewed the king's pro-curation, for'them to take poffeffion, in his name, çf the county of Foix. Sir Roger obferved their papers and credential letters were properly drawn up, and, after a fhort paufe, he replied; € My lord of Noyon, and you my lord de la Riviere, I am not fuçh an intimate counfellor of the kipg as ye are, for, if I were, ' I would (under your favour) advife him to take the money, and indeed fomewhat more than what he has, on mortgage on this county, ad-vanced to the late count, and to be repaid on his death, and let the natural heir fucceed to his inhe-ritances. This would be, in my mind, greatly to his honour and profit, _ and to the falvation of his foul. 1 will give you other fubftantial reafons why this fhould be done, if you will liften to me* Firft, it Is well known that this mortgage was fraudu-lently made by the late count, for he abounded in money ; and was in this matter a&uated % folely by his hatred to the true heir, the vifcount de Châ- X 4 teau. su