vexed at what had pafTed, and his opinion was, that the king fhould not have liftened to fuch a charge, but inftantly have annihilated it $ and in this he was joined by the more fenfible barons of the country. The earl of Derby refided in London, for he had his houfe there, and kept up his ftate. The duke of Làncafter, the duke of York, the earl of Northumberland, and many other great lords, for he was much beloved, were his fecurities to ap-pear and anfwer the challenge. • The earl marfhal was fent to the Tower of London, where he lived with his houfehold. Thefe two lords made ample provifion of all things necefTary for the combat ; and the earl of Derby fent off meffengers to Lombardy to have armour from fir Galeas, duke of Milan. The duke complied with joy, and gave the knight, called fir Francis, who had brought the méflage, the choice of all his ar-tmour for the earl of Derby. • When he had fe-leéted what he wifhed for in plated and mail ar-mour, the lord of Milan, out of his abundant love to the earl, ordered four of the beft armour-ers in Milan to accompany the knight to England, that the earl of Derby might be more completely, armed. The earl marfhal, on the other hand fent into Germany, whence he thought he fhould be ably affifted by his friends. • Each provided himfelf moft magnificently, to outfhine the other $ but the greater fplendour was fhewn by the earl of Derby, for I muft fay that, when the earl marfhal . undertook m