in good keeping, who shall for my help lend me the keys of it.’ And an officer who heard him said, ‘Sir, you are stout–hearted, it seems to you that every thing which you would have must happen.’ ‘By my faith,’ said Bertrand, ‘you are right, for a dispirited man is nothing better than beaten and discomfited.’ And the rest said, ‘that he was like one enchanted, for he was proof against every shock.’ Then he was brought to the chamber where was the Prince of Wales, and with him John Chandos, a true and valiant knight. And had they chosen to believe him, they would long before have disposed of the war: for he gave much good advice. And also there were Oliver de Clisson and other knights, before whom came Bertrand, wearing a grey coat. And when the Prince saw him, he could not keep from laughing, from the time he saw him. Then he said, ‘Well, Bertrand, how fare you?’ And Bertrand approached him, bowing a little, and said, ‘Sir, when it shall please you, I may fare better: many a day have I heard the rats and mice, but the song of birds it is long since I heard.[129] I shall hear them when it is your pleasure.’ ‘Bertrand,’ said the Prince, ‘that shall be when you will; it will depend only on yourself, so that you will swear, and make true oath, never to bear arms against me, nor these others, nor to assist Henry of Spain. So soon as you will swear this, we will fully set you free, and pay that you owe, and besides give 10,000 florins to equip you anew, if you consent to this; else you shall not go.’ ‘Sire,’ said Bertrand, ‘my deliverance then will not come to pass; for before I do so, may I lie by the leg in prison while I live. God willing, I will never be a reproach to my friends. For by Him who made the world, I will serve with my whole heart those whom I have served, and whose I have been from my outset. These are the good King of France, the noble Dukes of Anjou, of Berry, of Burgundy, and of Bourbon; whose I have been, as became me. But so please you, suffer me to go. For you have held me too long in prison, wrongfully and without cause; and I will tell you how I had gone from France, I and my people meaning to go against the Saracens. And so I had promised Hugh de Carvalay, intending to work out my salvation.’ ‘Why then went you not straight without stopping?’ said the Prince. ‘I will tell you,’ said Bertrand in a loud voice. ‘We found Peter,—the curse of God confound him! who had long since thrice falsely murdered his noble Queen, born of the noble line of Bourbon, and of the blood of my Lord, St. Louis, which lady was your cousin by the best blood in your body. Straightway then I stopped, to take vengeance for her, and to help Henry; for well I know, and surely I believe, that he is the right king and the true heir of Spain. And also to destroy, and put to an end, Jews and Saracens, of whom there are too many in these parts. Now through great pride you have come to Spain to the best of your ability, both through covetousness of