The
prince of Wales, during the time he reigned in
Aquitaine and resided at
Bordeaux on the
Garonne, also pressed him to do this, for the
prince posed a threat to him on account of his country of
Béarn, saying that he wished him to hold it under his authority. The
count of Foix refused, declaring that
Béarn was free land, so that he did not owe homage to any lord whatsoever. The
prince, who was powerful and feared at that time, said that he would yet make him humble himself, and indeed he would have done something about it, for the
count of Armagnac and the
lord of Albret, who hated the count of Foix on account of his victories over them, were happy to put ideas into the
prince's mind; but the prince's expedition to
Spain put a stop to this, as did
Sir John Chandos, the prince's most beloved advisor, who strongly opposed the prince's intended war with the
count of Foix. Moreover
Sir John had great love and respect for the
count for his valiant deeds. However, the
count, who was mistrustful of the
prince, knowing him to be powerful and belligerent, began to amass great wealth to aid in defending himself should he be attacked. He imposed taxes on his country, and on all the towns which now exist, and will do as long as he lives. Several times a year he takes two francs for each hearth, though the strong take some of the burden for the weak. There he has found, and continues to find, great wealth year on year. It is incredible how willingly his subjects pay up, for among them there is not one Frenchman, Englishman or pillager who would rob his fellows of a single penny. His whole land is as protected as can be, as justice is so strictly upheld there, for in matters of justice he is the most severe and just lord that exists.'
With that we came to the town of
Tournay where our lodging was arranged. The
knight stopped speaking of this business, and I did not inquire any further since I knew where he had left off and that I could easily remind him where to pick it up again, for we still had some travelling to do together.
That evening we were comfortably lodged at the
Inn of the Star. As supper was being served, the governor of Mauvezin,
Sir Raymond de Lanne, came to meet and dine with us. He brought with him four full bottles of white wine as good as any I had drunk on the road. The two knights spoke together at length and it was very late when
Sir Raymond departed and returned to the
castle of Mauvezin.
In the morning we mounted our horses and left
Tournay. We crossed the
river Arros at a ford and rode towards the city of
Tarbes, entering
Bigorre and leaving the
Lourdes and
Bagnères road and the
castle of Montgaillard to our left. We headed for a village known in the country as
Cieutat, skirting it and coming to a wood on the
lands of the lord of Barbazan, quite close by a castle called
Mascaras, at the entrance of the
Pas de l'Arrêt. The
knight said to me, 'Master
Jehan, this is the
Pas de l'Arrêt.'
I looked at the country round about me. It seemed very strange to me, and I would have imagined myself to be in great danger and indeed lost, had it not been for the
knight's company. Then I recalled what he had said to me two or three days earlier about the
Pas de l'Arrêt and the
Mongat de Lourdes. So I reminded him of this, saying,
'My lord, the day before yesterday you told me that when we arrived at the
Pas de l'Arrêt, you would tell me all about the
Mongat de Lourdes and how he died.'
'Indeed I did,' said the
knight.
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