I am willing and eager to fight at all events ; but I aik a truce for three days to build it/ ' The lord of Beaumont, feeing the eagernefs of his nephew, complied with his requefl, went home to prepare himfelf, and rodo along the banks of the Scheld. accompanied with two other knights, the lord of Fagnoelez and fir Florens de Biaurieu, with his pennon alone borne before him., Perceiving on the oppofite bank a knight from Normandy, whom he knew by his arms; he called to him— My lord of Maiibuiffon, my lord of Maubuiflbn, I wifh to fpeak to you/ The knight, who knew him, flopped his horfe, and aiked what were his commands. * I ihall beg of you,* faid the lord of Beaumont, * to have the kindnefs to go to the king of France and to his council, and fay, that the earl of Hainault has fent me to alk a truce for the time, neceffary to throw a bridge over this river, in order that our armies may pafs. You will bring me here the anfwer, and I will wait for you/ 4 By my faith, that I will cheerfully do/ faid the knight : when flicking fpurs into his horfe, he galloped up to the king's tent, where the duke of Normandy and a great many of the nobility were. He related his. meiTage, and had ihortly this anfwer :—4 My lord of Maubuiffon, you will tell him who has fent you " hither, that it is our intention to keep the earl of Hainault in the fame fiate in which he is at prefent; and we will make him mortgage his lands; for he ihall be attacked on all fides, and, whenever we pleafe, we will enter fo far into his country, that we will burn the whole of it/ The