Thefe two lords had many and long consulta-tions with the Portuguefe ambaffadors; for the earl of Cambridge was very ill pleafed with the conduct of don Ferdinand, the late king of Por-tugal, faying he had carried on the war in too cowardly a manner, and had made peace with the Spaniards contrary to the will of the Engliih. The earl, therefore, very much doubted if, in the enfuing parliament, thé king's council would af-fent to an expedition to Portugal ; for the one that had been fent thither, had coft the nation a large fum, not lefs than one hundred thoufand - francs, and had nothing done. The Portuguefe ambaffadors readily compre-hended what the earl faid, and replied; c My lord, thofe times are paffed, and it is now otherwife. Our late king, God pardon his foul ! was marvel-loufly afraid of the chances of war; but the pre-fent king is full of enterprise and valour, for were he to meet his enemies in the field three times more in number than himfelf, he would combat them, whatever might be the confequences ; and we can mofi loyally affure you, tha^t this is fttct. My lords, it is very clear that you are interefted in this quarrel; for it is your bufinefs to make war on Caftille, and conquer it, as by right it belongs to you as the heritage of your wives.. Now, to Obtain this conqueft, you cannot have any entrance into Caftille like that through Por-tugal; for you will have all that country for your friends. Therefore, exert your influence that one of you mpy go thither with fuch a powerful force, that joined to thofe you will find there, you will be enabled to keep the field !9 The m