clear himfelf from all the villanous a&ions he was charged with. Don Pedro, proud and prefumptuous as he was, not only refufed to obey the mandate, but even re-ceived with infults the ambafladors from the holy father, for which he fell grievoufly under his indig-nation. This wicked king {till perfevered in his fin.. It was then confidered how or by what means he could be correfted ; and it was determined that he was no longer worthy to bear the title of king, nor to poffefs a kingdom. He was therefore pub-licly excommunicated, in full confiftory, held in the apartments of the pope, at Avignon, and declared to be a heretick and infidel. They thought they fhould be able to punifli him, by means of the free companies who were in France. They requefted the king of Arragon, who hated very much this don Pedro, and Henry the baÛard of Spain, to come immediately to Avignon. The holy father then legitimated the birth of Henry the baftard, fo that he might be in a condition to obtain the kingdom from don Pedro, who had been curfed and condemned by the fentence of the pope. The king of Arragon offered a free paffage through his kingdom, with a fupply of men at arms, and ail forts of provifion and aid, to whoever fhould enter Caftille, and attack don Pedro to de-prive him of his throne. " . The king of France was much pleafed with this intelligence, and took great pains that fir Bertrand du Guefclin, whom fir John Chandos held as his prifoner, fhould be ranfomed. This was fixed at P 4 " one 215