The two squires had torches lit, and we set off together from the inn to go up to the castle, as did all of the knights and squires who were lodged in the town.
SHF 3-27 sync
Third Book, Chapter 18 [1388-(1384-85)]
Of the way of life and rule of the count of Foix, and how the town of Santarém rebelled against the violence done to them for which they killed many.
It would be impossible for the disposition and ways of the noble
count of Foix to be spoken of or commended too highly, for during the time I spent at
Orthez I found it to be so and much more than I can say, but I know that while I was there, I saw many things which gave me great pleasure. On Christmas Day, I saw sitting at his table four bishops of his country, two
Clementines and two
Urbanists. There were the
bishop of Pamiers and the
bishop of Lescar who were
Clementines and sat at the top, and then the
bishop of Aire and the
bishop of Oloron (on the borders of the
Bordelais and
Bayonne) who were
Urbanists. Then sat the
count of Foix, followed by the
viscount of Rocaberti of
Gascony, the
viscount of Brunquel, the
viscount of Gousserant and an English knight whom the
duke of Lancaster, who was residing then at
Libourne, had sent there, and this knight's name was
Robert de Willoughby. At another table sat five abbots and two knights from
Aragon named
Sir Raimond de Saint-Florentin and
Sir Martin de Roanès. At another sat knights from
Gascony and
Bigorre, first the
lord of Antin, then
Sir Gaillard de la Motte,
Sir Raymon de Castelnau, the
lord of Caumont, a Gascon, the
lord of Caupenne, the
lord of Lanne, the
lord of Montferrat,
Sir Raimon de Benac,
Sir Petiton de Curton, the
lord of Balansun and
Sir Audgair, the Basque Monk, and at the other tables were a large number of knights from
Béarn.
Sir Espan de Lyon was chief steward of the hall along with four knights assisting him,
Sir Chiquart de Bois-Verdun,
Sir Pierre de Gabaston,
Sir Menaut de Navailles and
Sir Pierre des Bans of
Béarn. His two bastard brothers,
Sir Arnaud-Guillaume and
Sir Pierre de Béarn served at table, and his two sons served him,
Sir Yvain de Leschielle placed the dishes and
Sir Gracien bore his cup. I can tell you that there were many minstrels in the hall, belonging to the
count as well as to strangers, and they all merrily went about their minstrel's art. That day the
count gave, to the minstrels as well as to the heralds, the sum of five hundred francs, and he clothed the
duke of Touraine's minstrels, who were present, in cloth of gold furred with miniver
4, garments valued at two hundred francs. The dinner lasted until four hours after None.
This is why I speak so gladly of the ways of the noble
count of Foix, for I stayed twelve weeks at his court and was well attended to in every way. During the time I spent at
Orthez I was able to learn news both current and past from all of the countries I wished. What is more, the noble knight
Sir Espan de Lyon, with whom I had arrived in the land and in whom I had confided my aims, acquainted me with knights and squires who were able to inform me of everything I was keen to know.
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