undertook this bufinefs, he expe&ed to have been better Supported than he was by. the king. It was hinted to the king, by thofe near his perfon,— * Sire, you have no occafion to interfere further in this matter : diffemblc your thoughts, and leave them to themfelves : they are fully capable of managing it. The earl of Derby is wondrous popular in the kingdom, but more efpecially in London -, and, fhould the citizens perceive that you take part with the earl marfhal againft the earl of Derby, you will irrecoverably lofe their afFe&ion/ The king attended to this advice, for he knew it was true : in confequence, he difTembled his opinion, and fuffered each to provide for himfelf. The news of this combat between the earl of Derby and the earl marfhal made a great noifè in foreign parts : for it wa? to be for life or death, and before the king and great barons of England. It was fpoken of differently : fome faid, particu-larly in France,—c Let them fight it out : thefe Englifh knights are too arrogant, and in a fhort time will cut each other's throats. They are the xnoft perverfe nation under the fun, and their ifland is inhabited by the proudeft people/ But others, more wife, faid,—c • The king of England* does not fhew great fenfè, nor that he is well ad-vifed, when for foolifh words, undeferving ferious nonce, he permits two fuch valiant and noble lords, and of his kindred, thus to engage in mor- tal combat. He ought, .according to the opinions of many wife men, to have faid, when he firft heard