of afcalado, they took the caftle, the knight and his lady in bed. They kept poffeffion of it, al-lowing the lady and the children to depart, but detained the knight four months in his own • cas-tle, until he had paid four thoufand francs for his ranfom. In (hort, after they had fufficiently har-raifed the country, they fold thefe two caftles, Ortingas and le Paillier, for eight thoufand francs, and then retired to Lourde, their principal gar-rifon. Such feats of arms and adventures were thefe companions daily practifing. •c It happened likewife at this time, that a very able man at arms, one of the garrifon of Lourde, a Gafcon, called le Mengeant de Sainte Bafile, fet out from Lourde with twenty-nine others, and rode towards the Touioufain and the Albigeois, feeking adventures. His wifhes were to furprife the caftle of Penne in ' the Albigeois, which he was nearly doing, but failed. When he found he was difappointed, he rode up to the gate, where he (kirmifhed, and feveral gallant deeds were done. * At this fame hour, the caftellan of Touloufe, fir Hugh de Froide-ville, had alfo made an ex-curfion with fixty lances, and by accident arrived at Penne whilst this fkirmifh was going forward. He and his men instantly difmounted, and ad-vanced to the barriers. Le Mengeant would have made off; but, as that was impoflible, he fought valiantly hand to hand with the knight: he be-haved gallantly, and wounded his adverfary in two or three places, but at last was made prifon-er; for he was not the strongest 5 and of his men few ' 137