tion of Lifbon and the others was fo ftrong, they were defirous of croWning him their king. He fecretly wrote to his friends, and went to Lif-bon, which is the principal town in Portugal The townfmen received him joyfully, and de-manded, fhould they crown him king, would he be good and loyal, and preferve the country in its privileges? He anfwered, that he would, and be the beft king they ever had. - Upon this, the citizens of Lifbon wrote to thofe of Coimbra, Oporto and Ourique, which are the keys of the realm, that for their mutual advantage, they were defirous to crown king the grand-mafter Denis, who was wife and valiant, of good conduct, and brother to king Fernan-do ; for that the kingdom of Portugal could not longer remain without a head, as well for fear of the Caftillians, as of the infidels at Granada and J3ugia, who bordered on the country. Thefe four principal towns, and the land pro* prietors of Portugal, excepting a few great ba-rons and knights, were inclined to favour his election $ but fome barons faid, it was not right a baftard fhould be crowned king, if he were not of the beft difpofitions. The towns repli-ed, that he was fo qualified, and that it was a cafe of neceffity, for they had no other choice ; that he was a man of fenfe and of courage in arms ; that there wçts a precedent in Henry of Tranftamare, who had been crowned king of all Caftiile, by the choice of the country, for its common advantages, even during the lifetime of don Pedro, The 118