m • dead or have turned to our fide. Thefe are not now oppofed to us, nor is the event fo doubtful as it was in former times, fo that whoever has confi-dence in me, will join my opinion for an inftant combat; and that we march to crofs the river Duero, which will redound to our honour/ This fpeech of the count de Lerma was atten-tively liftened to by the council, and many were of his mind. Sir Oliver du Guefclin next fpoke : ' Count de Lerma, we know that what you have uttered proceeds from the good fenfe and courage you poflefs ; and, fuppofe we were to march and offer combat to the duke of Lancafter, had we no other enemy, we fhould do well ; but you have for-gotten the king of Portugal, whom we fhall have on our rear, and whofe forces confift, as we have been informed, of twenty-five hundred lances and thirty thoufand other men. It was the dépendance on the king of Portugal that made the duke land in Galicia ; and we know that their alliance is very much ftrengthened by the marriage of the king with the duke?s daughter. Now, let us hear what you can fay to this/ • * In God's name/ replied the count de Lerma, the French, being four thoufand lances, are more than a match to combat the duke of Lancafter ; and the king, with his Caftillians, to the amount of twenty thoufand horfe and thirty thoufand foot, as they fay, may furely withftand the king of Portugal : it appears to me fo clear, that I will rifk the event with them/ The knights from France, feeing themfelves thut rebuffed