Edward III. made vast preparations for renewing his ill-
authorized assault against France, and he peremptorily or-
dered the dismissal, out of the kingdom, of thirty-five of
the French followers of John, — among them Graus de la
Buigne, who held the threefold post of chaplain, poet, and
falconer. The servants of the other prisoners were also
sent away. The household of John and his son Philip was



KINa JOHN IN THE SAVOT. 203

reduced to a score of persons. The royal captive energeti-
eally protested against the degradation, and he obtained an
addition of nineteen individuals. Among these were Tassin
de Breuil, his tailor; Q-irart of Orleans, the multifarious
artist ; and a person who is named Jean de Milan, but who
was not so noble as the sound of the name would seem to
imply, for he was only " John of the Kite," and was the
falconer of Philip, the King's son.
After a four months' residence at Hertford, the French
King, with a diminished " state," was transferred to Somer-
ton. The monarch was under the ward of Sir WilHam
Deynecourt, who had in his train three knights, twenty-two
men-at-arms, and twenty archers, under which escort John
arrived at the castle of Somerton on the 4th of August,
1359, and was respectfully welcomed by the constable. Sir
Henry de Greystock.
