[1] About the same time, or rather in the yeare last past as some hold, it fortuned that the vicount of Melune a French man, fell sicke at London, and perceiuing that death was at hand, Matth. Paris. he called vnto him certeine of the English barons, which remained in the citie, vpon safegard thereof,The vicount of Melune discouereth the purpose of Lewes. and to them made this protestation:

I lament (saith he) your destruc|tion and desolation at hand, bicause ye are ignorant of the perils hanging ouer your heads. For this vn|derstand, that Lewes, and with him 16 earles and barons of France, haue secretlie sworne (if it shall fortune him to conquere this realme of England, & to be crowned king) that he will kill, banish, and confine all those of the English nobilitie (which now doo serue vnder him, and persecute their owne king) as traitours and rebels, and furthermore will dispos|sesse all their linage of such inheritances as they now hold in England. And bicause (saith he) you shall not haue doubt hereof, I which lie here at the point of death, doo now affirme vnto you, and take it on the perill of my soule, that I am one of those sixteen that haue sworne to performe this thing: wherefore I ad|uise you to prouide for your owne safeties, and your realmes which you now destroie, and kéepe this thing secret which I haue vttered vnto you.The vicount of Melune dieth.