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Rh Pedro. 'I think, Sir Fernando, since the prince's bounty is stretched so far, that we may make further use of his gracious goodness to the extent of fifty thousand crowns. Good Sir William Felton, here, will doubtless settle the matter with you.'

The stout old English councillor looked somewhat blank at this prompt acceptance of his master's bounty.

'If it please you, sire,' he said, 'the public funds are at their lowest, seeing that I have paid twelve thousand men of the companies, and the new taxes—the hearth tax and the wine tax—not yet come in. If you could wait until the promised help from England comes'

'Nay, nay, my sweet cousin,' cried Don Pedro. 'Had we known that your own coffers were so low, or that this sorry sum could have weighed one way or the other, we had been loth indeed' 'Enough, sire, enough!' said the prince, flushing with vexation. 'If the public funds be, indeed, so backward, Sir William, there is still, I trust, my own private credit, which hath never been drawn upon for my own uses, but is now ready in the cause of a friend in adversity. Go, raise this money upon our own jewels, if nought else may serve, and see that it be paid over to Don Fernando.'

'In security I offer' cried Don Pedro.

'Tush! tush!' said the prince. 'I am not a Lombard, sire. Your kingly pledge is my security, without bond or seal. But I have tidings for you, my lords and lieges, that our brother of Lancaster is on his way for our capital with four hundred lances and as many archers to aid us in our venture. When he hath come, and when our fair consort is recovered in her health, which I trust by the grace of God may be ere many weeks be past, we shall then join the army at Dax, and set our banners to the breeze once more.'

A buzz of joy at the prospect of immediate action rose up from the group of warriors. The prince smiled at the martial ardour which shone upon every face around him.