xviS " much talk of him, and he retained him in his " houfehold." This expreffion, as I have before faid, does not mean that Froiffart was lodged in the cattle, but only that his expences were defrayed by the count during the winter he pafled at his court. Hi& moil: ufual occupation, during that time, was to amufe Gallon, after his fupper, by reading to him the romance of Meliador, which he had brought with him. Every evening he repaired to- the cattle at midnight, which 'was the* hour the Count fat down to table, and none dared to interrupt the reading. Gatton himfelf, who liftened with the greateft attention, only fpoke to afk queftions concerning the book ; and he never fent him away, before he had made him drink all the wine which had remained on the table, from his own botile. Sometimes this prince tookpleafuretomformhim of thofe particulars of the wars in which he had diftinguifhed himfelf. Froiflart did not gain lefs information from his frequent conversations with the knights and efquires whom he found affembled at Ortez ; more efpecially from the knights of Arragon and of England, attached to the houfehold of the duke of Lancafter, who at that time refided at Boairdeaux. They related to him all they knew of the battles of the kings John of Caflille, and John of Portugal, and their allies. Among others, the famous Baftot de Mauléon, in giving him the hiftory ©f his own life, related to him alfo the particulars of almoft all the wars which had taken place in the dif ferent