It was therefore necefiary, to put an end to this flander,- that the duchefs of Orleans fliould quit Paris. She went firft to refide at Afniercs, a very handfome caftle near Pontoife, that belonged to the duke her lord, and then to Neufchâteau, on the Loire, which alfo belonged to him. The duké of Orleans was very melancholy on hearing fuch injurious reports againft his ^ duchefs, which he diffemblcd as well as he could, and never on this account quitted the king or court, for he took pleafure in attending public bufinefs and the dif-ferent councils on the affairs of the realm. Galeas duke of Milan was duly informed of the infamous crimes his daughter, the duchefs of Orleans, was accufed of. He deeply felt the injury, and had jtwice or thrice fent ambaffadors to France, to excul-pate his daughter to the king of France and his coun-cil, offering, at the fame time, a knight or knights that fhould engage in mortal combat any perfon who fliould dare to accufc his daughter of fuch iniquitous and treafonable practices. The duke of Milan threatened to make war on France -, for he had learnt that the king, when he gave hi? daugh-ter in marriage to the king of England, between Ardres and Calais, had declared that on his return to Paris, he would not" attend to anything until he Ihould march a large army into the Milanefc ; and that his fon-in-law, king Richard, had, to his great fatisfaftion, offered him one thoufand Eng~ ftfh fpears and fix thoufand archers. Galeas had likewifç heard that purveyances were making , * , throughout 831