enry to it.

These measures would have troubled Pedro little had it not been that
France groaned under the great companies, and the French king and the
pontiff at once entered into negotiations with them to support Henry in
his war against his brother. It was necessary that a leader in whom
the companies should have confidence should be chosen, and Du Guesclin,
still a prisoner of Chandos, who had captured him at Auray, was
selected, and the pope, the King of France, and Don Henry, paid between
them the 100,000 francs demanded for his ransom. Du Guesclin on his
release negotiated with the leaders of the great companies, and as the
pope and king promised them large gratuities they agreed to march
upon Spain. They were joined by a great number of French knights and
men-at-arms.

The expedition was under the nominal command of John of Bourbon, but the
real guidance was in the hands of Du Guesclin. As the army marched past
Avignon they worked upon the terrors of the pope until he paid them
200,000 francs in gold. France was filled with joy at the prospect of a
riddance of the free companies which had so long been a prey upon them.
They were, too, eager to avenge upon the cruel King of Spain the murder
of his queen, who was a princess of France. The same feeling animated
the people of Aquitaine, and Calverley, D'Ambrecicourt, Sir Walter
Hewitt, Sir John Devereux, Sir John Neville, and several other
distinguished knights, with a large train of men-at-arms, joined the
adventurers. The great army moved through Arragon, whose king in every
way facilitated their progress. As they entered Castile the whole
people declared in favour of Henry, and Pedro, deserted by all, fled to
Bordeaux and besought aid from the Prince of Wales.

Between Pedro and the English court a firm alliance had existed from
the time when the former so nearly married the Princess Joan, and
immediately the king heard of the expedition against him he issued
orders that no English knights should take part in it. The order,
however, came too late. The English knights had already marched into
Spain with Du Guesclin. As for the English who formed no inconsiderable
portion of the great companies, they had already declined to obey the
king, when, at the insistence of the pope and the King of France, he had
ordered them to disband.

On Pedro's arrival at Bordeaux with his three daughters and his son,
they were kindly received by the Black Prince, courtesy and kind