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tered troops and removed into the kingdom of Arragon, where he renewed his alliance with that King, who promised to aid him in the recovery of the throne he had been driven from. The unparalleled cruelties exercised by Don Pedro over his helpless fubjects, whom he now regarded as vanquished rebels, revived all the animofity of the Caftilians against him. Don Henry took advantage of this renewed diffatisfaction, and affifted by the King of Arragon, and Sir Bertrand du Guefclin, who immediately on his release had raised a confiderable body of French and marched to his aid, he fought out his opponent. battle enfued, in which Don Pedro was defeated; and retiring with difficulty from the field, threw himfelf with a few troops into the caftle of Montrel, whither his victorious Brother followed him and laid fiege to the castle.

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Don Pedro finding, that from a fcarcity of provifions he should not be able to hold out

long,

long, refolved to attempt an escape: accordingly about the hour of midnight, accompanied only by twelve perfons, he iffued out in great filence, and was favoured by the darkness of the night. He however had not proceeded far before Sir Bertrand du Guefclin, who had forefeen this attempt, and was therefore the more watchful, alarmed the guard on hearing the trampling of horses; rushing immediately into the road from whence the found proceeded, he laid hold of the bridle of the firft horfe he met, which happened to be Don Pedro's, telling him that he was a dead man if he offered to move on. The Spanish King then discovering himself, endeavoured to corrupt the fidelity of the French Knight, by a promise of two hundred thoufand crowns of gold if he would permit him to escape; but Sir Bertrand, faithful to the cause he had espoused, fecured the King with all his train, and carried them to his

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He had not been long there before Don Henry, attended by the Duke of Rochebreton and fome other Noblemen, came in : as Don Henry entered he cried aloud, "Where is that Son of a Whore the Jew, "who calls himself King of Caftile?" Don Pedro could not contain himself at this infult, but boldly replied, "Tis thou that "art the Son of a Whore, and I the legi"timate Son of King Alphonfo:" at the fame time feizing Don Henry, he threw him upon a bench, and with his dagger would certainly have flain him, had not Lord Rochebreton laid hold of Don Pedro's leg and turned him on his back, thus expreffing himself, "I neither make King, "nor marr King." Don Henry recovering himself by this timely affistance, drew out a long knife and plunged it into his Brother's heart, fo that he inftantly died. Thus fell Don Pedro, and King Henry in confequence became fully established on the throne of Caftile. The defcendents of the former however, after fome time, re-afcended

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it; for Henry, Grandfon of Don Henry, taking to wife the Princefs Catherine, fole daughter and heirefs of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, by his second wife Conftance, eldest Daughter of King Pedro, the families became united, and he reigned as the true and lawful King of Caftile and Leon.

The death of Don Pedro put an end to every expectation of those fums of money being paid, which he was indebted to the forces who had regained him his crown. The Prince of Wales, however, more faithful to his promise, and tenacious of his honour, fully recompenfed all those who had served him in that expedition; but in order to do this, he was obliged to load his fubjects with taxes: this gave them such disgust, that many of them threw themselves into the arms of their ancient Sovereign the King of France; and unable from his ill health to oppose them in perfon, he had the vexation to fee a great part of his late-acquired do

minions

minions torn from him. Agreeable to the advice of his Council, he endeavoured to raise the neceffary fupplies by a foüage, or a tax on all chimnies throughout his principality: the fum imposed on each chimney was a livre, which it was fuppofed would produce twelve hundred thousand livres per annum ; but this was fruftrated by the oppofition many of the Lords made to it: those who lived near his court, and were immediately exposed to his refentment, fubmitted to it, though with extreme reluctance; whilst others abfolutely refused compliance. All the Prince's amiable qualities were not fufficient to mitigate or affuage the animofity which was revived on this account in the breaft of the inhabitants of Acquitain against the English. The Counts of Armagnac, of Perigort, and of Comignes, the Lord d'Albert, and some other Nobles withdrew themselves to Paris, carrying their complaints to Charles the French King, as their Lord Paramount, against these oppreffions.

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