CHAP. XXXV. THE COUNT DE BLOIS SENDS TWO HUNDRED LANCES TO SERVE THE KING IN HIS EXPEDI-TION TO GUELDRES.—THE AMBASSADORS BRING FAVOURABLE ANSWERS FROM THE EM-PEROR OF GERMANY.—THE KING OF FRANCE CONTINUES HIS MARCH TOWARD THE FOREST OF ARDENNES.—SIR HELION DE LIGNAC MAKES HIS REPORT TO THE DUKE OF BERRY, TOUCH-ING HIS MARRIAGE WITH THE DAUGHTER OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER. rTPHE great lords and barons of France were A bufily employed in making their preparar tions for the expedition to Gueldres ; and thofe from the more, diftant parts of the kingdom, in Auvergne, Limoufin, Ôuercy, Rouergue, and other provinces, had already begun their march towards Champagne. The greater numbers came from Picardy, Burgundy, Champagne, Bar, and Lorraine, becaufe they were nearer the place of affembly. The villages in France were not fo harfhly treated as ufual ; for the king had for-bidden, under pain of death, that any thing ihould be taken from them without payment, Notwithftanding this order was made very public, the men at arms on their march did much mifchief; for, though the punifhment was fo heavy, they could not abftain from what they 12§ had