Richard, who was then prefent, had given them, and read the whole claufe by claufe. ' c The contents of the charters were well under* flood, for they were in Latin and French j and at the end he named feveral great barons and prelates, to the number of eleven, who had been nominated as fureties. * . - . c When the papers were read, each lord looked at his neighbour and to the king, but not one faid a word in reply. The official, having finifhetf reading his deeds, • thus fpoke, addreffing himfelf to the king : * Moft beloved and renowned fove-reign, and you, my dear lords, all what you have juft heard, am I charged by the deputies of the principal towns and inhabitants of Gafcony to lay before you, and to maintain their dépendance1 fbîely on the crdwn of England, as the charters that have been Ihewn plainly declare. Should the country be inclined to receive the duke of I^ancafter for its lord, and be freed from the fer-vice and homage it ottes you, the lofs would be very great to England ; for if, at this moment, the duke is attached to the king, and attentive to pre fer ve the privileges of the crown of England, that love and affe&ion will, in côurfe of time, be much weakened by his fucceflive heirs, and by intermarriages that may take jblàce : it is necéffary that marriages fhould be concluded between great princes, for the more effè&ually prëférvihg the' love of their fubje&s. $bw it may~ happen, in* times to come, that the heirs of1 the duke of Lan-cafter fhall unite themfelves by marriage ivith thé- L 2 * daughters