if joined by yortr army, againft the force which the count de Tranftamare has at this moment t and we fhali be much diffatisfied with your con*-duct if a battle do not take place.* Such were the words fpoken by the earl of Cambridge to the king of Portugal, before his departure, who distinctly heard them ; but, ne-verthelefs, he dared not offer battle to the Caf- ' tillians, although they were within fight of each other. There were none of his council who did not fay,—c Sir, the army of the king of Caftiile is at this moment too powerful ; and if,, by acci-dent, you lofe the day, you will lofe your crown, without any chance of recovering it : you had better, therefore, endure much, than do any thing wherein is fuch great peril and rifle.* The earl of Cambridge, finding he could not gain any thing, returned to Lifbon, ordered his veffels to be made ready, and took leave of the king of Portugal. When he embarked, he would not leave his fon John with the king and the damfel that was to be his wife, but failed for England, leaving none behind. Such was the end of the Portuguefe armament at this feafon. The earl of Cambridge, on his arrival in Eng-land, reprefented to his brother, the duke f Lancafter, how the king of Portugal had acted, and the ftate of that country. The duke became very thoughtful, for he faw that the conqueft pf Caftiile was very diftant and doubtful : befides, his nephew, king Richard, had in his council thofe who were unfriendly to him, more efpeci-I 2 ally • 115