* Confider,* faid fome of the moft prudent c what has been the confequence of the defence of Ribadavia, which was much flyonger than our town : they held out for near a month, but no rein-forcements were fent them. The king^ of Caftille* as we underftand, looks on all Galicia, as far as the river Duero, as loft, and you will never, this year, fee any of the French enter it. Let us, therefore, handfomely furrender, without making any oppofi-r tion, in the like manner the other towns of Caftille have done.* 6 It is well faid/ the hearers replied, and they unanimoufly agreed to adopt this opinion. 1 But how {hall We manage it V faid fome of them. * In God's name,' replied thofe who had propofed the furrender, 6 we will go out to meet the Englifh, and prefent them the keys of our town ; for they are a civil people, and will not hurt us ;• if we re-ceive them kindly, we /hall have their thanks.* Having determined on this plan, fifty of the prin-cipal inhabitants went out of the town as foon as they heard the Englifh were approaching, and waited on the road, about a quarter of a league off.-News was brought to the englifh army, /hat thofe of Muros had come out of their town, not in hof-tile • array, but with the intention of furrendering and offering the keys of the place, which they had brought with them. Some of the lords rode for-ward to know the truth of it, but ordered thé army to halt until their return. As they were advanc-ing, the townfmen were told, * Here come three of the principal lords of England, fent by the duke of Lancafter to conquer the country : fpeak to them/ On * • 17*