' Guifcard d'Angle and his companions were gone to England to requeft from the king an able leader. He already knew that the earl of Pem-broke had the appointment, and that he was on his way thithpr. Upon which, the king of France had fecretly raifed a large naval armamçnt ; that is to fay, it had been done at his requeft, for it belonged to king Henry of Caftille, who had fent this armament in conformity to the treaty which had been lately concluded between them. This Spanifh fleet confifted of forty large veflels and thirteen barks, well provided with towers and ramparts, as the Spanifh Ihips ufually are. Four valiant men were the commanders of this fleet : Ambrofio de Balequer, Cabeflb de Vacckderit, Hernando de Léon, Rodrigo de Rofas*. Thefe Spaniards had remained a confiderable time at anchor, waiting for the return of the Poi-tevins, and the coming of the earl of Pembroke ; for they were well informed that he was to land on the coaft of Poitou, and had therefore placed themfelves at anchor before the town of la Ro-chelle. It happened, therefore, that on the day pre-ceding the vigil of St. John the Baptift, in the • I have copied the names of thefe Spanifh captains from Barnes, but am doubtful if they are right ; for in Choifi's hit. of Charles V. Rodrique if Roux is mentioned as admiral. In Villaret's hi|l of France, Boccantra is called the admiral. In-deed, this is nearer to Froiflart, who calls the firft captain Am-brois de Boucqutnegrt. Barnes gives not any authority for hit. alterations. 155