with the Marquess of Carabas, who, from his occurrence in the history of _Puss in Boots_, was presumably a noble of Catalonia. Lucca was reached on the eve of Ascension Day, and the feast itself was spent at Pistoia, where the coinage in use was 'Pisans,' the 'gros tournois' being worth 4_s._ 2_d._ of Pisan money. The same currency continued in use in Florence and Siena, after which 'curteneys' are introduced, the 'gros tournois' being worth 5_s._ of this money, which, however, was only in use for two days, during which halts were made at Acquapendente and Santa Cristina, a town on the shore of the Lake of Bolsena, which name commemorates that saint's escape from martyrdom by drowning, thanks to the miraculous buoyancy of her millstone, on which she floated to shore as St. Piran floated on his stone to the delectable duchy of Cornwall. After this the accounts are kept at Viterbo in 'paperins,' 3_s._ 4_d._ of papal money being equivalent to the 'gros tournois,' changing next day, for the last time on the way out, to 'provis,' at 2_s._ 10_d._ Passing Sutri and Isola, Rome was reached on Whit Monday. Here they found Master Thomas of Southwark, who had been sent on ahead to hire lodgings and furniture, and here they spent six weeks. [Illustration: '_St. Piran._'] Pope Boniface having agreed to act as arbiter between the Kings of France and England, Sir Hugh de Vere's mission was accomplished and the embassy left Rome on the afternoon of Thursday, July 9, the Count of Savoy accompanying them as far as Isola, their first halting-place. The route followed as far as Pistoia was the same as that taken on the way out, but by rather shorter stages, as several of the party appear to have been knocked up by the heat. At San Quirico, between Acquapendente and Siena, hackneys were hired for the invalids and special dishes were prepared for them--eggs, honey, and apples being bought 'to make appilmus,' as well as 'verjus, peresill et autre sause.' Ten miles out of Pistoia, at Buggiano, a halt had to be made and rooms hired for the sick members of the party, who were left here while the others went on to Lucca. Here a fortnight's stay was made, and when the journey was resumed, on August 5, progress was very slow. Possibly in order to get the benefit of the sea air a different route was followed from this point. The halt at Lucca had not restored the strength of the invalids, and the party crept on at about five miles a day, stopping at insignificant villages, such as 'Pont Sent Pere' and 'Valprumaye' between Lucca and Camajore, 'Fregedo' on the coast between Pietrasanta and Sarzana, 'Pamarne' and 'La Matillane' between Sarzana, where a three days' halt was made, and Borghetto. It would seem that there was a particularly bad piece of road after Sestri, as Sir Hugh and the other sick persons were taken by boat from Sestri to Chiavari, where a whole week was spent. During this halt Wilkoc the clerk was sent into