ABSTRACT

W h e n the King of France had commanded the galleys to be built, and the victuals to be prepared in the districts of Toulouse and Carcassonne and of Beziers and of Narbonne, and also in the port of Marseilles and at Aigues Mortes and in the city of Narbonne, he sent the cardinal, who was Legate, and the seneschal of Toulouse to Montpellier, to arrange with the Lord King of Mallorca that they might have peaceful passage through his territory. And the Lord King of Mallorca went to Montpellier. And the cardinal admonished him and made him many offers on the part of the Holy Father, and so likewise did the seneschal on the part of the King of France. But their admonitions would have availed very little, had it not been for the agreement the Lord King of Aragon and the Lord King of Mallorca had come to at Gerona ; according to the general opinion they had agreed for two reasons especially that the

King of Mallorca should let them pass through his territory. Namely, the first reason was that he could not oppose the entrance into Roussillon in any way, and if they entered by force, Montpellier, Roussillon and Conflans and Cerdagne would be lost for ever. The other reason was that, if they did not enter that way, they would enter through Navarre or through Gascony, and would have a better entrance than through Roussillon ; it is fully acknowledged in Roussillon that it is a difficult thing to invade Catalonia from that side. And so, for these reasons, the Lord King of Mallorca complied with the exhortations of the Pope and of the King of France. And so the cardinal and the seneschal went joyously to the King of France, for they already con­ sidered the point gained. And what they had said to the King of France they said also to Charles, King of the Hat, and sent to tell the Pope who had great joy thereat. And at once, the King of France had payment for six months made to richs homens and to knights and retainers and mariners and all other persons, for they had plenty of money and the treasure of Saint Peter, which had been collected for the passage beyond sea, was converted for use against the King of Aragon. Therefore you may imagine what fruit it will bear.