expose themselves to the mortification of being again turned out on the following morning.

To assure any real advantage from the recapture of Le Conquet, it was necessary, either to return to Hennebon, and there wait, till Philip had drawn off his troops to some distant quarter, and then to return and take it by surprize, -or else, first so to cripple the King's army, that he would not be able to molest them afterwards.

To the first of these proposals,-that of returning to Hennebon,-none would listen: so great was the impatience of all to regain immediate possession of the place. But there were several, and in the number was de Mauny, whohurried away by that chivalrous spirit, then so common, thought only of the brilliant éclat they should obtain in liberating the females—would gladly, and at all hazards, have marched at once towards Le Conquet, and would indeed have done so, had not the above arguments been used by Robert with such warmth, as, it may be said, chave compelled them to relinquish the design.

This counsel, therefore, of marching towards the King's encampment, being acceded to, it only remained to put it into immediate execution, and thus take the enemy unawares.

On leaving England, in addition to being constituted general, or commander-in-chief, of the expedition, d'Artois had had five hundred men at arms, besides a large number of archers and Hobilers, entrusted to his special care, and intended to serve him as a body-guard.

De Mauny and the other chiefs had also a certain number assigned to them. With these, joined to those of the Countess, and accompanied by several of the principal seigneurs of the neighbourhood, who, hearing of the arrival of the English, had come with their vassals to offer assistance, they proceeded towards the King's camp.

noon.

It was now about three o'clock in the afterThe escoutes were sent forward to observe the aspect of affairs, and see whether the enemy was remaining quietly in their encampment, or employed in foraging the country,and were ordered, in either case, to return

quickly, and give notice of what was going forward.

The army-for so from the recent addition which the troop had received, it might now be almost called-proceeded with all the haste they could exert, and without receiving any interruption by the way, until arrived within about an half hour's further march of the camp: when the master scout was seen returning at full gallop towards them.

On approaching the Count of Artois, he informed him, that he had gone as near the camp as to enable him to view it well, and satisfy himself that the hostile army had no notice of the English being so near.

The troops, he said, were all within their quarters making merry,-as, by the by, the French most wisely do, on every possible occasion, and recruiting their strength and spirits, harassed in a long march, by feasting and dancing: but that the King, attended by a small body of men, had quitted the camp, and was making an excursion round the adjacent country.

Thus much he had, he said, learned from the peasantry; but that, following the direction indicated to him, he had himself seen the King's party, roaming over the country, and apparently occupied in noticing its position and localities.

"And at how great a distance from the camp, and in which quarter of the country may his Grace be?" demanded the Count of Artois.

"Please you, my Lord," replied the man, "his Grace was about a league and a half from the camp when I observed the party: and, on the further side of the lake, at a distance of four or five bow shots from the water."

"Of how many, say you, consisted the party?"

"I may not justly reply to this query, my Lord, seeing that many of them might have been hidden from me, by the wood and the declivities o'er which they were then passing; and that I myself was forced to use much caution to avoid being espied; but as nigh as I may reckon, there were from an hundred to an hundred and fifty in sight."

"De Mauny," said d'Artois, turning round

to him, when the scout had ended his story, and speaking in a quick and agitated tone of voice," the hour, for which I have so long panted, is at length arrived. Lead you on the troops to the encampment, and fall on it, with what success you may; whilst I accompany this man, who bringeth to me far gladder tidings than I hoped to hear:-I shall seek the King!—His Grace, no doubt, will much joy again to see a near relative so long lost to him.”

"As thou sayest," exclaimed Gaultier, clasping both his hands, and rising in his stirrups, as his eyes sparkled with delight at the bare idea of engaging in such an enterprise. "Ay! and I'll with you too. I've an hundred times longed

to see this mighty monarch.

Here, Geoffroi!—

What art at, man?-Quick-help me to my buckler-let me brace it!"

"Yet may this hardly be at present, de Mauny," gravely replied Robert. "You would but ill be spared to leave the armament. Do you take charge of the English, and lead them on against the enemy in the camp. Alas!" he continued, we are on different missions. I have