fealed, it was given to the herald who had brought king Henry's, and who had waited for an anfwer for three weeks. He took his leave of the prince and the other lords, and rode on until he came to JSTavaretc, ne^r to which place the king was en-camped upon the heath. He made for the king's tent, followed by the principal lords of the army, who, having heard of the return of the herald, were anxious to know what news he had brought. The herald, on his knees, prefented the king the letter which the prince had fent by him. The king took and opened it, calling fir Bertrand de Guef-clin, and fome of the lords of his council, to its pe-rufal. When the letter had been read and well con-fidered, fir Bertrand du Guefclin thus fpoke to king Henry ; 4 Sire, be affured that very fhortly you muft have a battle ; from what I know of the prince, I am convinced that it muft be fo. 1 there-fore advife you to look well to this bufinefs, to order »nd arrange your men in the beft poflible manner/ • Sir Bertrand/ replied king Henry, 4 in God's name fo it fhall be. I have no dread of the prince's prmy : for I have three thoufand barbed* horfes, which will be on our two wings, feven thoufand warders, and upwards of twenty thoufand men at Firms, the beft that can be found in all Caftille, Ga-licia, Portugal, Cordova and Sicily, befides ten thoufand crofs-bows, and full forty thoufand foot, armed with lances* darts, fwords and all forts of weapons, who have fworn to die rather than defert me» I truft therefore, fir Bertrand, that through God's grâce» in whom I put my truft, we fhall have the 299