bringing their* imfams to Beurdeanx» or odwr ' places more agreeable to them. Each ipw departed, and returned to his own country. The companies nMurdtei to jcia the prince, who received them very gracioufly, and feat them to their quartos in a country, called Bafques, wMcl is among tic mountains. I will Hour relate the end of tMs bufifeefs, in wb*t manner the vifeotrat of Narboone, the high ftewafd of Toulonfe mà the other prifQMre, i pid tWr ranfoms* Pope Urban V. who at this time reigned, hated mortally thefe free companies, whom he had for a long rime excommunicated on account of their wicked deeds. Upon being informed of this en* gagement, and how the vifcount of Narbomft, having exerted himfelf to the utmoft to fucceed in his attack upon them, had been miferably defeated, he was in a great rage. This was increafed, on learning that, having given pledges for their ran-ibms, they were returned home. He immediately ient expreiles to them, ftri&ly forbidding them to pay any ranfom, and at the fame time dtipenfations and absolutions from all engagements on this fufejeâ. Thus were thefe lords, knights and fquires, who •lad been made prifoners at Montauban, acquitted "#f their ranfoms ; for they dared not difobey the 'orders of the pope. It turned out Luckily for fora?, 4ut qui» the contrary to the compamqns, -who wci^e expe&ing the money : indeed they were » want of It, and intended out of it to equip themfelves hand- S 2 fomely, «19