long time, and to gain the advantage by it. The king addrefted them : € My fair gentlemen, shew your valour this day, and think not of flight ; for that will be of no avail, as you are too distant from Lilbon ; and befides, there is no fafety iff flight, for three good men will overpower and flay twelve runaways. Prove that you are men of courage, and offer yourfelves vigoroufly to your opponents : confider, should the day be ours, which it will be, if it pleafe God, how much we shall be honoured and praifed in the different countries where news of it shall be carried; for the victors are always exalted, and the conquered abafed. Confider alfo, you have made me your king, which should ftrengthen your courage ; for be aflured, that as long as this battle-axe in my hand shall hold, I will con-tinue the fight : and, should it break or fail me, I will get another, and shew I am determined to guard and defend the crown of Portugal for myself, and for the right I have to the fuccef-fion of my lord and brother, in which, on my foul, I declare and fay, they oppofe me wrong-fully, and that the quarrel is perfonal/ • Thofe of his countrymen who had heard him, replied,—' My lord and king, you have gra-cioufly admonished, and greatly advifed us to be men of valour, and to fupport you in defending what we have given to you, and at the fame time acknowledge to be your own. Know, then, that we will all remain with you fteadily, and never leave the field alive, until we gaiix the battle, or be carried away. Have it pr clain 269