430 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



own age, a kind and liberal familiarity; while he beftowed 

 upon the young ones carefles and commendations, fweeten- 

 ed with the hopes that they might fee better times. 



His firfl care was to provide them all plentifully with 

 apparel and every neceffary. His brothers he dreflbd like 

 himfelf, and his uncles Hill more richly. He then divided 

 a large fum of money among the.m all. 



In the month of December, which is the pleafantefl 

 feafon of the whole year, the fun being moderately hot, 

 the Iky conftantly clear and without a cloud, all the court 

 was encamped under the mountain, and the inferior 

 fort llrewed along the grafs. All were treated at the ex- 

 pence of the king, paffing the day and night in continual 

 feilivals. It is but right, faid the king, that I fliould pay 

 for a pleafure fo great that none of my predecelTors ever 

 dared to tafte it ; and of all that noble affembly none feem- 

 ed to enjoy it more fmcerely than the king. All pardons fo- 

 licited for criminals at this time were granted. In this man- 

 ner having fpent a whole month, before his dcpartm-e the 

 king called for the deftar, (/. e. the treafury book) in which 

 the account of the fum allowed for the maintenance of thefe 

 prifoners is ftated ; and having inquired ftridly into the 

 expenditure, and cancelled all grants that had been made of 

 any part of that fum to others, and provided in future for 

 the full, as well as yearly payment of it, he, for his lad acT:, 

 gave to the governor of the mountain a large acceflion of 

 territory, to make him ample amends for the lofs of the 

 dues he was underftood to be intitlcd to from that revenue. 

 After this, he embraced them all, affuring them of his con- 

 flant protedion; and, mounting his horfc, hetook the keep- 



■' ' er 



