leave the kings of Spain and Portugal to fight their own battles, for you are by no means in* terefted about them/ * My lord,* replied they, c under favour of your grace, wè cannot thus act, and you know it better than you fay : if you would be pleafed to confider, that as we have received pay from the king of Caftiile, we muft in confequence do fomething for it/ c Well/ anfwered the count, f that is true enough, but I will tell you what will happen to you in this expedition : you will either return fo very poor and naked the lice will eat you up and grow between your nails (fhewing them by his geftures of rubbing the two palms of his hands together what he meant), or you will be flain or made prifoners/ The knights burft out into laughter, and faid, 'My lord, we muft indeed try our fortunes/ The count then quitted this fubject, and, converfing with them on the manners of the Spaniards, faid they were nafty and loufy, and envious of the good fortune of others, advifing them to be on their guard. After fome other conversation, he called ' for fpices and wine, pf which all drank who were prefent. He then took his leave qf them (baking each by the hand, recommended them to the care of God, and entered hi? clpfet. The knights mounted their horfes at the gate of the caftle, as their men and equipages had already fet out for Sauvetere*, where they lodged that * Sauvetere,—-seven leagues from Pau. night % : §46