• they know it Would be more to their advantage to decline it. This kingdom of Caftille is not fo plea-fant a country to make war in as France, where there are plenty of large villages, a fair country, fine rivers, ponds, rich paftures, and agreeable and fubftantial wines for men at arms to refrefh them-felves with, arid a fun and climate finely temperate ; but here every thing is the reverfe/ € What the deuce/ faid others, c what bufinefs had the duke to bring his wife and daughters with him, fince he came hither for conqueft ? It was quite unreafon-able, for they have been a great hindrance to him. It is well known throughout all Caftille, that he and his brother are the lawful heirs of the crown, in right of their wives, who were daughters of don Pedro ; but, with regard to the conqueft or the fur-render of any towns, ladies can do but little/ This was the language held in different parts of the eng-lifh army, by many knights and fquires when among themfelves. They were much rejoiced on learning that the king of Portugal was near at hand ; and when he was within two miles of the town, the duke of Lan-cafter and his knights mounted their horfes, and went forth to meet him* There was much appa-rent joy, and the king and the duke, as well as the englifh and portuguefe knights, teftified great plea-fure at meeting. The army of Portugal was be-hind, under the command of fix great barons of that country, namely, Ponafie d'Acunha, Vafco Martin de Merlo, the Pofdich Dofhedegouffe, Sal- vafe 57Ù