"My lord," they replied, "since we have come this far, we would rather make the journey."
"God save you, then!" said the
count, "but let us dine now, for it is time."
Then the
count with his barons and knights entered the hall where the tables were set out. They partook of a magnificent and leisurely dinner and were served with everything befitting such a day.
After dinner the
count of Foix led the knights to his gallery where he was accustomed to amusing himself after dinner, and addressed them again, saying,
"Dear Sirs, it pains me to see you leave my country; not that I begrudge your advancement and honour, for I would enhance it in every way, gladly, but I am very sorry for you since you are the flower of chivalry of my country of
Béarn and are going into foreign lands to fight. I advise you, and have done so before, to abandon this voyage and leave the
king of Spain and the
king of Portugal to fight their own war, for it is no interest of yours."
"My lord," they replied, "with all due respect, we cannot do that and you know this better than you let on. Please accept, if you will, that we have received both wages and gifts from the
king of Castile, and must therefore earn them."
"Well," said the
count, "you speak well, but I shall tell you what will happen to you on this expedition. Either you will return so poor and naked that lice will smother you and you will crush them between your fingernails…," and he showed them how by pinching his thumbs together, "or you will all be killed or captured."
The knights burst out laughing and said, "My lord, we must take that chance!"
After that the
count spoke of other things and let that business lie. He spoke to them about the conduct and nature of the
Spanish, how they are dirty and lice-ridden, and more than envious of the good fortune of others, and that all of this was sound advice for them to heed. When he had spoken of many things, he called for wine and spices. He drank, followed by everyone present. He then took his leave of them, taking each by the hand and commending him to God, before retiring to his chamber. The knights mounted at the castle gate, as their men and equipment had already gone on ahead to
Sauveterre. They lodged there themselves that night, then set off the next day, entering the
Basque country and taking the road to
Pamplona. They passed through safely, for they paid for everything they took.
SHF 3-31 syncDuring the time that the
king of Castile was outside
Lisbon and had already been there at his siege for about a year, the citizens of
Santarém rebelled against the
king of Castile, closing their gates and saying that neither
Frenchmen nor
Spaniards would enter their town because of the harm and oppression they had visited upon them. Some say the blame lay with
Sir Geoffroi Richon's and Sir
Geoffroi de Parthenay's men who commanded companies of
Bretons who would steal whatever they could find, not knowing what it was to pay for anything. So the citizens took possession of the town and of the two castles, saying that they would hold them against any man who might wish to do them harm.
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