ABSTRACT
W h e n King Charles had heard the new s, as well of the imprisonment of the Prince as of the battle of the counts and the events of Agosta and all the other damage he had taken and was taking every day, he bethought himself to apply to the Pope and then to the King of France, and proceeded to plot and set on foot all he could against the King of Aragon ; and he decided to go to Naples, for he feared greatly it might rebel. And with him came the count of Artois and other counts and barons and knights ; there were full two thousand. And they went so long on their journeys that they came to Naples ; but they came there at such a time that, certainly, out of all the two thousand knights not two hundred returned to France, for all died in the war in Calabria and at Otranto. On one day alone there died at Otranto more than three hundred knights and so some died likewise in Taranto and, in the plain of Saint Martin, there died more than five hundred. What shall I tell you ? They could not meet the Catalans and Aragonese anywhere without being killed or defeated. And this happened through the work of God, Who brought down their pride and exalted the humility of the Lord King of Aragon and of his sons and followers. And you can recognize this in the matter of the prisoners, whom, for the honour of God, they let go free. And it cannot be said that King Charles let go anyone who had come into his power or into that of his followers ; but rather, when they took anyone, they cut off his
hands and put out his eyes. And this, for a long time, the admiral and the other followers of the Lord King of Aragon suffered and endured ; but, at last, seeing this great insolence the admiral resolved to cut off hands and put out eyes also. And when they saw this,.they repented, yet not for the honour of God, nor from com passion, but from fear of the admiral. And thus it happens with many people, that more is obtained from them by ill-treatment, than by good. Wherefore it would be better for everyone to repent of his evil vice through love or fear of God, than when God casts His anger upon him.
