anxious and
precarious possession of the throne. His nobles fell every day the
victims of his severity: he put to death several of his natural
brothers, from groundless jealousy: each murder, by multiplying his
enemies, became the occasion of fresh barbarities; and as he was not
destitute of talents, his neighbors, no less than his own subjects, were
alarmed at the progress of his violence and injustice. The ferocity of
his temper, instead of being softened by his strong propensity to love,
was rather inflamed by that passion, and took thence new occasion
to exert itself. Instigated by Mary de Padilla, who had acquired the
ascendant over him, he threw into prison Blanche de Bourbon, his wife,
Bister to the queen of France; and soon after made way by poison for the
espousing of his mistress.

Henry, count of Transtamare, his natural brother, seeing the fate of
every one who had become obnoxious to this tyrant, took arms against
him; but being foiled in the attempt, he sought for refuge in France,
where he found the minds of men extremely inflamed against Peter, on
account of his murder of the French princess. He asked permission of
Charles to enlist the "companies" in his service, and to lead them into
Castile; where, from the concurrence of his own friends, and the enemies
of his brother, he had the prospect of certain and immediate success.
The French king, charmed with the project, employed Du Guesclin in
negotiating with the leaders of these banditti. The treaty was soon
concluded. The high character of honor which that general possessed,
made every one trust to his promises: though the intended expedition was
kept a secret, the "companies" implicitly enlisted under his standard;
and they required no other condition before their engagement, than an
assurance that they were not to be led against the prince of Wales in
Guienne. But that prince was so little averse to the enterprise, that he
allowed some gentlemen of his retinue to enter into the service under Du
Guesclin.

Du Guesclin, having completed his levies, led the army first to Avignon,
where the pope then resided, and demanded, sword in hand, an absolution
for his soldiers, and the sum of two hundred thousand livres. The first
was readily promised him; some more difficulty was made with regard to
the second. "I believe that my fellows," replied Du Guesclin, "may
make a shift to do without your absolution; but the money is absolutely
necessary." The pope the