rounded by large trees, hedges, andfbufhes, which .with fome little affi fiance, might be made a ftrong poll. ' This was then told the king and his council : but he would have the Englifh called, for, though they were very few in number, he wifhed to follow their advice. They faid ; ' Sire, we know not any fpot near, more favourable than the monaftery of Aljubarota, fituated as it is among trees : it is now a ftrong pofition, but may be much ftrengthened by art.' Thofe who knew the country agreeing to the truth of this, the king faid,—' Let us march thither, and form ourfelves in fuch manner as good men at arms fhould do ; fo that our enemies, when they ad-vance, may not find us unprepared.9 This was in-ftantly done : they marchedflowly to Aljubarota, and came to the fquare before the church, when the English and fir Monges de Navarêt, with other valiant Portuguefe and Lifboners, atten-tively examined the place and the environs. The English faid, f This fpot can be made fufficiently ftrong, and we may fecurely wait here the event/ They cut down the trees fronting the plain, and laid them acroft, fo that the cavalry could not pafs them, leaving one entry not too wide, on the wings of which they polled all their archers and crofs-bows. The men at arms were on foot "drawn up befide the church, where the king was; and they had already difplayed the king's stand-aid and banners. When they faw themfelves thus drawn tip, they were much contented, faying, if it pleafed God, they were in a fituation to hold out for a 26S