274 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

and handsomest princes in Christendom. With him
was his very juvenile wife, Eleanor of Castille, whom
he had recently espoused at Burgos, and brought over
the Pyrenees to Bordeaux, on his way to England.

But the procession did not stop here; for, as the
chronicler tells us, ‘the King of England had in his
own retinue a thousand handsome horses, ridden
by men of dignity and rank, besides waggons and
sumpter cattle, as well as a large number of choice
horses, so that the unusual novelty of the array
caused great astonishment to the French”

The meeting of the two kings was all that could
have been desired by the most enthusiastic advocate
of the French alliance who could have been found
in England; and, ‘at sight of one another, they
rushed into each other’s arms, and after mutual
greeting, entered into conversation.’ Naturally
enough, the first subject on which they touched
was the crusade from which Louis had just returned ;
and the saint-king seemed relieved to meet with a
man to whom he could, without derogating from his
dignity, unbosom his griefs.

‘My friend,’ said Louis, mournfully, * you cannot
imagine how pleasant your voice is to my ears; lct
us enjoy ourselves in talking together, for never,
perhaps, shall we have such an opportunity. In truth,’
added he, as they rode on side by side towards Paris,
‘it 1s no easy matter to tell how much bitterness of
spirit I endured while on my pilgrimage through
love of Christ.’

‘I believe it, Louis, my cousin,’ said Henry
quickly.