€ The count de Foix heard of all this, and, by great hafte and fending to all parts for aid lie-got into Palmiers through this difficult pafs. Affiftanôe came to him from several quarters', fo that he found himself at the head of twelve hundred lances : he would have given battle* without fail, ta fir John d'Armagnac,- if he had waited for it, but they retreated mto thé coun-try of Comtningies, leaving behind the money from Pamiers, as they had no time to flay for it. The count de Foix, however, did not hold them quit, but claimed the ransom, as he said he had deferred it; for he had come to their asffistance, and to drive his enemies out of the country. He paid with it his men at arms, and remained thefe until the good people had har-vetted their corn, finished their vintage, and put all their effects in safety.* 1 By my faith,' said I to the knight, c I have heard you with pleasure/ Thus difcoursing, we pafled near a castle called la Bretite, and then another castle called Bacelles, all in the county of Commingés. As I rode on, I faw on the other fijtr of the river a very handsome and large castte, With a town of goodly appearance. I asked the knight the name of this castle. He told me it was called. Montespiain,* and belonged to a cousin of the ;ount de Foix, who bears the cows in his arms^ named sir Roger d'Efpaign. « He is a great IxiFor* and land proprietor in this country and in the * Montespiain. Monteapan, in the diocese of Commkiges. TouloufaiiK 146