idngand hifc uncles, to r.equeft fuccours from them, that he might be able to carry on a fuccefsful waç againft the king of Caftillc. He called to him one of his knights, a valiant and prudent man, as well as a great lord, called John Ferrande, and told him his intentions in thefe words : 'John, you will carry thefe credential letters.to England, I cannot fend thither a more able ambaflador tljan yourfelf, nor one who is better informed of all my affairs : you will therefore commend me to the king, on prefcnting thefe letters, and let him know that I am fupporting the rights of my coufins, his aunts, for their inheritance of Caftillc and Spain ; and that I have already waged war againft him, who, through the influence of France, has taken pofleflion of it; but that I am not fufficiently ftrong in myfelf, nor have I refources to oppofe him, nor to conquer fuch heritages as Caftillc, Galicia and Seville.. For which reafon, I entreat him to fend me his fair uncle the duke of Lancafter, with his wife and d^ughtçr, my coufins, and a number of men at arms, and archers. On their arrival hither* we will carry, on fuch a war, if it fhould pleafe God, that we will recover their inheritances.' My lord/ replied the knight, ' with plçafure will I carry your meffage.' Hç was not long be-fore he embarked on board a ftrong veffel fit for the voyage, and failed from the harbour of Lifbon * when, having favourable winds, he arrived at Ply-mouth the fame d^y and fame tide that the earl of Buckingham returned thither, with part of his fleet) from Brittany. • Y3 The