ABSTRACT
A n d when all this was settled, both the Kings could hardly await the day of the combat, and King Charles sent to the King of Aragon, to say that he thought and had remembered that, as they both were of the highest birth in the world, it would not be suitable that they should fight with the smaller number, but with a hundred a side and that it could then be said that, when they entered those lists, each with a hundred knights, there would be present amongst them the two most accom plished knights of the world. And this was settled on both sides. And after that King Charles sent to say that he thought that King Edward of England1 would be, for both of them, the most acceptable king of the world, as he was one of the most upright Kings of the world and a good Christian; and that the city of Bordeaux, near the territories of both of them, was his, and that they should fight under his arbitrament in the said city of
Bordeaux ; and that on a fixed day, under penalty for treason, they should each, in person, be at Bordeaux and, on the day fixed, under penalty for treason, the lists should be ready. And this seemed to him the most convenient place of any belonging to a prince, or of any place he could think of. However, if the King of Aragon knew of a better, or more secure for both sides, and which could be got ready in a shorter time, let him say so ; but if this seemed well to him, that he should agree to it, in virtue of the oath he had sworn already through his messengers ; and, if he pleased, he would do the same through his messengers. And upon this the messengers came to the Lord King of Aragon and told him all King Charles had commanded they should say.
