gold and silver, and that you may have the throne after the death of Peter, who reigns wrongfully, by which journey you have, in the first place, injured your own blood, and troubled me and my people: whence it has come to pass, that after you have so ruined your friends, and you and your people have been all famished, and suffered great pain and labour, Peter has deceived you by cheating and trickery, for he has not kept faith nor covenant with you, for which, by my faith, I thank him heartily.’ When Bertrand had related his reasons, the Prince rose, and could not help saying that on his soul Bertrand was right, and the barons said that he had spoken truth. Then was there great joy stirring all round and about, and they said of Bertrand, one to another, ‘See there a brave Breton.’ But the Prince called, and said to him, ‘You shall not escape me without paying a good ransom; and yet it vexes me that you obtain such favour. But men say that I keep you prisoner because I fear you; and to the end that every one may cease to suspect this, and may know that I neither fear nor care for you, I will deliver you on payment of sufficient ransom.’ ‘Sir,’ said Bertrand, ‘I am a poor knight of little name, and not so born as that I should find help in plenty. And besides, my estate is mortgaged for purchase of war–horses, and also I owe in this town full ten thousand florins. Be moderate, therefore, and deliver, me.’ ‘Where will you go, fair Sir?’ said the Prince. ‘Sir,’ said Bertrand, ‘I will go where I may regain my loss, and more I say not.’ ‘Consider then,’ said the Prince, ‘what ransom you will give me: for what you will shall be enough for me.’ ‘Sir,’ said Bertrand, ‘I trust you will not stoop to retract your meaning. And since you are content to refer it to my pleasure, I ought not to value myself too low. So I will give and engage for my freedom one hundred thousand double golden florins.’ And when the Prince heard him his colour changed, and he looked round at his knights, saying, ‘Does he mean to make game of me that he offers such a sum? for I would gladly quit him for the quarter.’ ‘Bertrand,’ said he, ‘neither can you pay it, nor do I wish such a sum; so consider again.’ ‘Sire,’ said Bertrand, ‘since you will not so much, I place myself at sixty thousand double florins; you shall not have less, sobeit you will discharge me.’ ‘Well,’ said the Prince, ‘I agree to it.’ Then said Bertrand loudly, ‘Sir, Prince Henry may well and truly vaunt that he will die King of Spain, cost him what it may, and he will lend me one half my ransom, and the King of France the other; and if I can neither go nor send to these two, I would get all the spinstresses in France to spin it rather than that I should remain longer in your hands.’[130] And when the Prince had heard him he thus said: ‘What sort of man is this? He startles at nothing, either in act or thought, no more than if he had all the gold which is in the world. He has set himself at