The English contingent, he informed them, consisted of eight thousand men, of whom an advance body would leave Dover for Calais under his command to-morrow.
For the present he offered them, with the King's permission, commissions in the Arquebusiers, with posts on his own staff. If this met their views it would be necessary for them to join their regiment this very night: the notice was short, but the case was urgent; were they ready?
The young men eagerly gave willing consent, and so the matter was decided, and the visitors rose to depart.
"I have much to do to-day, Sir John," said Lord Clinton, "and so, I doubt not, will be the case with these young gentlemen. I pray you pardon so short a visit and so hurried a departure."
Don Renard took an affectionate leave of his two protégés, and the momentous interview was over.
Intense activity prevailed at Gray's Inn that day.
There were many preparations to be made, many farewells to be said and counsels to be given.
It was late in the evening that the young soldiers, each accompanied by a trusty serving-man, mounted their horses for Dover, where they were to embark with the troops for Calais.